mEET OUR CHURCH STAFF

  • Rev. patrick mcpherson
    senior minister

    Rev. Patrick was appointed to St. Stephen's in June 2023. Patrick was born in Oklahoma but raised in Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma. He is the son of United Methodist clergy and a life-long United Methodist. He attended the University of Nebraska for a time but eventually graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BA in Political Science and History. After graduation in 1992 he served with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) doing mission work in Bosnia Herzegovina during the war in the Balkans. He returned to Oklahoma and in the Fall of 1994 enrolled at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. While in seminary he served in a number of urban ministry settings, including DenUM (a United Methodist urban ministry) and Urban Peak, where he was the director of the overnight shelter for homeless youth in the Denver area.


    Finishing seminary, he returned to Oklahoma in 1999, was commissioned in 2002 and ordained in 2005. During his time in Oklahoma he served the Geary UMC, Cameron Campus Ministry, Snyder UMC, Indiahoma UMC, and Kingfisher UMC. In his ministry, he loves doing mission work and working with youth. He also loves to travel, play golf and study history.


  • Rev. Dr. Janice Sharp

    Director of Care ministries & Adult Education

    Rev. Sharp is a retired elder within the United Methodist Church and she joined the St. Stephen's staff in November 2023. A native Oklahoman, a graduate of Cameron University, she received her Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University and has a Doctorate of Ministry from Drew University. She has served churches in Spiro, Madill, Nichols Hills, Tonkawa, Duncan, and Lawton. She is married to Rev. Doyle Sharp who is also a retired elder. 

  • Daniel mitchell

    Administrative coordinator

    Daniel was born and raised in Norman and joined St. Stephens as administrative coordinator in March 2024. He taught Italian at OU immediately after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Letters. He has also worked in banking and has previous experience in church administration. He looks forward to developing long lasting relationships with the people here and wishes to provide quality support for the various ministries that St. Stephen's has to offer. Daniel loves spending time with his family and his girlfriend, Justine. He also enjoys movies, running, chess, and traveling.

     

  • Marci corey

    Director of music ministries

    Marci is a long time resident of Norman and joined the St. Stephen's staff in October 2021. She has a degree in instrumental and vocal music education from the University of Oklahoma and taught music in Norman Public Schools for 8 years. Marci was a member and the director of the Oklahoma City Handbell Ensemble for 5 years and has a passion for developing and leading ensembles of all ages and skill levels. She has led vocal and handbell choirs at several greater metro area churches over the past 25+ years and is very excited to be leading the music ministries at St. Stephen's. She also works as Program Manager for Alzheimer's Association Oklahoma. When she's not leading music, you can find Marci and her husband, Lance, out on their homestead raising dairy goats and chickens and tending their large raised bed gardens.

  • Jennifer mcDanel

    Director of Children's ministries

    Jennifer joined St. Stephen's staff in September 2023. She attended St. Stephen's as a small child and, after attending other UMC churches, rejoined St. Stephen's with her family in 2020.  An OU anthropology graduate, Jennifer works full time at Reagan Elementary in Norman as the attendance and enrollment secretary.  She and her husband Bryan have two adult children and their spouses, two grandchildren, and two children still at home -  Rachel and Nora, who are active in St. Stephens Youth Group.  In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys watching college football (BOOMER SOONER!), spending time with family, playing with their three dogs, traveling and all crafting but especially scrapbooking.  She is honored to serve the families of St. Stephen's and play a small role in the spiritual journey of the children.  

  • Alyssa Miller
    Director of Youth Ministries

    Alyssa joined St. Stephens in 2015 and volunteered as a youth group sponsor for about three years before becoming Youth Ministries Director in December 2018. She grew up in Anadarko and moved around after graduation to play college softball in Texas and Oklahoma. She earned a degree in kinesiology and currently works as a business analyst in a local bank compliance department. Alyssa is married to Amber Mathis, and they have three fur babies: Fiona, Finn and Fergus. In their free time, Alyssa and Amber enjoy hiking, fishing, sports and spending time with family. Alyssa loves being a member at St. Stephen’s because, “I know that I can come here and worship with like-minded individuals without the fear of judgement.”

  • Julie sondag

    Worship and choir accompanist

    Julie and her husband Rick visited St. Stephen's in 1996, and it was the worship service music, and the welcoming message, that kept them returning.  While Julie completed her doctoral studies in Piano Pedagogy and Music Education from the University of Oklahoma, she also joined the church staff as choir accompanist and has been "warming the bench" ever since.  Julie has been an early childhood music teacher for over 25 years and she owned and operated Gymboree Play & Music of Norman for 18 years. In 2021, Julie opened The Learning Leaf of Norman, which provides family and parenting classes in music, arts, sensory, baby signs, as well as an independent preschool curricula. Julie and Rick are proud to raise their daughters, Evie and Audrey, in a reconciling congregation that focuses on global-mindedness and respect for all life. "Our family is grateful to belong to a church whose members bravely step forward and put love into action."