Rev. Rachel Winter, Pastor
Rachel grew up in Birmingham, where she was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and was active in the youth group at Southminster Presbyterian Church. She was part of the youth council for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley and also served as a counselor for summer camp several summers during college. She attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She got her Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
During her ministry, Rachel has served as an Associate Pastor at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama and the Associate Pastor/Campus Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Auburn, Alabama. She also most recently served several interim roles as campus minister, children’s minister, and youth minister at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Rachel also currently serves on the Commission on Ministry for our presbytery, as well as the teaching elder for our presbytery to the Synod of Living Waters. She has also played many other meaningful roles for our presbytery and denomination—she has served on the presbytery’s Executive Council, Personnel Committee, as a summer camp director, as a co-director for the Montreat Women’s Conference, several Montreat College Conference planning teams, where she had one of the honors of her life in meeting her hero, Congressman John Lewis.
Rachel loves to read, go to movies, listen to podcasts and music, go to Auburn games (most of the time), and hang out with her dog, Rosie. Most of her family lives in Birmingham, and she is the proudest aunt on the planet to her niece, Jenna, and nephew, Blake. Ask her anytime and she’ll be happy to talk about them! She is so excited and deeply thankful about this new adventure.
Janet Roberta, Office Manager
Born Janet Dawn Ferguson in Birmingham on Father’s Day, I was named Janet for my mother’s paternal grandmother who was born in Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Scotland and settled in Wylam and later Ensley, Alabama in the early 1900s. Mom intended to give me the middle name of Lee (after her maternal grandmother) but when I was born at the break of day, my father changed it to Dawn. My name is special because it was given to me by my parents. I hope to always live up to that.
I added Roberta to my name in 1992 when I was blessed to marry the other half of my soul, Andrew. We live in Helena and share our home with our Plott Hound, Stella (aka “the Stellinator”).
Prior to joining the Presbyterian church, I experienced the joy of our risen Savior in a variety of denominational settings which has taught me to appreciate the creativity and diversity with which the Lord has pursued a relationship with me…tenacity tempered with gentleness. The Lord meets us where we are and never gives up on us. I came to Oakmont Chapel as the office manager in January 2022 having served in that position at Chapel in the Pines for 17 years prior to their merger with Oakmont in October 2018 allowing me to continue and maintain connectivity with both church families. During that time, I was a member of the Administrative Personnel Association (APA) achieving Level III certification and serving in various leadership positions while making connections with other leaders and administrators across the country. Being a church employee has given me the opportunity to experience a variety of situations from a unique perspective, and I am grateful for the growth and the continued awareness of God’s sovereignty and providence in our lives.
I love the Lord with all my heart, but only because He loved me first. I stay in constant awe of His great love for me expressed through nature, family, and friends, but most of all through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. God’s love and grace is truly amazing. Every day is Easter!
~ Ephesians 3:17-19; 1Peter 1:3
Jonathon Brown, Pianist and Co-Choir Director
Jonathon Brown’s musical training and participation in church choirs began when he was a very young child. From that time, he received instruction that ultimately led to degrees in music education and performance. While working on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Louisiana State University, he met his wife, Naomi, who was also a doctoral piano student. They married and moved back to Birmingham. Jonathon and Naomi have each been active as teachers, performers, and church musicians.
Since 2007, Jonathon has served as Oakmont Chapel’s organist/pianist. He enjoys working with the choir, and various singers and instrumentalists to present a testimony in songs, hymns, and anthems for each Sunday service. Jonathon feels privileged to guide the chime choir through music made special by both the unique sounds of these instruments and the dedication of each member. He also looks forward each Sunday to being part of the worship service, which helps prepare the minds and hearts of the congregation for the pastor’s message. Jonathon deeply believes that through praise, prayer, and reflection we are all encouraged to rely on the Lord’s guidance, as we support each other and seek answers to some of life’s most perplexing questions.
Sheldon Eller, Co-Choir Director
Born in Florence, Alabama, longer ago than she’d like to admit, Sheldon was named Harriet Sheldon Jones, the 5th in a line of Harriet Sheldons in the family. She gave a brief shot at being called “Harriet” in junior high school, but it never seemed to suit her because, as her grandfather put it, “she is unique.” Sheldon also says that those who know her well, might choose another adjective!
Graduating magna cum laude from Judson College in Marion, Alabama, in 1968, with a BA degree, Sheldon majored in French and minored in applied piano. She sang in the Judson Choir and, in addition to the piano, learned to play the organ and guitar, the latter being self-taught, all of which she has used in her work in churches and leading music with a Bible study group in her home for 31 years..
Sheldon began singing in church choirs when she was about 11 years old, frequently singing at St. Wilfred’s Episcopal Church in Marion, Alabama, where her grandmother played the organ and her grandfather sang tenor. Sheldon says with that family background she had to be half dead before missing a service, but she loved it. “I loved the music. I loved the reverence in the church. I loved my church family, but most of all, I loved my Lord, something that has never changed, only grown.
“So, in my golden years, when I was literally handed the music and asked to serve as choir director, I found myself in the middle of something astounding. Although I had led a praise team years ago, sung solos, and served in many choirs, I never would have thought of leading a choir full time, much less at age 76! I volunteered to serve for 6 months while OCPC searched for a new choir director. To date, it has not found one. In February, 2024, I will begin my third year in this position, and I admit to loving it more than I ever dreamed. It has been my joy and privilege to discover that God isn’t finished with me yet! I like to believe I choose good music that people generally enjoy. My philosophy, which based on my experience in choirs is not the norm, is to choose a wide variety of music so if an individual congregation member hates the music one week, they can be assured it will be different the following week. More importantly, I pray that the words and music mean enough to the choir members, so they can convey that meaning to the congregation in worship. We cannot lead where we have not been ourselves. Like God’s word, I want our music to be alive, joyful, uplifting, thoughtful and new–every Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, I love to sing the old standards as much as anyone, but singing the same thing all the time does not engage the hearts and spirits of the congregation—or the choir. Although they are beautiful, evoke memories and deliver comfort, the familiar does not always stretch us. I believe God invites us on a journey to draw closer to Him. So, ‘Come and worship, royal priesthood. Come and praise Him, holy nation. Worship Jesus, our Redeemer. He is precious, King of Glory.’ Let us enter His presence together!”
Tanya Shook, Nursery