staff

Rev. Chris McArdle, Pastor

I am convinced of the truth of Paul's claim in Romans 8:38-39 that there is nothing in Heaven nor on earth that can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.  Well into my second decade of parish ministry, that verse continues to shape my sense of pastoral identity and call, especially as that inseparable love leads us to unravel the stigmas that have built up in and around the Church. Jesus said we are to live life abundantly, and our theologies shouldn’t make that harder!

Nonetheless, in all our human messiness we try.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in Christ's Way in the world as we speak out against the abuse of power, stand in solidarity with the persecuted and oppressed, and raise our collective voice to bring attention to injustice.  As the Church, we live by the guidance of Matthew 25:40, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."  Through these things the Spirit in us reaches out to connect with the Spirit in others, and together we build community.  We grow, we love, and we walk together in the name of Jesus.  For me, that's what it means to be Church.

As for the rest, I’m a native of the state of Nebraska, though I have called Minnesota my second home since long before moving here in 2016 to become the pastor of First Congregational Church UCC. Hindsight suggests I was always headed toward ministry, given I earned my Bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Doane University (Crete, NE) and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Boston University some years before finally becoming a third-generation earner of a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri (1853, 1960, and 2009).  If you visit my office, you’ll find it littered with both Bibles and geeky toys.  The Spirit speaks to me as much through the second as it does through the first! 

other staff

Office Hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

You may contact the following staff via email through our Office Administrator.

Minister of Visitation: Pastor Kelsey Renk
Office Administrator: Jennifer Rono (office@uccanoka.org)
Director of Music Ministries: Don Shier
Keyboardist: Gideon Scheeler
Youth Ministry Coordinator: Melissa Peifer
Children’s Ministry Coordinator: Jadie Lerohl
Nursery Director: Eva Jachymowski