WGCC - Key Persons
Gary Smith spent most of his life living and farming near Memphis, Missouri, where he cared for his parents until their deaths. Gary and his father also provided care for a local cemetery and other community projects.
Gary now lives in Maryland Heights with his brother and sister-in-law, John and Shah Smith, and enjoys being a great-uncle to their four children, three spouses, and four grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Building Maintenance Supervisor
"Faith, Microscopes, & The Future" (John Burney, preaching) Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from
Lisa Cripe has served as Organist at Webster Groves CC since 2013. She was previously Director of Music at Hillcrest CC/Crossroads CC near Belleville, IL for 20 years, and has served various Indiana Disciples congregations as organist, children's choir director, handbell director, and Minister of Music. In addition to her church work, Lisa is an Instructional Aide at Carriel Jr. High in O'Fallon, IL, has worked many years as choral accompanist for Jr. and Sr. high schools, and maintains a small piano and Musikgarten studio.
Lisa received degrees of Bachelor of Music (Keyboard Area Performance) from DePauw University, MA in Church Music from Christian Theological Seminary, continued organ studies with Dr. Douglas Reed at University of Evansville, IN, and is a Certified and Licensed Musikgarten Early Childhood Music and Movement Instructor. She is a member of the Association of Disciple Musicians, American Guild of Organists, Choristers Guild, Metro East Community Chorale, Masterworks Chorale, and the Masterworks Children's Choirs Summer Youth Choral Experience faculty. Lisa was Hymnal Project Assistant for The Chalice Hymnal, and served as one of the music copy editors for Chalice Praise.
Matthew 25:1-13 "Ready….or Not?" (Pat Jackson, preaching) Matthew 25:1-13 The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids 25‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the
John 20:19-31 "The Great Comeback…G.O.A.T." (Pat Jackson, preaching) 19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20After he said
"I Can See Clearly Now" John 9:1-12 (Pat Jackson, preaching) As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works
Pat Jackson preaching "I Ain't Scared-God Has My Back!" Psalm 27: 1, 4-9 1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 4One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the
An ordained United Church of Christ Minister with partner status in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Jeff has been pastor of Webster Groves Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since March of 2008. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Leadership from Aurora University, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Eden Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. His Doctor of Ministry work focused on the question of "Christian Connectedness," and explored this from biblical and liberation standpoints in conversation with the poetry of Guatemalan poet and theologian, Julia Esquivel. Jeff's PhD dissertation focused on Theological Education in the Lesotho Evangelical Church as it relates to the church's vision and commitment to "abundant life" (John 10:10), and presents a descriptive study following a three-year program of ethnographic and theological research in Lesotho, southern Africa.
Jeff has served UCC congregations in Mascoutah, Illinois, Darmstadt and Biddleborn, Illinois, and Pana and Dollville, Illinois. He has served as Director of Outdoor Ministries in the Rocky Mountain Conference, UCC, and from 2003-2007 served, along with his spouse, Susan, as a Common Global Ministries Missionary in Lesotho. While in Lesotho Jeff taught ministry and biblical studies at Morija Theological Seminary and the National University of Lesotho; served as the HIV and AIDS Coordinator for the Lesotho Evangelical Church; and served as Interim Pastor for Maseru United Church - an international, nondenominational congregation. Upon his return to the United States, Jeff lived and taught on campus at Eden Theological Seminary, where he was Missionary in Residence during the 2007-2008 academic year. Jeff has continued to teach Biblical Studies and Ministry Studies courses (courses on various New Testament books, Greek Grammar and Exegesis, Biblical Hermeneutics, Contextual Biblical Interpretation, Congregational Leadership, Research Methods, etc.) as an adjunct to the Eden faculty, and teaches Biblical Studies and Theology courses as an adjunct to the Saint Louis University faculty.
His research interests include the book of Revelation, International Contextual Biblical Interpretation, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Jeff has taught and presented in these areas in over a dozen countries on five continents.
In addition to his pastorate at Webster Groves Christian Church, Jeff served as part-time Interim Minister at Memorial Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from March of 2020 to June of 2022, and serves as Chaplain for Doorways, a housing and healthcare agency for people living with HIV & AIDS.
He enjoys reading, the outdoors, and riding his motorcycles whenever he can.
As of June 2023, Jeff and Susan have been married for 34 years. They have three adult children - Abigail, Daniel, and Khotso.
Rev. Jody Clegg, preaching Scripture: Psalm 51:1-12 (CEB), 2 Samuel 11:26 thru12:13 Title: "A Song of Confession, Lyrics of Brokenness" Our readings today give us both a song and the "story behind the song." Psalm 51 is David's well-known psalm of confession written following the events described in our Old Testament reading (his affair […]
Rev. Jody Clegg, preaching Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Title: The Hero and the Human: Power and Servanthood David is not merely crowned king, but "anointed" of God, which calls for a different kind of authority over the people- not for David's benefit, or Israel's superiority over the nations, but care […]
Rev. Jody Clegg, preaching Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 30 Title: The Hero and the Human: Power and Vulnerability David begins his reign over Israel at a time of grief, for himself and the nation. He grieves the death of Saul and Jonathan (personal) and the state of affairs in the war-torn and
Job Titles:
- Bookkeeper
- Office Administrator
Steve is from St. Louis, MO, and comes to us with over 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience. He is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and had previously served WGCC as a Student Intern in 1997, and as Associate/Youth Minister from 1999-2003. He is also currently serving on the Budget and Bridgeton Fund Teams of the Mid-America Region of the Disciples. When he is not working at the church, Steve teaches private music lessons out of his Kirkwood home, and enjoys riding his motorcycle.