Pastor Carrie Cesar

My role as pastor is to shepherd this amazing group of people who are humbly working to be an honest witness to God's inclusive love, here on this hill! I come from South Dakota, but have had a wonderful journey that has led me to be bicultural and bilingual and loving it! I lived in Mexico for 18 years helping my husband as he was the director of a community development agency working to end hunger and poverty. We raised 2 children on the beliefs that learning from different cultures and serving all kinds of people made our lives meaningful. Our son and daughter are young adults now and live in California. I have been back in the US now for almost 20 years, where I have worked in the public school system and child protection services and served churches in CA and AZ with the Church of the Brethren and the UMC. 

My goal in returning to the US was to use my international experience and bicultural skills in bringing people together and helping find common understanding. That has taken on many different forms in all the places I have been blessed to live over the years. I see myself on a constant vision quest, learning how God can build up this church and peace campus by networking with the many present agencies and possible organizations that will partner with us to bring peace and justice to those in need. Working together, whether it is in the garden, or remodeling buildings, or meeting with refugees, or uplifting families in their struggles as parents, we can find solutions to living in ways that bring worth to all people of all ages. As a spiritual leader I seek to help this church find ways to make sure our neighborhood feels welcome and knows we are a place that is open and affirming to all God's creation. 

Susan Sanner - Music Director 

Susan started singing in church at the age of 6 where her first memory of singing solos finds its root. She started studying piano with one of the woman at the church when she was 9. Playing hymns and accompanying group singing at that young age was challenging. It is a great opportunity to learn that you have to keep going even when you play a wrong note because the congregation doesn’t stop for you. Music is a lifelong calling. She loves singing solos and participating in ensembles and choirs. She sang in the San Diego Master Chorale for a time. Making music creates a harmony in her heart that empowers others to worship! We are blessed to have her here sharing her love for music and the music she loves.