I began my church music career as a cherub, one of several actually, in the Cherub Choir of the First Presbyterian Church in Fresno, California.  My older brother and sister were already cherubs, and I was thrilled to join them. My only recollection is that of being confused by how the words to the hymns seemed to jump all over the page rather than moving from one line to the next like they did in regular books.  Music notation was a complete mystery. Soon, I began piano lessons, and I hope I became a better cherub as a result. I wasn’t much older when I realized two things: that music was, for me, a means by which I could express things I felt inside for which I had no words, and that what I thought I was expressing was not necessarily what people perceived.

That is what still excites and fascinates me after all these years about music in worship.

Jun Ranches, Director of Church Administration and Operations, manages all business affairs for St. Mark's Lutheran Church and the Urban Life Center.  He is in the office Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

A pastor's son, Jun was born and raised in the church.  So influential was his Christian upbringing, Jun graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in Illinois.  He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree from the University of California at Berkeley.  For over seven years he served as Youth Minister at United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations in Chicago, IL and Sunnyvale, CA.

Originally from Chicago, Ann holds a B.A. in history with a Spanish minor from Marquette University. She worked for years in incentive travel and event planning before becoming a full-time mother of two boys. She has contributed to a variety of non-profit groups, producing newsletters, brochures, and flyers, and managed school hot lunch and other fundraising and service programs.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Wedding Administrator, manages the Wedding Ministry. In addition, when outside groups seek to use St. Mark’s facilities, Elizabeth assists with the booking details and contracts.

Cheryl Garcia is our part-time Bookkeeper.  She comes to St. Mark's with many years of church-related Bookkeeping.  She can be reached at the church office Monday afternoons and Friday mornings.