Jeff Kunkel, Senior Pastor (Email Jeff)
Kevin Morgenstern, Director Contemporary Music/Worship Leader (Email Kevin)
Thierry Spelle, Organist/Chancel Choir Director (Email Thierry)
Ursula Morgenstern, Office Manager (Email Ursula)
Maryah Tucker, Youth Director (Email Maryah)
Kara Ireland D'Ambrosio, Godly Play Children's Choir Director (Email Kara)
JoJo Bernardo, Security Custodian
Gina Esguerra, Security Custodian
Jeff Kunkel was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father was a salesman, his mother a nurse. His many relatives included farmers, preachers, teachers, and business owners. As a child, he attended the Evangelical United Brethren Church, where he learned the stories and songs of the faith. As a teen, he left the church, convinced that church was for kids and old people and that God was for other people.
The many fine storytellers in his family gave Jeff an interest in story and writing, and he became an English major at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Not long before graduating, he had an unexpected spiritual awakening and God's presence became real to him. This began his conscious relationship with God and rearranged his thinking and his life. He attended and graduated from Garrett- Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, where he learned the breadth and depth of the scriptures and tradition, and where his faith and call to be a pastor took shape. He was first ordained in the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church but soon transferred to the California-Nevada Conference in 1979 and began serving at Shoreview UMC in San Mateo, California, where he became familiar with life on the peninsula and with many folks at Burlingame UMC. In 1984, he married Mary Ellyn Bahlert, who was just graduating from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley.
Jeff's early experiences as pastor included leading congregations through many challenges, such as bridging multicultural divides at Shoreview UMC, funding and building a new sanctuary at Lynnewood UMC in Pleasanton, leading staff as Senior Pastor at First UMC in San Leandro, and collaborating as co-pastor with his wife at First UMC in Tracy. His interest and gifts in leading congregations through change led him to be one of the first in our denomination to seek specialized training as a transitional-interim pastor.
In that role for the last ten years, he has helped six Bay Area congregations — large and small, United Methodist and Presbyterian — move through such transitions as the loss of a beloved pastor, pastoral misconduct, articulating identity and vision, and resolving congregational conflict. Jeff brings a seasoned trust in God's goodness, a calm presence, a lively imagination, a collaborative spirit, and a sense of humor to all that he does. His first prayer each morning begins, "Thank you God for this most amazing day. I turn my will and life over to your care. Help me be present to all that you bring into my life today." He agrees with the poet, Robert Frost, who wrote, "Earth's the right place for love. I don't know where it's likely to go better."
Jeff is an engaging preacher, writer, and artist. After creating a thoughtful sermon outline, he tears it up, preaches without aids, and keeps his attention on the people and the Spirit. He has published two collections of short stories, four picture books for children, two books of Alaska history, and many stories, articles, and sermons. He has curated several museum exhibitions, studied drawing and painting at California College of the Arts in Oakland during a sabbatical year, and occasionally exhibited his own artwork. He also loves being with children, singing, cooking, and gardening.
Jeff and Mary Elyn have lived in Oakland for sixteen years and been married for 27 years. Mary Elyn is in her fourteenth year as pastor of Lake Merritt UMC in Oakland.
Kevin Morgenstern
Director Contemporary Music, Worship Leader
www.kevinmorgenstern.com
Thierry Spelle was born in Paris, France. He received his early musical training there, and as a choirboy at the Cathedral of Chartres, France, where, later, he became Assistant Organist. He has held positions in Paris, France, in New York City and New Jersey, and more recently in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He holds music degrees from France, and a Master of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey. He is a resident of San Francisco.
Born in Luzerne, Switzerland in 1957 Ursula was raised in Millbrae, CA. and was the third of what would become a family of seven children. A graduate of Mills High School, Ursula attended the Bryman School and was employed as a Medical Assistant before accepting a position at Peninsula Hospitals Radiology department. She married in 1980 and had the first of her three children in 1982. Shortly thereafter, Ursula left the work force to devote herself to raising her children. When her children started school full- time she went back to school to study floral design and became an accomplished floral designer running Morninglory Floral Design. Surprise! In 1991 baby #3 came along. 7 years later... the obligations of driving to soccer games, piano and guitar lessons, serving as PTA president, keeping house, managing her husbands business and running a floral business was rewarding but demanding. In 1998 with her children all in school and on their way, Ursula decided to re-enter the work force. Her timing was perfect, as the position of Office Manager at BUMC had just opened. Her application was accepted and Ursula began a new career that has evolved into a ministry.
Like many of her generation, Ursula's spiritual journey began as a child, attending weekly Sunday School at both Lutheran and Methodist Churches. After leaving the church in her 20's although never loosing sight of God's presence, she renewed her faith as she began to attend BUMC in 1991. At first Ursula came primarily to give her children the same experience she had as a child. But God had other plans and Ursula found herself becoming more committed to her church as God took center stage in her life. Ursula served as a Stephen Minister, completed the Disciple I and II in-depth Bible study program, taught Sunday School for several years, served on the Missions team, Church and Society teams, Council on Ministries, Vision Board and currently serves on the Church Council and the Finance Team.
After almost 14 years at BUMC, Ursula finds her job rewarding and challenging.
Ursula and Kevin just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. Son Matthew is 29, and daughters Danielle and Hailey are 27 and 20 respectively. They are the joys of her life. Others joys include biking, gardening, and spending time with Kevin.
Maryah was born in San Francisco, yet she has called Millbrae "home" for her whole life. Maryah started to attend the Millbrae United Methodist church off-and-on during her younger years. Then at thirteen Maryah was baptized and confirmed and she and her family became active members of the Millbrae United Methodist Church. Maryah was an active participant in her own United Methodist Youth Fellowship group as well as in her Youth Choir. When Maryah was sixteen she started to teach Sunday School, and has worked with the young people of the church ever since. Six years ago she became the Director of Youth Ministry at the Millbrae Church. Maryah is currently a student at Dominican University of California in San Rafael where she will graduating in May with a Bachelor of Arts in the field of education.
Kara Ireland D'Ambrosio holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of New Hampshire, a Master of Music Education Degree with a Kodaly emphasis from Holy Names University in Oakland, a Graduate Certificate in Orff-Schulwerk from Mills College, and a Graduate Certificate in Music for the Unborn from Silver Lake College in Wisconsin. Kara is currently a doctoral student at Boston University where she is studying music education research. Kara is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music Education/Voice (awarded by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards). As a National Board Certified Teacher, she plays an active role in charting the future of American education.
Ms. Ireland D'Ambrosio is currently the music teacher for grades K-8 at Woodside School, where she won a Grammy Gold in 2002 for Excellence in Music Education. Woodside has also won national recognition in 2002-2009 as one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America." Kara Ireland D'Ambrosio is a lecturer at San José State University where she teaches courses in music education. Ms. Ireland D'Ambrosio also is a support provider/mentor for the Take One! program at the National Board Resource Center at Stanford University.
Kara has felt God's grace in her life throughout her life. She is happy to share the word of God to the children of BUMC through music. Music is God's beautiful voice speaking directly to our hearts. I look forward to getting know everyone in the church and helping the children of our church grow musically and spiritually.
| Copyright © 2009–2012 Burlingame United Methodist Church, All rights reserved. Web design by designOlah. | Visit us on facebook |  |