15 things to know about pastor James Coyl
- Born and raised in Glenview, Ill., a northern suburb of Chicago
- Graduated from Miami (Ohio) University, Oxford, Ohio 1987. BA – English. Most importantly, it’s where I met my wife, Susan.
- In my business life I have worked in sales and marketing for about 14 years. Have worked for Baxter, Lands’ End, Zenith Electronics, Fortress Press, Trader Joe’s.
- 1999-2004 Attended seminary at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, a UMC seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. – MDiv.
- During seminary served 3½ years as a student pastor at Glenview Community Church, Glenview, Ill.
- Also during seminary served as coordinator for the Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett.
- After seminary served as a regional marketing rep for Fortress Press (the ministry of publishing for the ELCA – Lutheran Church).
- Served as lead/unit chaplain for Edward Hopsital, Naperville, Ill. – Pastoral care to patients, family and staff in ICU, ER, & Medical Oncology at large community hospital in western suburbs of Chicago.
- Married wife Susan on Oct. 14, 1989 (Best day of my life)
- The other 6 best days of my life are my kids’ birthdays
- I an an organ donor (kidney, not Hammond)
- I love music. – On my iPod currently: Michael W. Smith, Rich Mullins, Chris Rice, Fernando Ortega, Buddy Rich, Benny goodman, Bob Marley, The Clash, Tom Petty, Bach, Vivaldi, W.A. Mozart…
- I love to listen to other preachers: Currenly inspired by Rev. Lillian Daniel, Darren Whitehead, Barbara Brown Taylor, Francis Chan
- I love to read and have developed a bad “Kindle habit.” Currently reading “Simply Christian” by N.T. Wright and “Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard.
- There are a lot of outdoor things I hope to do more of: fish, ski, golf, kayak
Keillor Kastella, music director
A longtime friend of St. Paul’s, Keillor recently joined us in an official capacity… More to come soon!
Meena Bhattacharya, office manager
Meena Bhattacharya has been the friendly voice on the other end of the line at St. Paul since 1993. She manages the day-to-day business of the church – everything from accounting and scheduling to preparing bulletins and circulating news to the congregation. Meena, a native of New Delhi, India, has lived in Michigan since 1983, when she and her husband moved to Ann Arbor from Corvallis, Oregon. Some of her friends, she says, still don’t understand why she’s willing to drive 22 miles each way from Ann Arbor – year-round and in all kinds of weather – to work at St. Paul.
Meena just smiles and says, “I love working here. The people are very, very nice, and very helpful. I think it’s the people that bring me here every day.”