REV. JOHN SCHWARTING

INTERIM SENIOR PASTOR

Rev. John E. Schwarting is a retired elder in the New Mexico Annual Conference. He began his ministry right here at Western Hills in 1993 after retiring from the USAF. Since then he has served Mesa View UMC Albuquerque (1995-2005) and Trinity-First UMC El Paso (2005-2013). He recently served as Executive Pastor of St. John’s Albuquerque. John and his wife Bonnie will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this July. They have one son Michael who lives in Portland, OR and grandson Colin who lives in Seattle, WA. John enjoys fixing things and remodeling old homes. Bonnie is an avid reader. John and Bonnie look forward to  renewing past acquaintances and making new ones over the next weeks. John prefers to be called by his first name.
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REV. AMY MERCER
Amy Sepia
  • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
    • Minister of Missions and Discipleship
  • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
    • July 2009
  • What is your favorite time of year?
    • Autumn
  •  What is your favorite food? 
    • Mexican
  • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
    • Quilting, knitting, reading, beading
  •  What is your favorite sport?
    • College football
  •  What was your first job?
    • I was a page in the New Dorp branch of the New York Public Library
  •  What is your favorite movie?
    • Les Miserables
  •  What makes you laugh?
    • People – including myself
  • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
    • 1 Peter 3:15b-16a
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MITZI UNDERWOOD
Mitzi Sepia
 
 
  • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
    • Director of Youth Ministries
  • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
    • August 2006
  • What is your favorite time of year?
    • Fall
  •  What is your favorite food? 
    • Pasta
  • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
    • Enjoying the outdoors
  •  What is your favorite sport?
  •  What was your first job?
    • Burger King
  •  What is your favorite movie?
    • Dirty Dancing
  •  What makes you laugh?
    • Awkward moments
  • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
    • Psalm 23
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LAURIE McBRIDE
Laurie Sepia
  • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
    • Business & Facilities Manager
  • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
    • 2004
  • What is your favorite time of year?
    • Fall
  •  What is your favorite food? 
    • TexMex or Hamburgers
  • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
    • Catching up on recorded TV shows like Downton Abbey and The Black List, or watching old black & white movies
  •  What is your favorite sport?
    • College football – I really enjoy going to NMSU games.  I like the band and the mascots, Keystone the horse & Striking the Wonder Dog
  •  What was your first job?
    • Bookkeeper in a small bank in East Texas
  •  What is your favorite movie?
    • I’ve seen Gone With The Wind approximately 250 times, so that is one I never tire of watching
  •  What makes you laugh?
    • Our sons – when they were little and also now that they are grown.  They have always been hilarious together, picking on each other
  • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
    • Isaiah 58:11
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MINDY ARCHEY
mindy sepia2
 
  • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
    • Publications/Communications 
  • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
    • March 2011
  • What is your favorite time of year?
    • Fall – but I also LOVE a good snowy day in the winter
  •  What is your favorite food? 
    • Fried Zucchini with ranch of course 
  • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
    • TV time – I do enjoy my TV time.  Yay for the person that started Netflix
  •  What is your favorite sport?
    • To play? Soccer or Kickball
    • To watch? Baseball 
  •  What was your first job?
    • I worked at Wendy’s for two years during high school 
  •  What is your favorite movie?
    • The Little Mermaid or White Christmas
  •  What makes you laugh?
    • Lots of things…and especially my little girls
  • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
    • Jeremiah 29:11-14
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SUZY SNOW
Suzy Sepia
  •  What do you do here at WHUMC? 
    • Administrative Assistant 
  • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
    • October 2010
  • What is your favorite time of year?
    • Summer (except the rainy season-not a fan) I love the long sunny days of summer! 
  •  What is your favorite food? 
    • Rick’s chicken cacciatore…a dish he first learned to make for me when I was in the hospital after giving birth to our oldest son…he has been perfecting it for 32 years now
  • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
    • Read or listen to music…I am also learning to knit and make blankets  so those things are filling my spare time right now
  •  What is your favorite sport?
    • Is sarcasm a sport? No? Oh, well then, it is definitely baseball or hockey
  •  What was your first job?
    • Hostess at Sambo’s Restaurant 
  •  What is your favorite movie?
    • Grease – I know! But it is so fun and always takes me back to my 14 year old self enjoying it for the first time
  •  What makes you laugh?
    • Lots of things! A lesson I learned from my big brother growing up: You can find humor in any situation – and once you find the laughter, no matter how tough the situation, you can survive it.  Look for the laughter everywhere!
  • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
    • Philippians 4:6-7 
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JENNY ABBOTT
  • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
    • Director of Children’s Ministry
  • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
    • September 2017
  • What is your favorite time of year?
    • Spring
  •  What is your favorite food? 
    • Chocolate! That’s a food group right?
  • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
    • Needlework, play piano
  •  What is your favorite sport?
    • Baseball
  •  What was your first job?
    • Babysitter
  •  What is your favorite movie?
    • Mary Poppins
  •  What makes you laugh?
    • My siblings, my husband, and my children
  • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
    • “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12
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REV. JOSH KOURI
 
    • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
      • I am the pastor of The Ridge, WHUMC’s daughter congregation 
    • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
      • June 2016
    • What is your favorite time of year?
      • Winter! I love snow and cold.  Yeah, I live in El Paso. 
    •  What is your favorite food? 
      • Green Chile Enchiladas and Lebanese cuisine 
    • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
      • I like to read good fiction and science fiction and I also like to cook.
    •  What is your favorite sport?
      • If I am participating – I love to ski.  If I’m a spectator – baseball.  Go Rangers! 
    •  What was your first job?
      • I inflated balloons at a party supply store in Albuquerque called Party Barn. 
    •  What is your favorite movie?
      • The King’s Speech
    •  What makes you laugh?
      • I have a young nephew who is FULL of personality.  He’s a kick in the pants.  Also, politics. 
    • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
      • “God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes.  You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.  It’s the same with everyone who is born of the spirit.”   John 3:8
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NANCY BICKLEY
    • What do you do here at WHUMC? 
      • Minister of Music – The purpose of the Minister of Music at WHUMC is to provide weekly Sunday Choral anthems, Bell Choir selections, and provide appropriate hymn selections.  
    • When did you begin working at WHUMC? 
      • January 2018
    • What is your favorite time of year?
      • Springtime – when all the trees and flowers bloom, then blossom
    •  What is your favorite food? 
      • Authentic Mexican Food 
    • When you get 30 min of free time, how do you pass the time?
      • Reviewing and singing opera arias I’ve sung in the past, as well as learn new pieces.  ones.
    •  What is your favorite sport?
      • Pro Football
    •  What was your first job?
      • My first job entailed singing as a paid soloist at Asbury UMC in El Paso during my early college years. ears.
    •  What is your favorite movie?
      • Sound of Music 
    •  What makes you laugh?
      • People who comment with quick-witted responses or those who comment with a dry sense of humor make me laugh. 
    • What is your favorite scripture or passage?
      • Psalm 23