Rev. Dr. Melissa K. López
Pastor
Melissa was born and raised in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. She grew up in the PC(USA), was baptized and confirmed in her childhood congregation, and always felt at home in church. Melissa felt the call to ordained ministry in college and was blessed to have opportunities to explore her call to ministry serving alongside church staff in the Presbyterian university ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Collins, Colorado.
After college, Melissa moved to Austin, TX to attend Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. While living in Austin, Melissa fell in love with Tex-Mex, BBQ, and an Aggie named Jose. Melissa and Jose got married after she graduated and they have two awesome kids. Jose is also a Presbyterian minister serving in Baltimore Presbytery and they love being in ministry together. Melissa received her Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.
Before receiving the call to FPC Bel Air, Melissa and Jose were serving as associate pastors of The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, Michigan. Melissa has also served as a hospital chaplain at Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin, TX, and at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX.
In her free time, Melissa loves being outdoors, hiking, running, going to the beach, and enjoying all of God’s creation. She also loves cheering for all the Denver sports teams, especially the Broncos. The Lopez family enjoys movie nights at home, playing at the park, and exploring the Mid-Atlantic.
Kate Ciufo
Director of Children’s Ministry
Kate is a Harford County native who has always felt called to work with children. She enthusiastically joined FPC as the Director of Children’s Ministry in 2021. Kate wants FPC’s Children’s Ministry to be a place where all children are wholeheartedly welcome, regardless of background or circumstance, because children are not just the future of the church – children are the church!
Kate’s favorite event of the year is Vacation Bible School, where she can unleash her creativity, bring joy to kids, build community, celebrate faith, and make memories. She teaches the preschool and kindergarten Sunday School class on Sunday mornings at FPC, and during the week she teaches first grade at a nearby independent school. Kate holds a Master’s of Education in Instructional Technology from The University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Towson University.
Kate grew up attending a nearby Harford County church, playing the handbells and singing in the children’s choir. It was at church where she met her husband, Mike, on their high school confirmation retreat. Kate and Mike live in Bel Air with their three sons and two cats. Kate says that it is a dream come true to work with children and share God’s love.
Emilie Pilkerton
Director of Music and Choirmaster
Emilie is a Harford County-grown musician. She has a diverse musical background, having studied solo voice, vocal pedagogy, choral singing, flute, hand bells and conducting. She started in the HCPS music program as a student at Hickory Elementary School. About 15 years later, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from St. Olaf College in Minnesota in 2000, and then her Master of Music degree in Voice from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in 2005. She has an honorary Ph.D. in Patience and Eye-Rolling, given her parenting work with her three monsters (Eleanor, Jacob and Oliver).
While studying opera at Peabody, she performed roles in Hansel and Gretel, Gianni Schicchi, Aesop’s Fables, and Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. Her roles at home include: Mom, Wife to Ashton, Youth Soccer Groupie, Martial Arts Cheerleader, Chef Extraordinaire, Chief Financial and Administration Officer at Pilkerton Photography, Master Snuggle-Giver, Rule-Setter, and ‘Understudy #1 for Dishwasher-Emptier.’ She has been a soloist at Carnegie Hall in NY with the St. Olaf Choir, and a soloist with the St. Olaf Orchestra. She has performed in other notable venues including Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore. In her distant youth, she was a winner in Baltimore’s Wonderlic Competition, and a finalist at NATS and in the Vocal Arts D.C. competition in Washington, D.C.
Emilie’s previous longer-term church music affiliations include First and Franklin Presbyterian Church and Saint John’s in the Village Episcopal Church, both in Baltimore, MD. She enjoys teaching healthy singing and encouraging good performance practice in both sacred and secular venues, and she is committed to enhancing worship through musical expression. Most of all, she is devoted to her family and is so glad that they have found a community in FPC.
Stacie Wheeley
Office and Communications Coordinator
Stacie, a Harford County local, lives in Dublin/Darlington’s scenic countryside with Rob, her husband, and their two children, Josie and Nathan. Josie is a 20-year-old dance student at Oklahoma City University, while Nathan, 15, studies at Harford Christian School. Their family is completed by Finley, a very spoiled Golden Retriever.
Her working career started in retail, where she managed several stores for major brands before returning to college for marketing. She began her online marketing career in the early stages of social media marketing in 2000, during the infancy of the internet era when most people still had to log on via dial-up! Later after balancing family and work, she launched her own online marketing company, One Search Marketing, serving clients like Teflon.
Over the years, Stacie has spent most of her time cherishing all the moments of raising her kids while shuffling them from one event to another and volunteering at their school. Both of her kids attended First Presbyterian Pre-School, where they developed a love for school. Now that the kids are grown, in her free time, Stacie enjoys travel, looking for adventure, and hiking with Finley.
Angela Kromm
Organist and Accompanist
Angela is a lifelong Harford County resident who has always felt the call to work in music ministry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from The Catholic University of America and has over 30 years of experience in music.
Angela attended a local Harford County church growing up where she fell in love with providing music for worship services. Before coming to FPC, she served as a music director for a church for the last 5 years.
Angela lives in Bel Air with her husband and twin boys. She loves spending time with her family, going to the beach and playing board games together. In her free time, Angela enjoys training for and participating in triathlons.
Gordon Murray
Handbell Choir Director
Gordon was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to New York when he was entering the fourth grade. While in New York Gordon was blessed to begin studying the flute under a brilliant teacher who became a mentor to the young student. His love of music led him to gain a degree in Music Education at Ohio Wesleyan University. As a part of his courses, he learned to play a great variety of wind and percussion instruments. Upon completion of his studies at Ohio Wesleyan, he taught Elementary vocal and instrumental music for 41 years in various Baltimore City schools.
Gordon’s faith has led him to sing to the Lord in the First Presbyterian Church choir for 22 years. He also became the director of the First Presbyterian Church Handbell Choir which he has led for a total of 22 years. During that time he also directed a youth handbell choir that included both of his daughters. Gordon has a calling to serve The Lord by playing and singing to our great God.