Bridge Pastor: Rev. Martha "Marti" Smith Pastor Marti began serving as Zion’s Bridge Pastor in May, 2024, after Rev. Austin Chinault retired. A Bridge Pastor is an ordained minister who serves a congregation in transition as they are preparing to search for a settled pastor. Pastor Marti has previously served in this capacity for other churches in the Pottstown. She attended Duke University for history and education and then Duke Divinity School, and was awarded a Ph. D. in Bible and Early Church Studies. Pastor Marti started her career teaching Old and New Testament, World Religions, and later Technology and Ethics before moving on to automating libraries and teaching online. Moving to Pennsylvania in the late 1990’s, she taught at Clarion and Drexel University, focusing on moving library services online and taking library education to the Internet. Now she is delighted to have so many church resources and networking online and was excited to move worship services online during the pandemic. Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, Pastor Marti moved to North Carolina for college and graduate school and her early career before finally moving to Pennsylvania. She has a daughter, April, who lives in the Philadelphia area. She also has two loving cats, Georgia, and Elliot. Her leisure activities include yoga, movies, cooking, and travel. She is eager to return to Scotland and finds Paris enchanting.
Office Administrator: Kimberly Kulesa Kim comes to Zion's UCC with a degree in business management and an extensive background in office administration. She has two children, and lives in the Gilbertsville area. Kim is in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Music Director: Keith Clattenburg Keith began piano lessons at 5 years old and continued until he was 18. At age 12, he started to accompany his dad who was soloist and choir director at many local churches. Entering High School, Keith was chosen to accompany many different choirs, including the PIAA Concert Choir and Southeastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association Choir. At age 16, Keith was introduced to the organ by legendary Wanamaker organist Keith Chapmen. Keith studied under him for 2 years then started studying with Biff Claflin of Abington Presbyterian Church. After High School, Keith entered the Marine Corps where he was a Chaplin’s assistant and played for every church service on Paris Island. A few years ago, Keith had some cameo appearances in Discovery Channel's Amish Mafia and Destination America's Amish Haunting. Fast forward to the present day, you will find Keith substituting at local churches on Saturday nights, along with his wife Laura singing cantor parts and special music when needed. UCC, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran are some of the denominations where he has substituted. Keith is also heavily involved in community theater in the Greater Philadelphia Area. He has musically directed over 15 musicals and continues to serve the community as much as possible. Keith's prayers were answered when, in search of something more stable, he stumbled upon the need for a Music Director at Zion's. He is grateful to be a part of the warm and welcoming Zion's family.