St. Mark’s Ministry Staff Team
Our congregation is blessed to have a dedicated staff, working together to coordinate and provide support for our services, music ministries, outreach, care of the facility and many other activities. The church office is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pastor Kelley Ketcham
Pastor Kelley Ketcham became our pastor in June of 2022, coming to us from Ohio, along with her husband, Pastor Robbie Ketcham, and their young daughter.
Pastor Ketcham is responsible for Word and Sacrament — preaching, teaching, presiding at worship and life events, such as baptisms, weddings and funerals, and providing pastoral care during times of illness, hospitalization and death.
“I was drawn to a community that lives their love of God and one another,” she said. “What gives me joy is how much this community truly cares about one another.”
Pastor Kelley was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Shepherd University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance. After working in retail for a few years, she attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she earned a master’s of divinity degree.
She has served congregations in Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania, Continental, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio. Her husband, Robbie, now serves Tree of Life Lutheran Church in Odessa, Delaware. They live in North Wilmington.
When she’s not at St. Mark’s, Pastor Kelley serves as the troop leader for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She enjoys musical theater (both attending and participating onstage), singing and watching the latest Marvel and Star Wars content on Disney+.
John Lasher, director of music and worship arts
John Lasher is director of music and worship arts at St. Mark’s. He started his service here in May 2017 after responding to an ad for a keyboard player for the worship band “Souls on Fire.”
As director of music and worship, John is responsible for planning hymns, worship songs, anthems and other music, leading rehearsals, and coordinating with guest musicians. He has provided extraordinary and essential technical help to our congregation, helping St. Mark’s put its services online during the COVID-19 pandemic. He launched our YouTube channel and made it possible for us to livestream our services and other special events, which has allowed us to continue to share worship experiences during years of unexpected and uncommon separation.
John earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Cairn University in 2016 and said he has been involved in church music “in one way or another” for more than 30 years. He also attended film school for two years.
“At St. Mark’s I have felt incredible support as a composer (the choir and ‘Souls’ have each performed some of my original works), and in other creative endeavors,” John said. Several members of the St. Mark’s family participated in two of John’s recent “Space Princess” films.
John was born in New York, grew up in Newark, Delaware, and now lives in Edgemoor.
When he is not at St. Mark’s, he enjoys theater, his home theater (“a few of our choir and band members have experienced my living room setup,” he said), vinyl collecting and podcasts. “Both my parents are still living (praise the Lord!), I have two brothers, one sister (and a brother-in-law) and one very spoiled nephew.”
Cheryl Denneny, office manager
Cheryl Denneny has been St. Mark’s office manager since November 2015. She handles the phone, email messages, building usage and ordering supplies. She creates the bulletins and the monthly newsletter known as “The Lion.” She also reconciles St. Mark’s accounts, prepares checks to pay the bills and handles scheduling of inspections related to the elevator, fire extinguishers, boilers and pest control, for example.
Cheryl was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in North Wilmington. She graduated from Concord High School and worked at J.P. Morgan bank for almost 30 years. She decided to leave corporate banking and find part-time work where she could be more helpful to others.
“My joy comes from being in service to Christ by helping others,” Cheryl said. “I knew when I left the corporate world, I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I wanted to be able to help and guide people if I’m able.”
She and her husband, Ray, live in Christiana and worship with members of Ray’s family at Connection Community Church. They enjoy keeping up with their four children and six grandchildren.
“We follow the grandchildren’s sporting events and go see them whenever possible,” she said. “We like to spend our summer weekends at our camper at Otter Creek in York County, Pennsylvania, along the Susquehanna River. Most of our time is spent hiking with our Beaglier pup, Buddy, biking and relaxing with friends and family. We also have two cats that enjoy trying to get our attention away from Buddy when we’re at home!”
Rick Johnson, sexton
Rick Johnson maintains our facilities, keeps things running smoothly and ensures the property is in good repair. He is a widower with two adult children. He works as a conservation technician for Wilmington State Parks and loves to read, travel and cook.
Sabrina Mackey, greeter and nursery director
Sabrina Mackey is our greeter and nursery worker. She has been with us since December 2018. She was part of St. Mark’s Sunday School program when she was little and wanted to come back to be part of that again. She greets all who enter on Sunday mornings and assists with other tasks as needed.
Sabrina grew up in North Wilmington. She is a 2009 graduate of the University of Delaware. She met her husband, Jeremy, in 2008 through an online multiplayer game and they were married in 2010.
Sabrina and Jeremy live in the Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, area with their two children, Alice and Calvin, their dog, Roxy, and two cats, Luna and Ash.
When she is not at St. Mark’s, she enjoys all kinds of crafts, reading, video games and spending time with her kids and husband.
St. Mark’s Leadership Council
The St. Mark’s Leadership Council works with Pastor Kelley Ketcham to establish congregational priorities and policies. Officers include:
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- Ray Hansell, president
- Cheryl Powell, vice president
- Cecelia Cronk, secretary
- Nancy Wilkerson, treasurer
Committees and Council Liaisons:
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- Ann Boeker-Wilson, congregational life, evangelism
- Dick Franta, stewardship
- David McClure, property
- Cheryl Powell, worship, human resources
- Gail Rodger, worship, evangelism, parliamentarian
- Cliff Smith, Christian education
Financial secretary: Karen Hansell