Our
STAFF
Reverend Dr. Daniel B. Merry
Interim Sr. Pastor
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The Rev. Dr. Daniel B. Merry is an Honorary Retired Pastor in Pittsburgh Presbytery. Dan most recently served as part-time Interim Executive Director of Crestfield Camp & Conference Center in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
Dan served as Pastor/Head of Staff of the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania from August 2006 to August 2019.
Dan is married to Beth Brown Merry. Beth teaches communications at Waynesburg College.
From November 2000 until June 2006 Dan served as Associate Pastor to Pittsburgh Presbytery. Dan’s primary responsibilities involved working with the medium and large-sized congregations. He was also the staff person to the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Administrative Commission for Transformation, and the Malawi Partnership Ministry Team. Dan also served as Acting Pastor/Head of Staff to the Presbytery while Jim Mead was on Sabbatical in the spring of 2006.
Dan graduated from Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communications and Religion in 1977. He went on to Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia where he earned a D.Min. degree in 1981. During seminary Dan served as Student Pastor of the Midway Presbyterian Church in Maxton, North Carolina.
In June of 1981 Dan was called to serve the Second Presbyterian Church in Pittston, Pennsylvania. It was among this wonderful and loving congregation that Dan really learned what it was to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament.
In March of 1987 Dan accepted a call to the John McMillan Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. For thirteen years Dan served this dynamic and growing church in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. During that time JMPC grew from an average Sunday worship of 85 to almost 400. It was a joyous time of ministry.
Dan and Beth have been blessed with two children: Heather, a Special Education Teacher, and Brooke, a Volunteer Coordinator for medical mission.
From August 2004 until August 2005 the Merry family had the privilege of being loaned by Pittsburgh Presbytery to serve with the Synod of Blantyre in Malawi, Africa. They like to describe the year as “the most wonderful, difficult year of our lives”. To read the Merry Mission Journal, a personal account of their year in Malawi, visit the Southminster Presbyterian Church website.
Reverend Scott Shetter
Associate Pastor
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I was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in a rural community in southern Butler County, about 40 minutes north of the city outside of historic Saxonburg. I have been in the church as long as I can remember and came to Christ at an early age. I was always active in the life of the church and often felt that I had a role to play in ministry somewhere.
As I was completing my time in seminary, I became temporary supply at the First Presbyterian Church of Castle Shannon. Here, I would complete my MDiv. and would learn the many intricacies of serving a small church.
On October 1, 2011, I would be ordained and installed there and have served as their pastor since. I am currently working on a Doctorate in Discipleship. I believe the future of the church depends upon us building relationships with one another and with our communities.
My wife, Kimberly, and I met while working at the radio station in Pittsburgh, but I will leave it to you to ask her about that as it is her favorite story to tell. We have two grown daughters. Lauren is our elder daughter, and she has given us the joy of our grandson, Beckett Scott, who I also had the privilege of baptizing. Our younger daughter is Taylor. I had the honor of officiating her wedding to Zachary. They have a Boston Terrier, Dylan.
Kimberly and I have a wide variety of interests. Kimberly enjoys working with graphic and website design. She and I both love period dramas and have watched just about every version of Pride and Prejudice and Emma that have ever been produced. I am an avid reader and have a very eclectic library and can have as many as ten to twelve books being read in different places in the house, car, and office. I also love to do model railroading when I get the chance.
Debi Nicolella
Church Administrator
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The job of Church Administrator is a wonderful way to serve the congregation, the church and the
Lord! What a blessing it is to work in a church and begin each day walking into this beautiful
building! Dental Hygiene was my first profession, but my passion for the church and desire to serve are the credentials that brought me to this office. My responsibilities are many and varied, but I feel that communication is at the top of the list.
As a lifelong member I am proud to have raised my family here. My wonderful husband Anthony
and I are the parents of three amazing young adults, Abbi, Vincent and Jacob. We have been blessed beyond words.
Yvonne Gayle
Dir. Children, Youth, Family Min.
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I have been involved in children and youth ministry for over 20 years in different capacities and my most recent education is a Youth Ministry Certification from Point Loma University. I love watching children and teens discover God’s love for them. I have witnessed their lives be transformed through study, service and mission.
My ministry has included many mission trips working with Habitat for Humanity in Key West, Fl., Impact Ministries in South Carolina, Group Work Camps and more. I love to create new programs to help kids and families engage with the church. Some of my success has included a Bible adventure summer camp for middle schoolers, an after school Bible program, Winter Bible School and more. I strive to make evangelism modern and relevant to today’s culture.
I value family time with my husband, Yone, and sons, Jeremy age 29, Jackson 28, and Isaiah 17. I also enjoy many hobbies like painting, baking and Scuba diving.
Camille Braun
Pre-School Director
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Hello There - My name is Camille Braun and I am the luckiest person to be the Preschool
Director. I think children are just awesome. I have a BS degree in Speech Pathology from IUP
and my Master's Degree in Speech Pathology from Radford University. I have been the director for 27 years and enjoy every minute. The Preschool has been voted 4 years in a row to be The Best Preschool in Washington County from 2017 to present I am proud to say that I provide
along with my staff of 8 a great Christian environment with the ability to encourage children to
have fun and enjoy being a preschooler. I am happily married to Joel and have two awesome
sons, a daughter in law and a granddaughter! We all lead a very busy family life but take the
time to enjoy kayaking, golfing and the outdoors and feel blessed for these opportunities.
I would enjoy speaking with you about our church preschool. You can contact me by calling the
church. Our mission statement: Children Growing in God's Love.
Darla Pepper-Miller
Director of Music Ministry
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The Director of Music Ministries at The Church of the Covenant oversees all music programs at the church. These include The Covenant Choir, the adult choir; Teens For Christ, the choir for ages 13 and up; The Covenant Kids’ Choir, for children ages 4 to 12; The Jubilate Ringers, the adult bell ringers; and, The Covenant Ringers, the teenage bell ringers.
Ralph Farabee
Supervisor Buildings & Grounds
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My ministry is to take care of the facilities of the church. This responsibility includes the church building, as well as the ministry houses and rental properties associated with it. I have been employed since August 1999, and look forward to serving the church for much longer. My wife Janet and I have been married since 1982 and have two wonderful children, Jillian and Sam. My door is always open and together I pray that we will grow this church and reach the world for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
