MEET OUR MEMBERS
Debbie: It is hard for me to narrow down what I enjoy the most at CUMC. I love the adult Sunday School class and the Worship. Attending CUMC and making it an important part of my life has helped me with all of my important relationships. First and foremost it is helping me to mature in my relationship with Jesus. Through my church family, I am learning to become a better Christian, wife, mother, step mother, daughter, friend and woman. Attending CUMC helps me to learn worship skills and to try to figure out what gifts I have that can be used to serve.
My youngest daughter has attended CUMC since she was 3 years old and is now 13. She has learned so many worship skills without even realizing it. She has attended Sunday School and Confirmation, has been involved with the Cantatas and the singing and bell choirs. She is very involved with the youth group and loves it. Our older daughter started as an adult at CUMC and is involved with the praise team and has been involved in planning some of the women’s retreat.
What High School did you go to? Fairfield High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? Graeter's
Vicki: I’ve been attending our church for 15 years. I enjoy attending Sunday morning Bible study and the contemporary service. The opportunity to connect with fellow believers gives me great joy. I am a member of the Contemporary Worship Committee and Staff-Parish Relations. I coordinate a group that volunteers at the Nast Trinity soup kitchen every month. I also teach a senior yoga class at the church which I really enjoy. My children are involved in the youth group, youth bells, choir, junior bells, and choristers. All 3 of my children are swimmers, are in girl scouts and love to read. I really enjoy watching my kids’ swim meets. I am a home health nurse with Hospice of Cincinnati. We like to spend our summers at the pool and visiting relatives in Iowa and Nebraska. The girls all participated in the Nebraska state fair a couple of years ago showing sheep and pigs in the 4H arena. One of our favorite family vacations was a Disney Cruise a few years ago.
What High School did you go to? Mother of Mercy High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? I don't really eat ice cream so I'd say Graeter's because I can get tasty baked goods there
Wes: I have been attending CUMC for 73 years. My Mother and Dad carried me into the old church on Woodbine when I was a week old. My Dad helped build the new church on Westwood Northern Blvd. I am a member of the Traditional Worship Committee and the Advisory Council. I also play every Sunday in our Traditional Service in the Instrumental Music Ensemble.
I received a Degree in Music from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and my Education Degree from Xavier University. I taught Remedial Reading, Architectural and Engineering Drawing, as well as being the Band Director at Roger Bacon High School for forty four years. Besides my own group Music by Wes Neal, I perform with The Sound Body Jazz Orchestra, The Northern Kentucky Brass Sextet, and the Queen City Concert Band to mention a few. I have two sons. Brian now teaches and is the Head Basketball Coach at Roger Bacon High School. Bruce lives in Riverside California and works at the University of California Riverside. I also have four grandchildren that help take up my time now that I have retired. I also enjoy going to musicals at the Aronoff.
What High School did you go to? Western Hills High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? My refrigerator
Nancy & Gary: We have been ushers for over 30 years! We enjoy meeting new people but realize there is a fine line between being friendly and too pushy so we try to have a good blend.
Nancy: I have been attending Cheviot United Methodist Church for 62 years. I was a member when our church was called Cheviot Evangelical United Brethen located at Woodbine and Lovell in Cheviot. Gary and I have one daughter, age 35, who grew up in the church, was part of our church youth group, married in the church and now lives in Amelia. I am a Registered Nurse. I seem to collect stray/needy dogs. We currently have 8 and love each one.
Gary: I enjoy driving the bus/van for the Senior Adult Ministry group. Recently I’ve served as a Trustee for our church. I retired from Auto Body Repair not long ago. Nanc and I have been interested in Street Rods, cars from 1948 and older, for over 30 years. I have built four from the ground up and still have them.
Amy: For 30 years I have been attending CUMC. I am leading the praise team, serving on the Evangelism committee, and planning for Cheviot Christmas Celebration. I have two daughters. I look forward to springtime for Reds baseball!
What High School did you go to? Avon Lake High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? UDF
Jennifer: I’ve been attending CUMC for 5 years. I love to sing in the choir and participate in the Instrumental Ensemble. I serve as the worship leader for the Traditional Service, introducing each hymn by providing background about the hymn and presenting a scriptural reference that relates to the hymn. I am also on the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee.
I studied cello performance and voice performance at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where I met Arturo. We’ve been married for 3 years. We frequently perform professionally in the greater Cincinnati area sometimes together as the Araya Duo. Arturo and I are members of the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. I perform as a substitute musician with the Dayton Philharmonic, the Middletown Symphony, and the Kentucky Symphony.
While I work toward an orchestral position in which I can perform full-time, I’m pursuing nonmusical occupations. I work part-time at Clubessential as an Education Specialist. In addition, I recently started my own business, JennJill Designs, for which I make and sell fine handcrafted goods, from jewelry and accessories to fine housewares.
We feel incredibly blessed that the Lord has allowed us to participate in the music ministry of CUMC. We are incredibly grateful for the fellowship and love that fills the church. I will always consider it to be our church home.
What High School did you go to? Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, WV)
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Gold Star all the way!
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? Graeter’s, there’s no question. The Ludlow Graeter's, just north of UC, was the required after-concert hang-out location while we attended CCM.
Arturo: I married Jennifer at CUMC three years ago. We met each other while attending the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where I studied cello performance. The church family we've found at CUMC has helped and encouraged us to grow in our relationship with God. I have a true passion to serve the Lord. I’m a member of the CUMC Instrumental Ensemble. As a professional cellist, I often present special music during the Traditional Service. I am also a member of the Adult Sunday School class.
Jennifer and I frequently perform professionally in chamber music concerts and recitals together, as the Araya Duo. I perform as a substitute musician with the Dayton Philharmonic, the Middletown Symphony, and the Kentucky Symphony. Currently, I am a Technical Project Manager at Clubessential, a web design company headquartered just east of downtown Cincinnati, while also working toward an orchestral position in which I can perform full-time. Jennifer and I enjoy going to plays at Playhouse in the Park.
What High School did you go to? Charles Wright Academy (Tacoma, WA)
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Gold Star
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? Graeter’s
Jayne: I have been attending CUMC for a little over 5 years. I love being a part of the Praise Team and serving as the Worship Leader. I am Co-Chair of Education, Co-Director of VBS 2011, on Administrative Council, Contemporary Worship Committee, Women's Retreat Planning Team, Certified Lay Speaker and a District Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. I retired 3 years ago. The majority of my career was in the Medical Billing and Collection field. My favorite job though was when I sold furniture. I just could not handle the retail hours and it took me away from being involved in church.
I have 3 awesome children, 3 beautiful granddaughters, and another grandchild on the way. Glen and I met each other at a United Methodist church and I asked him out for our first date. We married 5 1/2 years later. Now our family has grown and when we get together with just our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and their children we have close to 75 people!
My favorite Cincinnati event is Opening Day! I love the excitement. It is like a holiday!
What High School did you go to? Colerain High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline, of course!
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? Graeter's
Wayne: I’ve been attending our church for 35 years. The activities I enjoy most at CUMC are the kid’s activities. I am involved in Trustees, Finance, Ad Council and Adult Bell Choir. My 3 children enjoy the music programs for kids and Sunday School. I’m a Logistics Planner. Oktoberfest is one of my favorite Cincinnati events.
What High School did you go to? Walnut Hills
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? Graeter's
Kevin: For 27 years I’ve attended CUMC. Before church most Sunday mornings, you will find me in my favorite red chair in the Werner Lounge. I am an IT Business Analyst/ IT Project Manager. My favorite Cincinnati events are the Taste of Cincinnati and Tall Stacks.
I have been involved in youth basketball in the Oak Hills school district for 13 years. I coached all 3 of my sons in baseball, basketball, and soccer. I am also a SAY soccer referee.
What High School did you go to? Oak Hills High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? To me, it’s a tie between Graeter's & Aglamesis
Joe: I have been attending our church for 33 years. I enjoy the Traditional Service, Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study, our Annual Picnic and various events throughout the year. Currently I’m serving as the Chair of the Administrative Council. I am an Independent Financial Advisor with The Lincoln Financial Group: Professional Designations include: CFP (Certified Financial planner), CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter), ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), and CRPC (Certified Retirement Planning Consultant).
We have three children. All three attended CUMC's Sunday School Program as children. The Sunday School Program is what drew us to CUMC. Our two oldest live in Tampa, Florida. Our youngest lives in Cincinnati and attends the CUMC. I enjoy our family get togethers! I also enjoy watching the Reds and Bengals play.
What High School did you go to? Oak Hills High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? The Little Goodie Shop on Harrison going into Miamitown
Charles: I have attended CUMC almost all my life 65+ years. For me CUMC is home and everyone here is like Family. I went to Sunday school, Boy Scouts, and youth group. As an adult, I taught Sunday school and was the Youth Group leader. I’ve been on many Committees at one time or another and had a great time doing it all. Now I am on Staff-Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Investments, Finance and Ad Council. I help out with the Seniors group. And also I am an usher almost every Sunday. I am also our church delegate to the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.
I have two girls, Anita and Kim. They both grew up at CUMC and were President of the youth group when in high school. Anita has two boys and Kim has two girls. They all attend CUMC along with their husbands and their children attend our Sunday school. My youngest grandchild sings in their grandmother’s Cherub Choir.
I am retired now but I worked for the Geiler Co. for 35 years where I was a Project Manager. We enjoy going to Bengals football games, Colerain football games and all the games our grandchildren participate in. We are very busy in the fall. Each year in the summer, our family along with the Morgan and Reeme families go to Dale Hollow Lake for a week. We each have two children and most of them come. Each of our kids has 2 kids, so it has become a big event and a great time!
What High School did you go to? Western Hills High School
What’s your Favorite Chili Parlor? Skyline
What’s your Favorite Ice Cream shop? UDF