Greg Sabetta is our pastor. He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago with degrees in education and music, and the Chicago Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He is ordained in the United Church of Christ and has served over 30 years in music ministry. In previous lives, he was marketing director for a music publisher, an arts administrator, and director of community relations for The Night Ministry. He still keeps his hand in music, guest lecturing at Chicago Theological Seminary and choral conducting for the Jewish High Holy Days. Greg was called to Edgebrook Community Church in May of 2009. His other interests include weight training, knitting, mixology, entertaining, and live music.
Alan Hommerding, Director of Music, holds graduate degrees in theology, liturgy, and music from St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore and the University of Notre Dame, with additional studies in organ, accompanying and vocal/choral pedagogy at Princeton University, Westminster Choir College and the Peabody Conservatory.
He is Senior Liturgy Publications Editor at World Library Publications in Franklin Park. His primary duties are as general editor of AIM: Liturgy Resources magazine, the Worship Works series for liturgical ministry, and as the editor of the WLP Organ Library. As an author, some of his main publications include a collection of hymn texts Songs of the Spirit, prayers for musicians Blessed Are the Music-Makers, a book about musical instruments from around the world St. Cecelia's Orchestra--which won the prestigious Moonbeam Award for children's literature (religion and spirituality)--and an organ method book From the Piano Bench to the Organ Bench. As a hymnwriter, he appears in the most recent edition of Panorama of Christian Hymnody, and in the New Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology.
As an organist, Alan has performed recitals across the U.S., from Los Angeles to Washington DC, with other performances in venues as diverse as the Mormon Tabernacle, the Vatican, and Milwaukee County Stadium (former home of the Brewers). In addition, he leads music clinics, choral and hymn festivals, and is a workshop presenter/speaker on liturgy, liturgical music, and the organ in worship.
Lauren Brown, Director of Christian Education, previously taught elementary school for several years prior to landing at Edgebrook Community Church. Her education background and experiences combined with her UCC upbringing and involvement in her previous church community make her well suited to work with the children of Edgebrook Community Church. Lauren enjoys teaching in a cross curricular fashion, therefore, a Sunday School lesson teaching about the creativity of God might be rich with science and art activities, or it might include music, drama, and math, which is not all that you might see. In the Sunday School, Lauren strives to teach children about God in creative, fun, and hands-on ways. Lauren has an Early Childhood Education degree from Illinois State University and desires to obtain a degree in the Christian Education field at some point. She enjoys spending time with her two children and husband, who are often seen at church.
Barb Brogan, Administrative Assistant brings over 25 years experience in the Technology industry. She has a strong background in Project Management, Marketing, Purchasing, Finance, and Human Resources. Most recently she worked as a Quality Engineer for a Software company. Church office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10-3.
Jerome Butera, Organist Emeritus, has served as organist and director of music at a number of churches, including the Park Ridge Community Church United Church of Christ, St. Gertrude Church, Chicago; and First Baptist Church, Ann Arbor. He also taught organ and church music for many years at DePaul University, where he served as university organist. He earned a master’s degree in organ from the University of Michigan, and a doctorate from the American Conservatory of Music. He is currently ad manager for “The Diapason,” a monthly journal about the pipe organ and church music, of which he was formerly editor and publisher for almost 30 years. Now retired, Jerome and his wife, Sharon, a retired school librarian (District 64) live on their family farm in Viroqua, Wisconsin. When they aren't tending chickens and maintaining fields, Sharon can be found quilting and Jerome can be found practicing on the pipe organ in their home.