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JACK HUDSON - Interim Senior Pastor
Pastor Jack and his wife, Verl, have been called to serve Pilgrim Congregational Church as the congregation begins the process of searching for a Senior Pastor. They have lived their entire married lives (38 years) in Iron River, Michigan. Both received BA degrees in education from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Jack taught 30 years at West Iron County High School, also coaching football and wrestling. Verl held a variety of teaching positions at Forest Park Elementary School in Crystal Falls and retired in 2008 after 34 years. Their home church is Grace Covenant Church in Iron River.
After leaving education in 2001, Jack answered the call into ministry. He is a credentialed Bi-vocational minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He has served interim calls to churches in Gladstone, Michigan; Jamestown, New York; and Green Bay. In May, 2011, he earned the Masters in Christian Ministry degree from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Verl and Jack have a son, Joshua, living in Appleton with his wife Christina and twin 2-year-olds John and Joseph; a daughter, Ellie and her husband Pete in Chicago; and daughter Annie and her husband Jim in Pentwater, Michigan.
Verl and Jack love to spend time with family and friends, both are avid readers, lifetime learners, and love outdoor activities. Verl’s creative energies keep her busy with a variety of interests, but her favorite is working in her perennial gardens. She also helps Jack make maple syrup each spring on their 15-acre farm near Iron River.
RICHARD CAYER - Organist
Dick began playing the piano at the age of 5 and began lessons at age 7. By the time Dick finished Junior High School, he had memorized the entire Methodist hymnal. His love of music led him into a variety of musical opportunities throughout his youth. He played for the Green Bay Recreation Department for kids dance lessons at age 14. At 16 he became the organist at Zion Lutheran Church and was also Choir Director for Suamico Methodist Church.
When he was 18, he became the organist for Pilgrim Congregational and was the first organist in the new church building. He remembers the symbolic “burning of the mortgage” just after the first year of the construction of the beautiful, Massachusetts architecturally designed building. At that time, choir practice was held at the home of Cliff Wall Sr. Dick was very proud to be a part of the church and its rich history. When it was time for him to leave for college in Madison, the church presented him with a check to cover his first semester’s tuition.
In 2002, Pastor Gary Pierce approached Dick about returning as organist of Pilgrim Congregational and he accepted. Although he has been the pianist/organist in many places throughout his lifetime, Pilgrim Congregational is his favorite!
SEONG-KYUNG GRAHAM - Choir Director
Seong-Kyung Graham, a native of Korea, received her Bachelor of Music degree from Sungshin Women's University in Seoul before moving to the United States in 1989. After earning her Master of Music degree at the University of North Texas, she pursued additional graduate studies in conducting at the University of Illinois and the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.
In addition to her position as the choir drector at the Pilgrim Congregationial Church, Ms. Graham is currently serving as the music director of the Civic Symphony of Green Bay and the Fox Valley Youth Symphony and teaches the Ripon College as a Visiting Instructor of Music. Seong-Kyung has been married to Dan for almost 10 years and resides in Kaukauna, WI.
