Meet Our Team

Pastor Amanda Richards

Directing Pastor

Pastor Amanda Richards

Directing Pastor

Pastor Amanda was called to ministry when she was 16 years old. She grew up on a farm between Lexington and Gridley, Illinois, attending Lexington FUMC. After graduating from Lexington High School in 1996, she attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois where she received a BA with a major in Psychology in 2000. She then attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where she received her Masters of Divinity in 2003.

When she returned to her home conference, IGRC, she was appointed as an Associate at Shiloh UMC in Shiloh, Illinois for four years. During that time she met her husband, Brian. They married and had their first child, Mason, while at Shiloh UMC.

From there they moved to Heyworth, Illinois where they added Parker to their family and served the church and community there for nine years.

In 2016, she was appointed to Pana FUMC, and they lived and served the church and community there for the past five years.

They are a Disney World visiting, Marvel movie watching family of homebodies who enjoy playing games, gardening, and reading.

Phone:217-423-9711
Email:PastorAmanda@decaturfirstumc.org

Pastor April Patek

Associate Pastor

Pastor April Patek

Associate Pastor

Pastor April Patek has a Bachelor of Music Education (flute emphasis) from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and a Masters in Christian Education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL. Before entering ministry, Pastor April taught concert band, marching band, orchestra, and music in the public schools as well as a private flute studio. While in seminary, April completed clinical pastoral education (chaplaincy) at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and completed field education at Trinity UMC, Mt. Prospect and Prince of Peace UMC, Elk Grove Village. After graduating from seminary, she continued her passion for youth and children and served as the Director of Family Ministries at Christ United Methodist Church in Algonquin, IL and then Rochester United Methodist Church in Rochester, IL.

Pastor April is gifted and happy to work with all people of all ages but is especially grateful for the opportunity to work with the young people at Decatur First. Pastor April has a great passion for mission work and not only desires to serve on her own but to encourage the youth group to be in mission as well. Pastor April also has a great passion for walking beside people in their faith journey and seeing the development from children to youth to adult.

In her free time, Pastor April loves to learn new things and play board and card games. Her four cats: BB, Shadow, “Theo”philus, and Amora, are her babies and bring her great joy, laughter, and comfort.

Phone:217-423-9711
Email:pastorapril@decaturfirstumc.org

Rev. Miley Palmer

Pastor of Visitation

Rev. Miley Palmer

Pastor of Visitation

Pastor Miley has been married to his wife, Janet for over 55 years, and together they have four children. Palmer has served in ministry since 1955 across the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, retiring from full-time ministry in 1998.

Following retirement, he has served as a full-time hospital chaplain, on the staff of two Presbyterian churches, several interim pastorates, and as a Development Associate for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Palmer has served as Minister of Visitation at Decatur First since 2008 and continued in ministry as a volunteer by serving on the Board of Trustees of McKendree University the Conference Board of Church and Society, and several community activities. He has been a member of the Decatur Commission on Human Relations and has served as its chairperson.

Phone:217-423-9711
Email:pastormiley@decaturfirstumc.org

Jennifer Horton-Motter

Director of Children and Family Ministries

Jennifer Horton-Motter

Director of Children and Family Ministries

Jennifer grew up in Decatur attending the First United Methodist Church with her parents, Bill & Lana Horton. She married Chris Motter in 2002 after having received a Bachelor’s of Science in Education from Illinois State University. She began her career teaching Kindergarten in Racine, Wisconsin. Jennifer and Chris have three children. Outside of work she volunteers at her children’s schools and with Scouts. For fun, Jennifer loves stamping, paper-crafting, reading and feeding her Pinterest addiction.

Phone:217-423-9711
Email:jennifer@decaturfirstumc.org

Mary Beth Sederburg

Director of Music

Mary Beth Sederburg

Director of Music

Mary Beth Sederburg earned her B.M. in Piano/Music Education at Mercyhurst University and her M.M. in Opera Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University. She has performed over 60 operatic roles and appeared with companies and orchestras along the East Coast and in Italy.

Ms. Sederburg is originally from Erie, PA and lived in Pittsburgh, PA for many years. She has led a multi-faceted career as a singer, educator, pianist, conductor, and organist, serving numerous congregations and universities over a span of 25 years. She has also recently worked with young singers at both Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Summer Program and Interlochen Academy of the Arts.

Mary Beth moved to Decatur in 2018. In addition to her position at the church Ms. Sederburg is the Music Director of the Millikin Opera Theatre, where her husband Ian Greenlaw is the Opera Director. She joyfully serves as Music Director/Organist here at Decatur First United Methodist Church, and is working on writing a science fiction trilogy. She will let you know when it’s finished! --Zeph. 3:17

Phone:217-423-9711
Email:marybeth@decaturfirstumc.org

Office Staff

Barbi Gardiner

Administrative Secretary
Graphic Designer

office@decaturfirstumc.org

Krista Smith

Receptionist

receptionist@decaturfirstumc.org

Nysa Leggions

Financial Secretary

finance@decaturfirstumc.org

Building and Grounds

Jim & Susie Pope

Janitorial Staff

Parish Nursing Team

Gail Fyke

Cindy Machalicky

Church Council

Barb Cooper

Church Council Chair

Pastor Amanda

Directing Pastor

Ruth Cortright

Church Council Secretary

Bill Brown

Communications and Technology

Leon Bolin

Congregational Care

TBD

Education

Viki Hubbard & Kathy Crouch

Fellowship

Duane McCoskey

Finance

Tim Lee

Financial Task Force

Mark Vandermyde

Foundation

Elaine Beam

Lay Leader

Elaine Beam

Memorial

Debbie Vandermyde

Missions

N/A

Parish Nurse

Sandy Johnson

SPRC

N/A

Stewardship

Dave Johnson

Treasurer

Sam Kershaw

Trustees

Virginia McQuistion

UMW

Linda Cooper

Worship

Lana Hoey

Funeral Meals

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Pastor Amanda Richards

Pastor April Patek

Rev. Miley Palmer

Jennifer Horton-Motter

Mary Beth Sederburg

Office Staff

Building and Grounds

Parish Nursing Team

Church Council

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