Pastor
Rev. Cheryl Ann Raine
714-534-2269 x13
pastorcheryl@fpcgg.org
What a joy it is to be in ministry with the people of First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove. I became their pastor on June 1, 2002, leaving behind a career in chemical engineering! Well, that's a story in itself!
I grew up loving the Lord and remember walking to church on Sundays with my younger sister. I enjoyed choir, vacation bible school, youth group and Sunday school. In junior high school, a verse spoke to my heart from Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians: "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." It was then that I realized that God didn't live "way up there" but lived in my heart and through my life. My relationship with the Lord was my steadfast companion the year I traveled abroad to South Africa while in high school. Compassion for all of God's people grew out of this life changing experience. Upon returning from South Africa, I met my husband to be, Paul, at youth group. A water balloon night, guys against girls, was the beginning our friendship! Paul and I were married a year after graduating from high school.
Paul went to work full-time post high school, while I entered college, majoring in Chemical Engineering. After completing my degree, I began the corporate climb, advancing many rungs up the ladder before the Lord placed a call on my heart to the ordained pastoral ministry. It took seven years part-time to complete my Masters of Divinity at San Francisco Theological Seminary/Southern California because of my full-time career. During those years of full-time employment and part-time seminary, Paul and I were also busy raising our twin sons, Jason and Aaron, gifts of God that arrived a few weeks after our 6th wedding anniversary.
You might ask why I serve in the Presbyterian Church? I value this expression of church because it allows for questioning and stresses education. A historic principle of the church, "that God alone is Lord of the conscience," is also important to me. This principle allows Presbyterians of deep faith to come to different conclusions on issues of faith that are considered non-essential. Therefore, with our eyes focused on Jesus Christ, Presbyterians can joyfully serve together even though we have differences. We have unity which is not uniformity, because we are the "Body of Christ" and we can't all be noses! Some must be hands and feet as well.
One more verse to give you some insights as to who I am as pastor. I firmly believe these words of Scripture found in Ephesians, "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine." God is at work within us, and this verse has been my experience as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Garden Grove. Come and be a part of the story!
Director of Music Ministry
Dana Seufert
dana@fpcgg.org
Dana Seufert began playing the piano at the tender age of three. His mother, Ann Seufert, sat him on her lap, placed his little hands on top of hers, and proceeded to play nursery rhymes, hymns, and other “story book” songs while they both sang along. At age five, he was “volunteered” by his aunt, Myrtle Miller, the Director of Christian Education at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, to accompany his fellow children from the piano while they all sang youth hymns together during Sunday School. By age twelve, Dana was the full-time organist and accompanied the youth and adult choirs under the direction of his mother during worship services. His participation as pianist or organist, and eventually choir director, continued for the next several years.
Dana successfully managed to cram a four-year degree into six years, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice while also accompanying the University Choir at California State University, Long Beach. Dana began a Master’s program but paid musical opportunities interrupted his plan. Twenty-five years later he returned to CSULB, completed all course work, and is currently writiing his thesis for the Master of Music in Conducting. Dana expects to graduate in May 2010, if not sooner.
Dana’s musical career has taken him in many directions. Upon graduating with his Bachelor’s he was hired as the Staff Accompanist at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. He started with the Pageant of the Masters orchestra for the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, as one of two MIDI keyboardists in 1989. He was recruited out of the orchestra in 2002 to join the production staff at the Pageant where continues to serve each summer. In 1992 Dana was invited by the Minister of Music, Mark Yasuhara, of Honolulu First Presbyterian Church, to assist in the creation of a contemporary “praise band” for worship services. Starting in 1993 Dana was hired by Coda Music Technology to record the piano accompaniments to approximately 1400 songs that comprise the bulk of standard music repertoire used by music students and soloists, especially vocal students. Throughout his career his has been involved in musical theater in all sorts of capacities as well.
No stranger to the polities and inner workings of the Presbyterian Church USA, Dana was awarded his first Bible as a fourth-grader, confirmed at age 14, served as a Deacon, and ordained an Elder, the ordination service being officiated by his cousin, The Rev. Dr. Edward C. Peacock. Dana later served for six years on the Los Ranchos Presbytery Worship Committee, and he served annually at Presbytery-sponsored training events for newly ordained elders. Dana's passion as a member of Presbytery was teaching new elders how to effectively serve on the worship committees for their respective, local Sessions and congregations.
Today Dana is the Director of Music Ministries at Garden Grove First Presbyterian Church and a Music Instructor at Golden West College. His sensitivity to the Spirit allows for spontaneity in worship which is always welcomed. God is at work in his gift of music as he shares it with others. "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the Lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!" --Psalm 100:1-2
