MATT FALCO

Senior Pastor

Phone: 859-255-1074 ext 105    

Email: matt@maxpres.org

Matt Falco was called as Co-Pastor in December 2016 and became Senior Pastor upon Rev. Berry’s retirement in 2017. Originally from Altoona, PA, Matt comes most recently from being Pastor of the Edinboro Presbyterian Church in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. He earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Austin Seminary in 2010. He completed his B.S. in Civil Engineering at Penn State University and worked in both construction management and residential/commercial site design prior to going to seminary. His passion is backpacking, and he has done wilderness trips in North Carolina, Colorado, and Wyoming with his family, as well as a monthlong Outdoor Educator course in the Yukon, Canada with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He and his wife Lauren are parents of their two boys, Lucas and Jonah.

Rachel VanKirk Mathews

Associate Pastor

Phone: 859-255-1074 ext  700

Email: rachel@maxpres.org

Rachel was called to Maxwell Street as Associate Pastor in August of 2018 after completing her Master of Divinity at Columbia Theological Seminary. Prior to seminary, Rachel completed a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at The University of Alabama. Rachel’s husband, Wesley, studied engineering at Auburn, and they are glad to now have the UK Wildcats to cheer on together. They have a son, Benny, who’s a toddler. They love spending time as a family hanging out at home with their cat, disc golfing, gardening, and swinging.

Rachel believes the church is called to point to God for every person through accessible worship, a table that nourishes the Spirit and belly, and community that is for and with all. At Maxwell Street, Rachel leads the youth, college group, and young adults in developing community and growing in discipleship, as well as discerning how God is calling Maxwell Street to be a witness and advocate for God’s justice in Lexington and in the world.

Michelle Jones

Director of Children’s Ministry

Phone: 859-255-1074

Email: michelle.jones@maxpres.org

TED GENTRY

Organist and Handbell Director

Phone: 859-255-1074  

Email: ted@maxpres.org

Organist and musicologist, Ted Gentry, earned graduate degrees in musicology and organ performance from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Kentucky. As a musicologist, Ted’s publications include essays on Chopin, Verdi, and Rossini for reference books produced by British publisher Fitzroy Dearborn. Other publications include “Musical Symbols of Death in Tosca” for The Opera Quarterly and “The Origins of Evangelical Pianism” for The Journal of American Music.

Dr. Gentry’s organ performances have twice been featured on the nationally syndicated radio program, “Pipe Dreams.” He has recorded with the Americus label on a joint album with trumpeter Ian Pearson, titled “The Festive Trumpet.” In addition to recitals, he has performed with the Lexington Chamber Orchestra and the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra. For more than 25 years, he has served various churches as organist, conductor, and music director. When not involved in music, Ted’s interests include gardening, theology, and all things related to Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

BETH WILSON

Choir Director

Phone: 859-255-1074  

Email:beth@maxpres.org

Elizabeth L. Wilson (Beth) is Choir Director at Maxwell Street and Lecturer in Choral Music for the University of Kentucky. Beth will serve PAM at Montreat’s Worship and Music Conference in Summer 2021 as the Youth Choral Clinician. At UK, Professor Wilson conducts the Choristers, who were recently featured as a performing choir for the 2021 KMEA Conference. Additionally at UK, Beth teaches courses in choral music education and conducting, oversees student teachers, and serves as a faculty advisor for the a cappella ensemble, Paws & Listen. Prior to moving to Lexington, she was Conductor of the Georgia Tech Women’s Choir. Before her time at GT, Beth worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as Director of Student Musician Development for three years. Her secondary choral teaching took place at Pope and Wheeler High Schools, both in Marietta, GA, for a total of nine years. Professor Wilson earned the BMME from University of Georgia, the MM in choral conducting from Georgia State University, and is A.B.D. for the DMA in choral conducting from UK. Beth is current R&R College/University Chair for Kentucky ACDA and has previously served as Treasurer for the Georgia ACDA chapter, as well as Hospitality Chair for the 2014 ACDA Southern Division Convention in Jacksonville, FL. She was very honored to just have been awarded the KMEA 2020-2021 District 7 College/University Teacher of the Year. Beth happily resides in Lexington with her husband, Ken, and their two children, Drew and Anna.

KATE COPLEY

Business Manager

Phone: 859-255-1074 ext 109     

Email: kate@maxpres.org

Kate Copley has served Maxwell Street for over 20 years in various capacities. Recently, with the retirement of Michelle Gardner and Pam Boldt, Kate’s role has shifted into a combination the two positions. She manages the day-to-day operations of the office and financial aspects of the church, including the operating budget, contributions, financial reporting, and payroll preparation. She has a bachelors of English and Masters of English Education from the University of Georgia, but has always enjoyed numbers, learning from the best, her mom, her served as a bookkeeper for over 40 years. Kate is married to Rich and, together, they have two grown children, Caroline and Christopher.

TISH PLATT

Community Assistance Coordinator

Phone: 859-255-1074 ext 119    

Emergency Assistance Phone: 859-233-0723

Email: tish@maxpres.org

Tish is an RN and Certified Case Manager (CCM) with a long history of community nursing working side by side with social workers throughout her career. Her most recent employment was in the community as a Geriatric case manager.  She is a native of Louisville and has lived in Lexington for the past 40 years.  She is a graduate of Midway College and the University of Kentucky. In addition to joining MSPC in the interim social worker position, Tish also enjoys volunteering at Mission Health Lexington in both the clinic and in the pharmacy.

TINA DURBIN

Receptionist

Phone: 859-255-1074 ext 103

Email: tina@maxpres.org

First and foremost, thanks for welcoming me into the family at MSPC. As a local racial justice activist and a survivor/advocate of ending domestic violence, it means a great deal to find a church home that aligns what I do with who I am and what I believe. I am a lifelong Lexingtonian and an   educator with over 30 years of teaching and administrative experience. My passions include selling jewelry to support my personal non-profit endeavor called “11;11, Messages  of Hope from Angels” through which I work with survivors to design a piece of jewelry that has been paid for by an Angel. I am also working to re-launching my podcast to support the voices of those marginalized in our communities, called “Love Over Coffee.” My hobbies include drinking coffee with Phoebe Anne, my greyhound girl, who has “Greyt Diva” status in the house. She knows I know she owns the couch. Please let me know if I can do anything to make your time at MSPC more hospitable.

SUVAD KARIC

Custodian

Phone: 859-255-1074  

Suvad Karic has been with Maxwell Street since 2006. Suvad has worked for the University of Kentucky Agriculture Department for almost 20 years. He and his wife, Kumrija, have two adult children, Adna and Hollis. Suvad enjoys gardening, wood working in his spare time.

PAM BOLDT

Cook & Wedding Coordinator

Phone: 859-255-1074  

Email: pam@maxpres.org

Pam Boldt has served many roles at Maxwell Street, beginning with her employment in the Mother’s Morning Out Program in 1987. In 1998, she began working full-time as the director of the daycare, nursery school and Sunday school nursery. In 2012, Pam became the Manager or Church and Facilities, where she oversaw buildings and grounds and coordinated with outside groups.  Pam has enjoyed cooking and serving meals for the congregation and neighborhood meals with Kate, and she continues to serve in that role, as well as the church’s wedding coordinator. Pam is married to Joe and two sons—Josh and Adam (who is married to Kari) and has one grandchild, Samantha.

MARRIANNE RUSSELL

Communications Director

Phone: 859-255-1074 ext 111    

Email: marrianne@maxpres.org

Marrianne is originally from Detroit, MI. She and her husband  made the venture to Lexington in May of 2012. She has a BFA in Graphic Design from Eastern Michigan University.  Marrianne is responsible for creating print, web and social media items here at Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church.  She enjoys country life, art and design, cooking, gardening, anything vintage, and doing yoga. She has a wonderful husband Greg and two beautiful children.

WOODY BERRY

Pastor Emeritus

 Woody Berry served Maxwell Street as Pastor (2004-2016), was Co-Pastor with Matt Falco (2016-2017), and now is Pastor Emeritus, an honorary title given by the congregation on his retirement.