Available at (734) 662-4466 (Extensions listed below)
Looking for a list of contacts with emails and extensions? View the contact list on the main "Staff/Leadership" page.
Reverend David Prentice Hyers
Lead Pastor
Email: dprenticehyers@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 341
Dave was born in North Carolina and grew up in east Tennessee. He received his BA from Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina in 1994, and his M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2001.
Rev. Prentice-Hyers served as a probationary minister at the First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, North Carolina in 1997 and as a probationary minister at Troon Old Parish in Troon, Scotland from 1999-2000. Upon his return to the United States, he enrolled in a year-long unit of Clinical Pastor Education (CPE) at Crossroads Community Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia, and worked as a counselor for the marginalized and homeless, and was ordained in 2003. From 2003 – 2011, Dave served as an Associate Pastor at first Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas, and as Director of Campus Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor from 2011-2013. In the summer of 2013, Dave was called to return to Scotland as the Minister of Troon Old Parish Church where he has been since 2013.
When Dave was the Campus Minister here, his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Mel) was in the Resident Ministry program. Dave and Mel have two sons; eight-year old Finlay and five-year old Angus. As much as they enjoyed the challenge of ministry in Scotland, they are excited to return and continue their journey in ministry in the USA.
Dave says, "I love to tell stories in sermons. Christ understood the power of story and parable to challenge and provoke in loving and graceful ways."
Dave enjoys good music, bad jokes, cheap movies, and cooking with the family. Days off may find him on his bike, on a boat, digging in the sand, or walking the hills. Most of all he loves being a Dad.
Reverend Melissa Anne Rogers
Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care and Congregational Life
Email: mrogers@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 390
Melissa Anne served as campus minister from ’98-’00 before rejoining our staff in 2005 — after producing two children and a Master’s Degree in Marital and Family Therapy. In addition to her experience in ministry to small congregations in Oregon, Alabama, and Pennsylvania, she worked as a family grief and crisis counselor for Hospice of Lansing and as a therapist at Michigan State's Family and Child Clinic. Her M.Div. is from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Known to most as “Mel”, she marvels at the loving community that has evolved at First Pres, welcoming vulnerability and honesty, seeking justice for everyone, accepting all, and incorporating the loving compassionate ministry of our Deacons, Stephen Ministers, Retired Clergy, and an army of volunteers who help with meals, transportation, errands, and more — known as the “Helping Hands” group. Her special joy is working with the “Promises” group of specially-abled young adults. At First Pres, Mel feels called to build a culture of compassion, expanding spiritual pilgrimage for all ages, and helping support and nurture small groups for every member of First Pres. For Mel, the church is at its best when ministers lead from behind and get out of the way so that everyone can use their God-given gifts to serve others. In Christ’s kingdom here, all are accepted, and all are loved, and all can partner with the Holy Spirit to spread kindness, seek justice, and support the afflicted.
A morning person, she enjoys reading, running, weight-lifting, biking, good coffee, exploring craft breweries, spending time with her college-age sons, and hanging out with her two Golden Retrievers.
Reverend Jay Sanderford
Associate Pastor
Email: jsanderford@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 340
Jay grew up in the mid-Atlantic and upper South, moving between North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, before attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After college, he worked as a carpenter for several years and considered the construction business as an option before heading to Yale Divinity School as a step toward ordained ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Before arriving at First Pres in Ann Arbor in 2013, Jay served as pastor, associate pastor, director of a not-for-profit and new church development pastor in North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Maryland.
Jay embraces First Pres’ vision to be both a place for warm hospitality, faithful formation and vibrant worship and to be a force to pursue God’s good work for compassion, peace and justice in Ann Arbor, in the nearby universities and in the world and communities beyond. “Relationships fuel my work at First Pres. The incredible human resources of this church, our congregation, lay leaders and staff, provide the church with dynamic resources to influence our community with the gospel of good news.” As a learning community, Jay is inspired by the inclusive, positive and reflective theological project that is at the heart of our common life and service. He believes that as people of faith we are called to be redemptive, and not divisive in this cultural moment, and that our shared lives are shaped by practices of justice, mercy and humility.
Jay lives with his wife, Beth, in Dexter with an abundance of gardens, flowers and several lively Labrador retrievers. Jay and Beth share a passion for hiking, walking along the Huron River, good books, paddling, camping and family adventures with their two grown children. Their son Drew lives in Virginia with his wife Gillian Hatch. Alyson, their daughter, lives in Florida with her husband Daniel Bowen and family.
Reverend Mark Mares
Associate Pastor for Faith Formation and Youth & Family Ministries
Email: mmares@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 353
Mark is originally from Holland, Michigan, and a graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary. Mark enjoys soccer, so much so that he named his dog Lio (short for the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi!). He is also a Detroit Tigers fan and visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown twice while in New York.
Mark enjoys the energy that working with youth brings. At his previous position, he led local pilgrimages with youth, where they looked at local history and challenges for the people at that time. They then explored the spiritual practices that sustained them. When you meet Mark, you will find one of his greatest skills is listening thoughtfully. He is not intimidated by tough conversations: One of his more meaningful moments as a high schooler was participating in gatherings that would bring rival gangs together.
A lifelong learner, Mark was influenced at a young age by multi-generational and multi-cultural approaches to liturgy and worship. Mark leads an intergenerational team to develop and nurture our ministry with youth and their families at First Pres.
Reverend Megan Berry
Resident Minister
Email: mberry@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 355
Megan graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, in May 2021. She spent her undergraduate years at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where she earned a BA degree in Music with a Psychology minor in December 2017. There Megan served an internship in a local church to explore her calling. A flutist, Megan envisioned a career as a musician or music educator before discerning a call to be a pastor for small congregations.
Megan comes from Independence, Missouri, and has worked in her home parish and in an urban church in Kansas City. Megan was ordained in her home presbytery, Heartland Presbytery in Kansas in the fall of 2021.
Megan has shared two experiences that formed her call to ministry. First, she notes that she was shaped by her summer experiences working with children and youth as a camp counselor in her local Presbyterian camp ministry. Secondly, she credits the experience of worshipping in a PCUSA congregation with a female pastor for opening the doors and windows that have led her toward parish ministry.
In her application for the Residency Program, Megan writes: “I want to start working full time in a parish setting where I will be surrounded by those who want to encourage me in ministry. I think this program will be helpful for my goals because of the program’s learning structure, focus on growing a pastoral identity, and deepening my current strengths for ministry.”
Reverend Hannah Lundberg
Resident Minister
Email: hlundberg@firstpresbyterian.org, Extension: 354
Hannah grew up in Southern California, where she developed her love of surfing, running, hiking, and any opportunity to be outside and close to nature. She was raised in a non-denominational church, and became Presbyterian while in college, nurtured by the community of Grinnell First Presbyterian Church in Iowa. She received her B.A. from Grinnell College, majoring in English and Global Development Studies, and it was there that she first felt a call toward pastoral ministry. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she delighted in classes and conversations that brought together faith and social justice on a regular basis. In seminary, Hannah worked as a chapel minister, helping to coordinate Union’s daily chapel services, as well as field education work at Broadway Presbyterian Church and with a progressive campus ministry organization for students in New York City. Hannah was ordained here at First Pres Ann Arbor in October 2021.
Hannah’s call to ministry is grounded in a desire to share God’s wide, radical love with all, to encourage her communities to ask hard questions of their faith, and to help widen the table of welcome. As a pastor, she has a particular interest in queer liberation, antiracism work, and interfaith community connections.
As a resident at First Pres, Hannah finds joy in many aspects of the church, including leading campus ministry programming (UKirk@UMich), supporting the twenties and thirties group (T2A2), and coordinating the refugee resettlement co-sponsorship project. Hannah also plays a role with the Social Justice Action Group and Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Accountability (DIAA) working group.
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Reverend Matthew J. Warfield
Resident Minister
In Memoriam May 24, 1989 - January 8, 2022
Matthew J had roots in western Michigan and grew up in Holland. He is a boyhood friend and seminary classmate of Rev. Mark Mares, our Minister for Youth and Families.
Matthew J was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church of America (RCA) on June 27, 2021 at Maple Avenue Ministries in Holland. As a minister in the RCA, Matthew J could serve a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation under a Formula of Agreement which recognizes equality of ordination status among several denominations, including the PCUSA and the RCA. Matthew J earned a BS in Psychology from Grand Valley State College before completing his Master of Divinity degree at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, in 2017.
Prior to beginning the Residency program at First Pres, Matthew J served as associate pastor (part-time) at Embody Christ Fellowship (RCA) in Holland and had a long history of working with young people in his community. He also worked as a manager in the automotive business in western Michigan before his move to Ann Arbor in August 2021.
Growing up, Matthew J was an avid basketball player and an ardent Los Angeles Lakers fan. He also loved reading and creative writing as a child. He first read Langston Hughes in elementary school and began writing poetry then. When he was twelve he was given the opportunity to preach at his home church, Maple Avenue Ministries in Holland. This was a formative experience—from that moment he had a growing sense that his life’s work would be to proclaim the gospel and stand for justice on behalf of the “least of these” in our society.
Matthew J had a warm pastoral presence that engaged everyone he encountered. In his application for the Residency program Matthew J wrote: “I believe that becoming a Resident at First Pres will prepare and mature me like no other program. First Pres’ commitment and work toward abolishing systemic racism, white privilege, and gaining lasting justice and equality make a perfect fit for my God-given call.”
Matthew J's obituary can be found here: http://langelandsterenberg.
A recording of Matthew J's Memorial Service can be found here: https://vimeo.com/665736841?fbclid=IwAR3SlOtNIktkSU-PZkxFCPMLxHTfLAcNssKpOHZ8LW1KJHDB4obMnGhL6VQ
Cards to the family can be mailed to:
1224 Cranberry Court
Holland, MI 49423