Rev. Sarah Juist, Pastor
Pastor Sarah joined Parkwood in the fall of 2020. Her primary responsibilities are preaching and teaching, pastoral care, and leadership development. Despite coming to the PC(USA) only after seminary, she loves being Presbyterian – particularly, she loves exploring the depth of our history, our theology, and our social witness through the centuries.
Prior to arriving at Parkwood, she served as the pastor of Hanover Presbyterian Church in Hanover, Ohio, and interim Christian Education staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Outside of work, she loves to hike, craft, and spoil her dog – a beagle mix, aptly named Hope.
Libbie Niewiada, Music Director
Libbie has been involved with music for as long as she can remember. She started piano lessons as a young child, and has been playing ever since. In grade school, she discovered a love for choral music – singing in school choirs, musicals, and her church’s praise team.
She earned a degree in Music Education from Grand Valley State University in 2017, and continued singing after college in the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus until 2020. She started playing piano for a local church in 2014, during her time at Grand Valley, and has been a church musician for 11 years now, having spent the most recent 3 years at Parkwood as a pianist and accompanist.
She is truly looking forward to making more music together, and worshiping with each of you (whether you are a member of the choir, attending worship in person, or joining online).
Kathy VanderVelde, Administrative Assistant