Staff

Services

9:00 a.m. - Traditional, 10:00 A.M. Fellowship time and Sunday School, 11:00 A.M. - pRAISE AND wORSHIP

First United Methodist Church of Middlebury Leadership

First United Methodist Church of Middlebury is blessed to have a leadership team who are truly dedicated to Christ and accomplishing His will. Following are brief bio's of our leadership team and their qualifications for ministry.

Pastor Bob Vale

Senior Pastor

Greetings from Pastor Bob Vale.

Let me tell you a bit about Nancy and myself.  We have been in Methodist ministry for 28 years. My favorite bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge God, and the Lord will direct your paths.”  We have found in our 38 years of marriage together, that the Lord has guided our steps in life and ministry.

Both of us were born into military families.  I was born on the east coast as a child of a Marine and Nancy was born on the west coast as a child of an Airforce military family.   We both met at Fort Wayne Bible College.  She studied to become a schoolteacher and I to become a youth pastor.    

I joined the U.S. Army and served as a helicopter mechanic and served in Stuttgart, Germany, and the First Gulf War.   Following my service with the military, we ended up in Savannah, Georgia, where I started in youth ministry with the Methodist Church in a small town called Springfield, Georgia.   I then started and completed my seminary master’s degree in divinity at Erskine Theological Seminary.   

Our next stop was with the United Methodist Church in South Bend, Indiana, where I served at the Clay UMC as the youth pastor and Praise and worship leader.  Nancy started teaching in the South Bend School system.   My first senior pastor position was at Argos UMC, Osceola UMC, and La Porte FUMC.   Now the Indiana Bishop has called me to serve at the Middlebury FUMC.  We are delighted and excited to join and partner with you in ministry. 

We have two children and their spouses.  Rebecca is a Purdue University graduate and is currently working in civil engineering in the Washington D.C. area, while her husband Will, is also a Purdue University graduate and is working on the staff of a congressman on capitol hill.  Will is also going through law school at Syracuse University.   Our son Joshua is a Bethel College graduate and is working in the insurance field.  His wife, Phun Quinn, just completed Physician Assistant school and they are both working in the Wilmington, North Carolina area. We are so proud of all four of them. 

My hobbies include fishing, kayaking, camping in the boundary waters, singing and playing guitar and playing racquetball. Nancy’s hobbies include gardening, caring for our dog and two cats, reading a good book, and playing the piano.  We both enjoy riding our bikes.

We look forward to getting to know you and learning your story/journey in life.   Blessings to you and your family as we journey this Christian life together.

Pastor Bob & Nancy Vale

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Greetings from Pastor Bob Vale.

Let me tell you a bit about Nancy and myself.  We have been in Methodist ministry for 28 years. My favorite bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge God, and the Lord will direct your paths.”  We have found in our 38 years of marriage together, that the Lord has guided our steps in life and ministry.

Both of us were born into military families.  I was born on the east coast as a child of a Marine and Nancy was born on the west coast as a child of an Airforce military family.   We both met at Fort Wayne Bible College.  She studied to become a schoolteacher and I to become a youth pastor.    

I joined the U.S. Army and served as a helicopter mechanic and served in Stuttgart, Germany, and the First Gulf War.   Following my service with the military, we ended up in Savannah, Georgia, where I started in youth ministry with the Methodist Church in a small town called Springfield, Georgia.   I then started and completed my seminary master’s degree in divinity at Erskine Theological Seminary.   

Our next stop was with the United Methodist Church in South Bend, Indiana, where I served at the Clay UMC as the youth pastor and Praise and worship leader.  Nancy started teaching in the South Bend School system.   My first senior pastor position was at Argos UMC, Osceola UMC, and La Porte FUMC.   Now the Indiana Bishop has called me to serve at the Middlebury FUMC.  We are delighted and excited to join and partner with you in ministry. 

We have two children and their spouses.  Rebecca is a Purdue University graduate and is currently working in civil engineering in the Washington D.C. area, while her husband Will, is also a Purdue University graduate and is working on the staff of a congressman on capitol hill.  Will is also going through law school at Syracuse University.   Our son Joshua is a Bethel College graduate and is working in the insurance field.  His wife, Phun Quinn, just completed Physician Assistant school and they are both working in the Wilmington, North Carolina area. We are so proud of all four of them. 

My hobbies include fishing, kayaking, camping in the boundary waters, singing and playing guitar and playing racquetball. Nancy’s hobbies include gardening, caring for our dog and two cats, reading a good book, and playing the piano.  We both enjoy riding our bikes.

We look forward to getting to know you and learning your story/journey in life.   Blessings to you and your family as we journey this Christian life together.

Pastor Bob & Nancy Vale

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Nancy Vale

Handbell Director

Hello, my name is Nancy Vale and I am the Hand Bell music director.   My husband is pastor Bob. My full-time job: I am a full-time 4th grade elementary school teacher. We have two wonderful adult children who are married and live on the East Coast.  My hobbies include gardening, playing piano, bugs & animals of all kinds, and working with the children here at the church.  The handbell choir generally performs on the third Sunday of the month and takes the summer months off.  If you would like to join the handbell ministry, we would love to have you.  We practice in the choir room on Wednesday evenings for an hour at 6 p.m.  (Directly after the Wednesday church fellowship meal at 5:30 p.m.)   Please email me to let me know if you wish to join us. My email is n63vale@gmail.com You can also contact me at 574-339-8143.



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Hello, my name is Nancy Vale and I am the Hand Bell music director.   My husband is pastor Bob. My full-time job: I am a full-time 4th grade elementary school teacher. We have two wonderful adult children who are married and live on the East Coast.  My hobbies include gardening, playing piano, bugs & animals of all kinds, and working with the children here at the church.  The handbell choir generally performs on the third Sunday of the month and takes the summer months off.  If you would like to join the handbell ministry, we would love to have you.  We practice in the choir room on Wednesday evenings for an hour at 6 p.m.  (Directly after the Wednesday church fellowship meal at 5:30 p.m.)   Please email me to let me know if you wish to join us. My email is n63vale@gmail.com You can also contact me at 574-339-8143.



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Rex Gleim

Choir Director

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Rod Holmes

Praise and Worship Leader

My name is Rod Holmes, and I am the worship leader of our praise and worship service. I’ve been involved in music ministry for as long as I can remember. My father was a Methodist minister and my mom, who was a very gifted musician, had me and my siblings singing on stage from the time I was three years old. I spent about 20 years in church ministry beginning as a worship pastor for a number of years and ending as a lead pastor before making a change in January of 2022 when I took a full-time position as a hospice chaplain, something that had been drawn to for several years. I am married to my wife, Joy, who is a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Northridge Middle School. We have no children but we do have a poodle mix named Buddy who we treat as our child. Our worship team practices on Thursday nights at 6:00 PM and we are always looking for new talent to join us. If you play an instrument or can sing and would like to audition, you can contact me at 574-358-1739 or email me at rodandjoyholmes@yahoo.com


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My name is Rod Holmes, and I am the worship leader of our praise and worship service. I’ve been involved in music ministry for as long as I can remember. My father was a Methodist minister and my mom, who was a very gifted musician, had me and my siblings singing on stage from the time I was three years old. I spent about 20 years in church ministry beginning as a worship pastor for a number of years and ending as a lead pastor before making a change in January of 2022 when I took a full-time position as a hospice chaplain, something that had been drawn to for several years. I am married to my wife, Joy, who is a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Northridge Middle School. We have no children but we do have a poodle mix named Buddy who we treat as our child. Our worship team practices on Thursday nights at 6:00 PM and we are always looking for new talent to join us. If you play an instrument or can sing and would like to audition, you can contact me at 574-358-1739 or email me at rodandjoyholmes@yahoo.com


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Kortnee Singer

Christian Education Director

Hi!  My name is Kortnee Singer and I am serving as the Children’s Ministry Director.  I grew up in Wabash, IN but have lived in the Elkhart Co. area since 2015.  I am in my 8th year of working as a pediatric speech therapist for Goshen Hospital.  As an SLP, my passions include working with children who have developmental disabilities, are deaf/hard-of-hearing, and helping non-verbal children communicate through ASL/communication devices.  I live in Goshen with my dog, Ella, and my cat, Minnie.  My hobbies include road biking, teaching special needs dance classes, clogging, kayaking, and doing LEGOs/puzzles with friends. I have been involved in children’s/youth ministry for several years, especially within the camping ministry.  I have served as a camp director with Camp Lakewood for the last several summers, and I also serve on the INUMC Board of Camps and Retreats.  We welcome your children to join us each Sunday for Children’s Church Connect from 10:10-10:50 and again for Children’s Church Remix during our 11:00 Praise and Worship Service.  We also have a staffed nursery for your infants/toddlers during both services. I can be reached by email at speechie.1991@gmail.com or by phone at (260) 571-9009.

 

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Hi!  My name is Kortnee Singer and I am serving as the Children’s Ministry Director.  I grew up in Wabash, IN but have lived in the Elkhart Co. area since 2015.  I am in my 8th year of working as a pediatric speech therapist for Goshen Hospital.  As an SLP, my passions include working with children who have developmental disabilities, are deaf/hard-of-hearing, and helping non-verbal children communicate through ASL/communication devices.  I live in Goshen with my dog, Ella, and my cat, Minnie.  My hobbies include road biking, teaching special needs dance classes, clogging, kayaking, and doing LEGOs/puzzles with friends. I have been involved in children’s/youth ministry for several years, especially within the camping ministry.  I have served as a camp director with Camp Lakewood for the last several summers, and I also serve on the INUMC Board of Camps and Retreats.  We welcome your children to join us each Sunday for Children’s Church Connect from 10:10-10:50 and again for Children’s Church Remix during our 11:00 Praise and Worship Service.  We also have a staffed nursery for your infants/toddlers during both services. I can be reached by email at speechie.1991@gmail.com or by phone at (260) 571-9009.

 

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Jeanne Weaver

Administrative Assistant

email: admin@fumcmiddlebury.org

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email: admin@fumcmiddlebury.org

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Rosa Troyer

Custodian

My name is Rosa Troyer. I live in Middlebury. My husband and I have been attending this Methodist church since 1990. We love it and the people.

I am the church custodian and also the kitchen coordinator.   I prepare the Sunday morning coffee hour as well as the Wed. evening meals.  If there is anything else I can help with, all one needs to do is ask and I will gladly go out of my way to help.

To contact me you and call or text 574-849-0430 or shoot me an email at rosatroyer@gmail.com
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My name is Rosa Troyer. I live in Middlebury. My husband and I have been attending this Methodist church since 1990. We love it and the people.

I am the church custodian and also the kitchen coordinator.   I prepare the Sunday morning coffee hour as well as the Wed. evening meals.  If there is anything else I can help with, all one needs to do is ask and I will gladly go out of my way to help.

To contact me you and call or text 574-849-0430 or shoot me an email at rosatroyer@gmail.com
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