Our Staff
Come meet the dedicated people that “Love God, Grow Together and Serve Others”.
Pastor
Rev. Casey Banks is an ordained Elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference and has served Newberg First UMC as Pastor since July 2020.
She graduated Duke Divinity School in 2016 with a Masters of Divinity and an interest in church revitalization. She loves creating relevant,
interactive worship series that connect the ancient biblical stories to modern life. She is also passionate about justice ministries that seek equality for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC friends.
In kindergarten, Casey wanted to be a dog catcher to give all the stray dogs a home; today, Casey still values finding homes for all and is working on solutions to the housing crisis through NFUMC’s Dundee Commons housing development and through serving on Newberg’s Affordable Housing Commission. Casey and
husband Kristopher live in Newberg with their daughter Leila and cat Snowball.
Laveda Weirich
Office Administrator/Bookkeeper
Laveda Weirich joined Newberg First UMC’s staff in January 2022. She has lived in McMinnville, Oregon, for over 30 years, most of those years in a log house she helped build. She and her husband, Jerry, live on over 21 acres in the country. Laveda homeschooled her four children for over 20 years and helped raise one of her grandsons until he was six years old, taking on a job at a private school as a teacher, sub, and eventually office work so she could be nearby. She and her husband had a business they ran out of their home for many years. She most recently worked six days a week in the office for Orchard and Vineyard Supply, which she enjoyed. Laveda is thrilled to be back in Newberg where she graduated from George Fox University and looks forward to meeting each one of the congregational members.
Bree Theilacker was born and raised in Southern California. They started taking piano lessons at age 6 and has been playing in church since age 10. Bree attended California Baptist University and earned their degree in Music Composition and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in K-12 Music. Bree has had the opportunity to play for many different churches of many different denominations. They are currently the Band Director at Centennial High School in Gresham. Bree lives in Happy Valley with their wife, Kat, daughter Aj and Mini Dachshund Flynn.
Music Director
I have been a musician my entire life. I’ve accompanied music departments through high school and college. I accompanied voice students, various choirs, and a men’s quartet who traveled the world. I was a Pianist at Nordstrom department store in Seattle, WA for 5 years. I played 7 hours a day, 5 days a week while people shopped.
I served as a Music teacher at a K-12 school in Auburn, WA for 22 years. I taught choirs, classroom music, handbells, drama, musicals, piano, and voice. I was in charge of many yearly concerts. I’ve been Director of music ministries at two Presbyterian churches, and directed a 40-member community men’s chorus. I provide music for weddings, parties, receptions, funerals, and other events and have done so since I was 13. I praise the good Lord above for giving me my musical talents. My husband is a Minister and we have 3 grandkids who light up our lives.
Syd Wermlingter
Treasurer
Karen Spear
Financial Secretary
Corrine Heimuller
Child Care Provider
Our Ministry Team Leaders
Chris Lee
Facilities Team Leader
Elizabeth Lee
Youth & Children Ministries Coordinator
Lydia Monk
Reconciling Ministries Team Leader
Joan Shipman
Mission Ambassadors Coordinator
Mary Freeman
Hunger Relief Ministries Team Leader
Russ Sprunger
AV
Kevin Gifford
Methodist Men
Maggie Freese
Small Groups
Janelle Bolt
Jubilant Bells
Brenda Longton
Website, S.inG.L.E.
Julie Viche
Receptions
Tom Lutz
Garden
