Staff - First United Methodist Church

Meet Our Team

Reverend Sarah M. Elliott is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving on loan in the Michigan Annual Conference. Pastor Sarah is committed to…

Karin is the Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper. She has an associate degree in business from Baker College. She works in the church office M-F 8am-4pm.

Jon is the Building Supervisor. He keeps everything clean, repaired, and all systems in good working order. As a side job he umpires and referees.

I’m Jennifer Fuentes, the Program Director at Noah’s Ark Children’s Center, where I’m excited to bring my passion for education to the community. I’m currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, building on over 10 years of experience in the early childhood field.

James Mullins is our Production Director. He produces our live-stream services and works with volunteers to meet our technical needs for Sunday services. He also serves as our pianist, organist, and coordinator for our music program.

Reverend Sarah M. Elliott is an ordained elder in the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving on loan in the Michigan Annual Conference. Pastor Sarah is committed to fostering community engagement and equipping laity in our mutual ministry of sharing the gospel through our words and actions.

Pastor Sarah enjoys crafting theologically meaningful and engaging worship that invites us to encounter the love of Christ as we grow as disciples. She values the impact of multigenerational worship and the use of worship arts to share the gospel.

Nurturing the younger generations of disciples, children and youth, is important to Pastor Sarah and she seeks opportunities for them to meaningfully engage in the life of the church as disciples of Jesus Christ. She has built partnerships within the UMC connection and ecumenically to develop multi-parish confirmations classes, fellowship, and mission opportunities. Pastor Sarah is a recognized resource for training and implementing Safer Sanctuary practices that ensure a secure and welcoming environment for all.

Pastor Sarah’s focus on community-building extends beyond the church walls. She was instrumental in leading initiatives such as the School Lunch Debt Taskforce, which raised funds to eradicate student lunch debt in Harford County, MD while advocating to ensure student access to nutrition. This initiative is a testament to her profound commitment to addressing systemic issues through collaborative community action. She was also active in responding to mass shootings and the issue of gun violence in Harford County, MD and advocating for the needs of the economically disadvantaged.

Pastor Sarah’s ministry is characterized by proactively fostering ecumenical relationships and a dedication to her congregants’ spiritual development to address the spiritual and physical needs of the community. Her Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from American University laid a foundation for discerning the relationship between meeting physical and spiritual needs.

Pastor Sarah earned a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and was honored with the Diedra Krieward Award for her excellence in teaching ministry. She continues to value the role of learning to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Sarah and her husband, Patrick Elliott, are thankful and blessed to serve as God leads with their children Preston, Elizabeth, and Magdalena. In her free time, Pastor Sarah loves puzzles, board games, photography, doing mission work, spending time with family and friends, volunteering with the Girl Scouts and dabbles in gardening, activities she shares with her family. Her hobbies mirror her professional life, requiring thought, focus, and a creative spirit.