Cheryl Grubbs
Music & Worship Assistant

Cheryl and her husband Bill have lived in the Lamorinda area since 1990. They became members of MVPC shortly thereafter and are in the midst of raising their three children, Andy, Hannah and Will. Besides spending time with her three children, two dogs and many koi fish, Cheryl likes to spend her time “outside”. Whether it’s hiking, watching her children’s myriad of sports, skiing, or playing in her garden, Cheryl much prefers being outside to most anything else. Cheryl is involved with Women’s Bible Study, and she and her husband Bill help mentor a SoulMates Small Group. She says that working for Mike and Ross is the greatest job ever, but often jokes that her boss is much younger than she would like.

Mike Loretto
Minister of Music & Worship

Mike Loretto can often be found during the day planning the week's choir rehearsal, meeting with volunteers, writing out music, trying to help craft meaningful worship experiences… then when you leave he'll go back to strumming his guitar absent-mindedly.

Mike is passionate about the power of music and the arts to change lives and express God's beauty and truth. He's also passionate about his wife (Sarah), his dogs (Bristow and Bob Dylan), books, movies, food and drink, and Kansas Jayhawk basketball. (Don't initiate a conversation with him if KU just lost a game. Seriously – just don't.) His prayer is that every bit of music and every element of every worship service at MVPC point to the saving hope of Jesus.

Janice Nickelson
Director, Children's Music

After graduating with a BA in Vocal Performance, Music Education and a California Credential in Elementary Education, Janice is still teaching 40 plus years later! You can find her in the Music Center on Tuesday afternoons sharing her love of music and the Lord with the Praise Kids and Kingdom Kids Choir. She is passionate about teaching kids to love Jesus thru fun and engaging activities with music. She also sings with the MVPC Chancel Choir and the Worship Team.

Janice loves to spend time with her family, which includes her husband (George), 3 adult children, and 5 grandchildren! Some of her favorite family time is spent at their cabin at Lake Tahoe.

You will also find Janice doing her swimming workouts, working with horses, gardening and entertaining. And now you know why her license plate reads SNGNSWM!

Stewart Scharch
Organist

Stewart Scharch loves to play the organ. And he’s been playing every Sunday since age 14. For him the instrument has the ability to evoke a wide spectrum of emotions from quiet prayer to joyful outbursts of praise. He truly feels that God created him to serve in this unique ministry of music.

What you might not know is that Stewart was born a cheese head (Madison, Wisconsin)…even marched in the University of Wisconsin Marching Band playing F trumpet (Half-time show productions were brutal to the feet!). He also tries to be somewhat of a gourmet chef. For him garlic, butter and fresh herbs rock!

Stewart feels blessed to be able serve the congregation of MVPC during every rehearsal and worship service, as well as connecting with members on a personal basis.

Sarah D. Williams
Vocal Music Assistant

When Sarah is not singing, playing hand percussion, and leading worship, she can be found--if you are able to track her down--teaching fitness classes, giving voice lessons, working at Frog's Leap, or at home watching old episodes of Alias with her loyal canine companions Bristow (as in, "Sydney Bristow") and Bob Dylan. She considers herself a modern-day abolitionist (Did you know there are 30 million slaves in the world today, or that more men, women, and children are enslaved now than at any other point in history? Want to know more?), and she is passionate about helping others understand the problem so they, too, can become part of the solution. Sarah believes worship is not just about a personal connection with God but more so about God's people being mobilized into action, becoming energized and equipped to follow the Great Abolitionist's (Jesus) lead in freeing those who are enslaved, both physically and otherwise. She has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, along with undergraduate work in vocal performance, music business, religion, and Christian ministries.Together, she and her husband Michael enjoy playing tennis, songwriting, drinking wine, hiking with friends, and reading (He is nice enough to read to her at night.), and they can often be found on a sunny Friday afternoon on their deck, with a glass of red, engaged in an intensely competitive Ticket to Ride or Pasoy tournament (that Sarah usually wins).

Ross Wilson
Technical Arts Director

As Tech Director at MVPC, Ross feels he’s found the perfect place to combine his decades of experience as creative director in radio, post-production, and more than thirty-five years as a professional musician (he started all this very, VERY young!). Whether mixing in the sanctuary, editing video in the studio, or pulling cables in the Forum, he’s never far from either his trumpet or trombone. Ross has grown deeply in his faith since coming to MVPC and calls this place home. He jokes frequently saying “that’s why he spends so much time here”. And since every home needs children, say hello to the Media Team, a group started by Ross, along with his best friend Jonathan Metcalf, of student and adult volunteers using high tech equipment to improve the worship experience for all.

If you can pry him away from the six computers he works with at church (seven if you count the automated mixing console!) you can find Ross at a gig or with his trumpet/trombone students or working with the instrumental music and choral programs at Campolindo. Beyond the world of tech, Ross loves to work in his vegetable garden, ride his pretend Harley (he swears he’ll get a real one when he grows up but don’t hold your breath… about growing up, that is…) and cook for a crowd.