Rev. Terri Cofiell
Pastor
Our lead pastor has actually returned to Epworth: she was baptized in our first location on Cockeysville Road in 1958! A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary and Towson University (not to mention Dulaney High School), in 2020 she celebrated the 35th anniversary of her ordination. Prior to 1985, she worked as Youth Director at St. John’s UMC in Lutherville and Student Assistant Pastor at Glenelg UMC in Howard County. Serving in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia for the previous 23 years, her appointment to Epworth is truly a homecoming.
Rev. Cofiell brings a variety of gifts and experience to our congregation. She served in The Baltimore-Washington Conference’s Deaf Ministry as a Chaplain (Gallaudet University and St. Elizabeths Hospital) and as pastor of the Magothy UMC of the Deaf before returning to traditional pastoral ministry. She has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Conference Council on Youth Ministries, and the Communications Commission. She has written curriculum for The United Methodist Publishing House and Abingdon Press and leads a Contemplative Photography retreat each October for The BWC.
Epworth’s commitment to mission inspires her. She is excited by working with the congregation and staff to continue building on the foundation laid by those who have given their time and talent to our community for more than a century. Preaching, teaching, and designing worship still excite her. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and wandering with her camera. Widowed in 2016, Pastor Terri shares her home with Jessie, a 70+ pound Giant Schnauzer.
Melissa Feigenbaum
Director of Epworth Children's Center
Melissa Feigenbaum has served as the director of the Epworth Children’s Center since June 2017. Prior to coming to Epworth, she taught third grade, kindergarten, and pre-school classes in Baltimore City. Melissa loves working with children and helping to make a difference in their lives. She graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2013 and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2016. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, arts and crafts and spending time with family and friends.
Lambert Corcoran
Director of Music
Lambert welcomes the opportunity to lead the music ministries at Epworth United Methodist Church. He is excited to get to know everyone better, while enthusiastically working to continue and develop all the musical gifts at Epworth.
Lambert has a degree in Jazz Piano from The New School. He spent much of his working life in the visual arts, working for galleries and art foundations in New York City while also playing and performing with local popular groups and church choirs. During the pandemic (and after much soul searching), he has discerned a clear call to redirect his energies to pursuing sacred music. He is currently taking courses in this area and will be studying privately with a choral director from Peabody.
Prior to his new position, Lambert was playing for St. Luke’s Church on the Avenue, where he brought an eclectic approach to hymns and liturgy, incorporating everything from jazz, bluegrass, gospel, pop, and everything in between. He hopes to bring his passion for these popular genres to the contemporary worship service, with the goal of creating a musical group for the 9:30 am service.
Lambert has a profound respect for traditional forms of worship as well, and will strive to fully honor the past and present while working to create a future that can be faithful to both. We all deserve to worship our great God in the mode where we can most authentically express our thanks and praise.
Lambert resides in the Hampden area of Baltimore. He has a daughter, who studies at Berklee College of Music.
Jacki Stranathan
Coordinator of Children's Ministries
Jacki Stranathan is a born and bred Methodist. She loved Methodism even to the point of following in John Wesley’s footsteps in England.
Presently, she lives in Westminster with her husband of 40 years (and high school sweetheart), Malcolm Stranathan, Pastor at Westminster UMC, her daughter Elisabeth, and her dog Merlin, and Beth’s cat Jinx. Her son Wes lives in Avon, Colorado. And her daughter Brittany, born in Britain, husband Danny and grandson Harrison live in England.
Jacki has worked all around the Baltimore/Washington Conference for 32 years. Her first job was with Pastor Terri at Trinity United Methodist Church. She is a graduate of Western Maryland College and most recently she received her MA from Wesley Seminary. She is an advocate for Children. Her favorite verse is Micah 6:8; What does the Lord require of you? To seek Justice. And Love Kindness. And walk humbly with our God.
In her spare time, Jacki travels to visit her children, RVs in her Behemoth, and knits and crochets.
Cara Norris
Administrative Assistant
Originally from central Pennsylvania, Cara lives in nearby Reisterstown, MD with her husband, two daughters, and their dog, Scout. The family attends Reisterstown UMC where Cara also volunteers as the Sunday School Coordinator.
Cara has served as Epworth’s administrative assistant since 2017. Before that, she was a full-time mom. Everyone at Epworth (staff, volunteers, parishioners) relies on Cara to attend to the many details of keeping the church running smoothly. From coordinating flowers to the altar to helping those less fortunate who come seeking assistance, Cara is always ready to help.
In her spare time, you can find Cara reading, hanging out with her family, hiking, or making a list – there is always a list!
