Staff

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.

Karen Albert, Music Director

Karen Albert is a mezzo-soprano, musicologist, educator, and digital marketer living in Grand Rapids, MI. On the concert stage, Karen has worked with orchestras and festivals across the state of Michigan, performing works such as Libby Larsen’s Raspberry Island Dreaming, Edward Elgar’s Sea Pictures, as well as the alto solos in numerous oratorios and concert works. Karen is also a member of Grand Rapids’
premiere fully professional choral ensemble Vox GR, and she regularly sings with several other ensembles, both regionally and nationally. 

As a musicologist and educator, Karen has presented numerous paper presentations and lecture recitals across the United States and Canada. Her work has focused on a variety of musical topics, from gender representation in French-Canadian folksongs to theological interpretations of Bach arias. She has also taught a variety of music subjects and classes at both universities and community music schools in the region.

Karen is the Director of School Engagement at Opera on Tap, a non-profit opera outreach and education company based in NYC. As a digital marketer, she has also worked with Boulanger Initiative and West Michigan Opera Project.

Outside of her work as a musician, Karen enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, trying new foods, babysitting her favorite nephew Henry, and spending time with family and friends. Karen lives in the Alger Heights neighborhood in Grand Rapids with her husband Joshua and their “fur-baby” Socks, an adorable and mischievous Tuxedo cat.

Kathy VanderVelde, Administrative Assistant

Libbie Niewiada, Pianist