OCCUMC Pastor, Heidi Loomis
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
It is with great faith and excitement that I introduce myself and my family. My name is Heidi Loomis. I was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, but at the age of 3 my parent’s moved to Montana, and I spent most of my years growing up in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. My husband, Jonathan, and I have been married for 10 years. We share a son, Grayson, who is going to turn 10 in September. I am also stepmom to Ryleigh, 20, Grahame, 18, and Oen 14.
I graduated from the University of Montana in 2002, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. In 2008, I moved back to Wisconsin and worked for the American Red Cross. During my time there, I provided support on disaster relief operations locally and across the country, as well as public relations for the organization. God called me to ministry in 2012, and I began attending the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in the fall of 2013. I earned my Masters of Divinity in 2016. On July 12th I was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church!!
I have been serving as a pastor for 8 year, and I rejoice in this call to serve each and every day! Spending time with God is essential to the rhythm and flow of my life and contributes to the success of my relationships with family, friends, and within the community. Time with family is incredibly important to Jonathan and I. Jonathan drives truck for Jack C. Moss Trucking and is gone most of the day. My step-son, Oen, visits every other weekend and for a few weeks during the summer, so we value those moments when we are all together under the same roof. Grayson is a great team-mate in ministry with me. You will see him with me at many functions, meetings, or during office hours. He has a creative soul and is currently rocking a great mullet!
We have a 5-year-old English bulldog named Ruby, and a 6-month-old mini-English bulldog named Simon. After we move, I’ll be looking into training both as therapy/ministry dogs. You may see one of them in the office with me from time to time. They are clean, friendly, and loving dogs and Ruby is always happy to meet a new best friend.
My family and I are excited to have the opportunity to serve in the community of Oak Creek and beyond! I am passionate about connecting the church with the community and finding ways to help people see God at work in their lives. We grow in grace through practicing spiritual disciplines: fellowship, witness, mediation, prayer, worship, fasting, time in nature, service, silence, sacrifice, and (if you ask me) potlucks! My goal as your pastor is to help you grow in faith, strengthen your relationship with God, and then find ways to witness to that faith.
I’m looking forward to seeing where God will take us in the coming months and years. May we move forward prayerfully and be faithful to hearing God’s call and discerning his work for us in the process.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Heidi
Pastor
Heidi Loomis
OCCUMC Administrative Assistant, Jane Lentz
Jane became the OCCUMC Administrative Assistant the spring of 2021. Jane graduated from UW – Eau Claire with a B.A. in Journalism & History.
She considers herself a ‘Jane of all trades, master of none’: writing, marketing, advertising, librarian, Girl Scout Leader, Boy Scout Leader, bookstore manager, and an administrative assistant at an area high school. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going to musicals.
Jane’s son & his wife live in Arkansas with Jane’s granddaughter & grandson. Jane’s daughter & her husband live in South Milwaukee with their son..
Jane is looking forward to getting back to in-person attendance at church where she is an extraordinary eucharistic minister.
Administrative Assistant
Jane Lentz