Pastor Carrie

What gives me life is spending my days with people of all ages learning to give praise to God.   We are all on this journey in different stages but each of us are called to praise in one way or another.  The arts are the ways that I hear God the best and I love it when others are bringing their “song” as well.  I love most any genre of music or art if its done well.  I love it when the old rituals meet up with the new expressions of faith.  My heart sings when young ones help lead in worship right along side of the seasoned saints.  I am passionate about giving 100% in worship but I know for sure that God loves our gifts even when we are in the process of learning how to praise.  I connect most with people who LOVE their particular art as much as I love mine whether it’s music, writing, speaking, finance, electrical work, etc.

Some random facts about me if you are interested…

• My first love in music was piano.  I started taking lessons when I was 8 because there was a two for one deal and my mom wanted to learn to play.  I fell in LOVE.  Thanks Mom!
• I graduated from Western Carolina University with a B.S. Ed in music in 1999.  My concentrations were in clarinet and piano.  My goal was to be a better band director than my high school director who used to throw drum sticks and trash cans at us for not performing right. God had different plans…
• I never sang ever until college.  I was scared to death of Aural Skills class which was required for any music degree…so I joined the church choir!  It was there at Cullowhee UMC that I learned how to worship and discovered true community in Christ.
• I met my sweetheart at the WCU Wesley Foundation…he had a nice sports car (and I only had a 10 speed bike for a while).
• We married in July 2000 (ideal so you can remember how many years you’ve been married without any math skill) and moved to Dallas TX so I could attend Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University.
• Received a Masters of Sacred Music from Perkins/SMU in 2003 – studied choral conducting, handbells with the late David Davidson, global music and all kinds of other useful/practical worship leading skills with C. Michael Hawn. (a few accordion sessions as well but those never stuck thank God!)
• Churches I’ve served:  Tyro UMC – Davidson County, NC (2003-2007), St. John’s UMC – Fort Mill, SC (2008-2013), Hawthorne Lane UMC – Charlotte, NC (2013-2022), Williamson’s Chapel UMC – Currently
• I am an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, Western North Carolina Conference. (Ordained in 2006)

Non churchy stuff

• Clay and I have 4 of the best kids around – Eleana, Kaden, Zane, and Nina.  We are thankful for every day with them…even the hard ones when everyone is snotty to each other and we are terrible parents! Seriously though – they are each creative in their own way, they challenge us to be better people, we love seeing life through their eyes.
• We live in Huntersville with our 2 dogs… Corey is Eleana’s Chihuahua Mix and Sally is Nina’s new puppy – a silly, most loving, all in, all the time Lab mix.
• I love to run, bike, and have a newly acquired skill of paddle boarding.  I also love to bake…which might be why I need to do the former even more.
• I love renovating our house although I have no creative eye for this kind of thing – I copy everything I do from pinterest.  My favorite style is farmhouse chic and I’ve been known to aggravate the heck out of my family by repainting one room 4-5 times until it is “right”.
• A good latte can always start (or fix) a day right.  Starbucks has enjoyed too much of my money over this fettish so I’m currently learning to make my own at home with my very own manual expresso machine.

That’s probably more than anyone wants to know.  One last thing – if anyone is interested in piano lessons I teach a little on the side.  Grown ups and kids alike.  Information here