Reverend Myra Moreland was recently commissioned as an Elder in the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. She served as a Licensed Local Pastor for more than 5 years in both the Michigan and Tennessee Conferences. Most recently she has been serving as the pastor of Pegram United Methodist Church (outside Nashville). Rev. Moreland has been appointed as lead pastor to Troy First United Methodist Church as of July 1, 2022.
Rev. Moreland served as associate pastor and interim lead pastor for Royal Oak First United Methodist Church for more than 4 years where she led Congregational Care, Adult Discipleship, Children, Youth and Family Ministries and Missions. She has also served on the Greater Detroit District Committee for Church Vibrancy, helping churches renew and restructure to better serve Christ in their communities In her business career, Myra Moreland served as the President of Revstone Industries and Revstone Transportation, a large, tier 1 supplier with more than 20 facilities worldwide. Revstone designed and manufactured a variety of transportation components for the automotive, heavy truck and aerospace industries. Myra Moreland came to Revstone from Ducker Worldwide. In her role as managing director, she worked as a consultant and advisor for mergers and acquisitions. Myra Moreland spent most of her career (1981-2003) as Founder, President, and CEO of Moreland Communications. What began as a restructuring assignment for a (then) struggling Chrysler Corporation became a 20+ year relationship that led to key assignments in communications, strategy, quality, and divestitures/spinoffs. Through Moreland Communications, Myra Moreland also worked closely with General Motors, Ford and a long list of automotive suppliers gaining knowledge and forging relationships across the auto industry. Myra Moreland has both a Master of Divinity and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University/ Vanderbilt Divinity School. She has lived in Birmingham, Michigan for more than 30 years. She has three children and three grandchildren, all of whom live in the Birmingham area. Prior to her appointment in Royal Oak, she was an active member of Birmingham First United Methodist Church for more than 30 years, teaching 2nd grade Sunday School for 33 years and serving on a long list of administrative committees. She also travelled with the Missions Team to Ghana Africa and began work with women and children that she continues today. In 2010 she launched the nonprofit, Project Lydia serving women and families around the world. Myra Moreland travelled several times to Malawi Africa and through Project Lydia established an education and support center for women with HIV/AIDS. Myra Moreland is active in the community and has taken a leadership role in a number of charities. She has chaired numerous charity fundraisers, including the National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Ball (for 4 years), the Gleaners Women’s Power Breakfast, and the Alternatives for Girls Role Model Dinner. Myra Moreland currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and Big Green (a charity bringing food literacy education and the excitement of Learning Gardens to intercity schools across Michigan.) |
The Rev. Dr. G. Charles Sonquist is simply called Chuck. Born in Iowa on a family farm, he graduated from Cornell College majoring in philosophy and sociology. For a year, he worked in retail and photography. Seminary years were in Dallas at SMU in Perkins School of Theology, A post seminary year was at the Evangelish Theological Facultat at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He earned his doctorate during the 90's at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. His project focused on the relationships between God, neighbor and the self. After three years as an associate pastor in Royal Oak First, Chuck served as pastor in charge of churches in Southfield, Troy and Livonia. Since retirement from full time in 2002 Chuck and his wife, Jane, have lived over the border of from Troy in Bloomfield Township. For the last four years, he has faithfully served in this position with his calls on shut in members. Bicycling and sailing have served as forms of therapy for Chuck. The bike keeps his ankle working and sailing has nourished his soul through racing and cruising.
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Lisa Head, joined the staff of Troy First UMC 15 years ago, when we opened our new addition and started welcoming the community into our facility. She faithfully continues to serve and does whatever is needed to help our church grow and improve.
In her former life, Lisa retired after 11 years at Chrysler Engineering, to stay home and raise her two children, Tom and Becky, with her husband, Ken. Lisa started out volunteering at our church in the early 1990's, and after serving on several committees and task forces, God called Lisa to serve in a staff position. When Lisa isn't managing the many ministries and usage at Troy First, and promoting our faith outreach to the surrounding communities, she enjoys her role as GaGa, spending time with her three grandsons, Luke (3 1/2 years) and Joseph (17 months), Mark (newborn) and their families. |
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VICTORIA AURAND
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Victoria joined our staff in June of 2019. She grew up in Troy First and is honored to return as an adult to serve in her position. She serves as the coordinator of all digital communications in addition to a multitude of administrative duties and assisting the staff & congregation in whatever they may need. In April 2020, she took on our family ministries role. She serves as the coordinator of all programs for kindergarten through college students through VBS. Mission Trips, First Kids, UMYF & more. Victoria graduated from Western Michigan University in 2018 and worked in Minnesota for a year before moving back to the mitten state. She has a passion for serving others and spreading Jesus' love and light. Victoria loves her job because it allows her to connect with so many church members who have greatly impacted her life since she was a toddler, in addition to helping the church continue to grow and improve. She absolutely loves what she gets to call "work" and do every day. When she isn't at church, she enjoys spending time with family & friends, reading, going on long walks, watching football, and worshiping Jesus!!
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We are excited to have George join our staff in this new position in October of 2021. George worked 43 years at Wayne State University, many years with DALNET, a multi-type library consortia of public, private, and hospital libraries including WSU, MCC, WCC, Greenfield Village, and DIA. When he retired, his wife told him to “find something to do” since she had retired sooner than he.
George then worked at Royal Oak First Methodist Church (ROFUM) as the hospitality director and then decided to become a Licensed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church. After first becoming licensed, George worked for six months at ROFUM as Pastor to New Members and Homeless.
George then became pastor to Four Towns, a small (20) member church in Waterford (¼ time). We are thrilled that he has joined our staff here for 10 hours (¼ time) per week. George is married, with three grown daughters and three grandchildren.
George then worked at Royal Oak First Methodist Church (ROFUM) as the hospitality director and then decided to become a Licensed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church. After first becoming licensed, George worked for six months at ROFUM as Pastor to New Members and Homeless.
George then became pastor to Four Towns, a small (20) member church in Waterford (¼ time). We are thrilled that he has joined our staff here for 10 hours (¼ time) per week. George is married, with three grown daughters and three grandchildren.
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Steve Kosinski has been Director of Music at Troy First since the fall of 2009, and has been a choir director, private voice teacher, music educator and professional actor/singer for over 45 years, and has conducted church choirs in virtually every denomination imaginable! Earning his Actor’s Equity Card in 1980, he has appeared in Broadway and National Touring Companies including “Sweeney Todd,” directed by Hal Prince, “”Woman of the Year,” with Barbara Eden, “Pirates of Penzance,” with Christopher Hewett and Scott Bakula, “Shenandoah,” with John Raitt and others. He has also appeared in numerous operas and performed recitals and concerts with major opera companies and symphonies, as well as countless voiceovers, commercials and television/film. He is also a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and ASCAP. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University with double majors in Theatre and Music, as well as an M.M. in Opera/Music Theatre from Southern Illinois University. He has done additional studies in vocal pedagogy and vocal production at University of Illinois, Oberlin College, University of Minnesota and NYU. Steve has four grown children and one grandson, and is happily married to the love of his life, Lynn Fairbrother Kosinski. They live in Grosse Pointe MI.
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Casey joined our staff in the fall of 2019. Casey received his Bachelors in Piano Performance from Grand Valley State in 2012. While at Grand Valley Casey was a pianist for rehearsals for multiple choirs, theater productions, commencements, university events and much more. He then went on to University of Illinois where he was an Accompanying Teaching Assistant while he worked on his Masters in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying which he received in 2014. Casey served as a Pianist, Coach and Reprituer for the Chicago Opera Theatre and Chicago College of the performing Arts from 2015-2017, when he received his Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching. On top of this he has a multitude of professional experience including Assistant Music Director for the Chicago Redline, Music Director for Encore Theatre, Pianist for Disney, Encore!, Pianist, Coach and Repetition for Interlochen Center for Arts Theatre Productions and Freelance Coaching; some of which he is still doing today! Casey is currently a Pianist for the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance in Ann Arbor.
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Sheryl has been the Handbell Director at Troy First since 1986. She was born in Ohio and earned Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University majoring in clarinet. After graduating, she married Craig, moved to Michigan and worked for Waterford Public Schools teaching music in seven elementary schools and all six secondary schools. She was also playing clarinet in the Pontiac Symphony. It was then that she joined Troy First for the first time and taught children’s music. Sheryl resigned to start a family and moved to Pennsylvania when Craig’s job took them there. It was in her time at Trinity United Methodist Church she became interested in another type of music-Handbells. She joined their choir 1 year later and became the director of the Handbell choir. Three years later, they moved again, to Dallas Texas and joined another Methodist Church where she enjoyed playing in their Handbell choirs. In 1986, the Dukes moved back to Troy and rejoined Troy First for the second time, whre she then become the director. She held an instrumental music position with Roeper Schools for before she had a change of heart to pursue a degree in Nursing. Sheryl earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1994 and worked in oncology, geriatric rehab, case manager, and 14 years as a hospice nurse. Presently, her love of history and teaching moved her to become a docent at Meadowbrook Hall giving private tours. Craig and Sheryl have one son, Brian who is married to Kelly who have given them three wonderful grandchildren. She continues to direct the Handbell choirs to express God’s Word through music.