Pastor Sonny Graves
I want to extend warm greetings, the Peace of Christ, and my gratitude for this opportunity to partner in ministry together!
I am so excited to learn more about this church and your lives as I transition into ministry with you soon. The interim journey is one we embark on together to reflect on the past, ask good questions about the present, and pay attention to God’s call in the unfolding future of this unique congregation.
I am a bi-vocational minister and hold secular work for a hospital foster care program where I teach ongoing education for foster parents throughout southwest Wisconsin. I completed my seminary education at the Pacific School of Religion, and joined the UCC during those seminary years.
I have ministry experience as a chaplain in hospitals and prisons, as staff resourcing clergy and churches at the Conference level, and as a local church Pastor. Some of my longtime hobbies include volunteering, visiting (now on Zoom!) with my many Godchildren, and spending lots of time outdoors.
I know that this season of COVID has been a challenging one for us on individual, community, and church levels. I am encouraged by the faith and persistence of this congregation in what I already know about how you have adapted worship – care – leading and supporting one another through these unpredictable times. It is a gift and a privilege to join you all.
I trust the interim time will be a fruitful period of reflection, connection, and dreaming with God. Let us hold one another in steadfast prayers as we embark on this holy adventure.
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (New Living Translation Romans 15:13)
I am so excited to learn more about this church and your lives as I transition into ministry with you soon. The interim journey is one we embark on together to reflect on the past, ask good questions about the present, and pay attention to God’s call in the unfolding future of this unique congregation.
I am a bi-vocational minister and hold secular work for a hospital foster care program where I teach ongoing education for foster parents throughout southwest Wisconsin. I completed my seminary education at the Pacific School of Religion, and joined the UCC during those seminary years.
I have ministry experience as a chaplain in hospitals and prisons, as staff resourcing clergy and churches at the Conference level, and as a local church Pastor. Some of my longtime hobbies include volunteering, visiting (now on Zoom!) with my many Godchildren, and spending lots of time outdoors.
I know that this season of COVID has been a challenging one for us on individual, community, and church levels. I am encouraged by the faith and persistence of this congregation in what I already know about how you have adapted worship – care – leading and supporting one another through these unpredictable times. It is a gift and a privilege to join you all.
I trust the interim time will be a fruitful period of reflection, connection, and dreaming with God. Let us hold one another in steadfast prayers as we embark on this holy adventure.
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (New Living Translation Romans 15:13)
Pastoral Leadership Since 1955
BJ Talledge (Dec 31, 1955 – Aug 31, 1963)
Max Rigert (Sept 1963 – June 1966)
Jack Morrison (Oct 1, 1966 – June 1970)
Dennis Seibert (Dec 1970 – April 1976)
Dow Edgerton (July 18, 1976 – March 1, 1983)
Steve Gehlert (July 10, 1983 – May 5, 1989)
Beryl Melcher (Dec 3, 1989 – March 30, 1997)
Interim Gail O’Neil (Summer of 1997)
Scot O’Conner (Sept 9, 1997 – Sept 16, 2001)
Interim Philip Shively (Nov 11, 2001 – Nov 17, 2002)
Dave Schlieter (Dec 1, 2002 – December 2007)
Interim Beryl Melcher (Feb 4, 2008 – Sept 14, 2008)
Todd Smith- Lippert (Sept 21, 2008 – April 15, 2012)
Interim Marilyn Robinson-Summer 2012
Interim PCUSA Dan Yeazel (September 2012 – 2014 )
Joylynn Graham (November 2014-October 2015)
Interim David Moyer (October, 2015-January, 2016)
Interim Beryl Melcher (January 2016-October 2016)
Interim Luke Bocher (October 2016 – Sept 2017)
Rich McLeer (Sept 10, 2017 – March 1, 2020)
Interim Bev Davis (March 2020-March 2021)
Interim Sonny Graves (April 2021-Present)
Max Rigert (Sept 1963 – June 1966)
Jack Morrison (Oct 1, 1966 – June 1970)
Dennis Seibert (Dec 1970 – April 1976)
Dow Edgerton (July 18, 1976 – March 1, 1983)
Steve Gehlert (July 10, 1983 – May 5, 1989)
Beryl Melcher (Dec 3, 1989 – March 30, 1997)
Interim Gail O’Neil (Summer of 1997)
Scot O’Conner (Sept 9, 1997 – Sept 16, 2001)
Interim Philip Shively (Nov 11, 2001 – Nov 17, 2002)
Dave Schlieter (Dec 1, 2002 – December 2007)
Interim Beryl Melcher (Feb 4, 2008 – Sept 14, 2008)
Todd Smith- Lippert (Sept 21, 2008 – April 15, 2012)
Interim Marilyn Robinson-Summer 2012
Interim PCUSA Dan Yeazel (September 2012 – 2014 )
Joylynn Graham (November 2014-October 2015)
Interim David Moyer (October, 2015-January, 2016)
Interim Beryl Melcher (January 2016-October 2016)
Interim Luke Bocher (October 2016 – Sept 2017)
Rich McLeer (Sept 10, 2017 – March 1, 2020)
Interim Bev Davis (March 2020-March 2021)
Interim Sonny Graves (April 2021-Present)
