Pastor

Dionne Hall

email: pastordionne.hall@gmail.com

Greetings,

I am Dionne Hall, mother, single parent of 4 wonderful children, and lover of Jesus and special dark chocolate. Prior to becoming a pastor, I taught elementary school in various states for over twenty years. I am a Certified Candidate for Ordained Ministry in the Cumberland-Hagerstown District and am completing my provisional paperwork for the Board of Ordained Ministry (BoOM). I have been a member of the United Methodist Church since 2002, shortly after moving to Maryland. I completed the Licensed Local Pastor training in April 2016 and Wesley Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2020.

I love God, family, friends, reading murder mystery novels, decaffeinated coffee, Star Trek, and gospel music. In my spare time I love to have quiet time. I experiment with making different types of soups, patio gardening, and reading mysteries. I am allergic to perfume, gluten, and must limit my intake of citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, pineapple, etc.). While I will try almost any food, I will not eat a tomato or okra.

I grew up in CT, the sixth out of seven children. I always wanted to be a teacher and “teaching” my sister is one of my earliest memories. I attended undergraduate and graduate school in MA to earn my teaching certificate and advanced degree. I entered the lay ministry of the UMC when I moved to Hagerstown and have not looked back since.

I am extremely organized, directed, and love to teach and preach. I believe that church is the place where we worship, learn, grow, and develop our vision and mission together. But more importantly, church is the place where we fellowship together in a community which loves, cares, and is accountable to each other in ways that make church our family. I look forward to becoming part of your church family.

May your hope lie above your circumstances,

Pastor Dionne Hall

Hebrews 11:1

Director of Music and Organist

Jonathan Leonard

email: jleonard.graceumc@outlook.com

Jonathan Leonard is from Hagerstown, MD and is a 2001 graduate of South Hagerstown High School. He began organ study in 1999 with C. Randall Williams who was Organist/Choir Director at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church as well as the local Allen Organ dealer. His teachers have been Mark King (Hagerstown Community College and Shepherd University), Dr. Ann Labounsky and Dr. David Craighead (Duquesne University). He has served as Director of Music at Grace United Methodist Church, Hagerstown, MD, since 2014. In his time at Grace UMC, he has overseen the start of a Choral Scholarship Program, the Music at Grace Concert Series, and the replacement of the pipe organ. Since 2021 he has also been the Director of Traditional Music and Organist for St. John's Lutheran Church, Hagerstown. Prior to arriving at Grace, he was an accompanist for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, FL and has served at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Funkstown, MD; Emmanuel UMC Hagerstown, MD; St. Paul’s UMC Smithsburg, MD; Grace Anglican Church Sewickley, PA; Organ Scholar at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Hagerstown, MD. He has performed concerts in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida. Since 2018 he has also been a pipe organ technician for Lawless & Associates Pipe Organ Company (Lewis & Hitchcock Pipe Organ Company) in Greencastle, PA.

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Administrative Coordinator

Cindy Tedrick

email: graceumchagerstown@gmail.com

Youth Minister

Charissa Hose

email:

Charissa Hose has been a member of Grace United Methodist Church for 30 years. Charissa graduated in 1996 from North Hagerstown High School, after which she worked at Sam’s Club for 15 years.  Charissa attended Frostburg University where she received her Early Childhood/Elementary Education degree.  Charissa also holds a Masters in Education degree as a Reading Specialist. 

Charissa has been a Washington County Public School Teacher for 10 years; teaching fourth and second grades.  She teaches second grade for WCPS.  Charissa is also Cheer Coordinator for the North Hagerstown Junior Hubs Football Association. 

Charissa enjoys working with all ages of children and is excited to bring her experience and creativity to Grace United Methodist Church to build a thriving religious youth group.

Church Sexton

Mark Ridenour

Mark Ridenour is a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church. Mark attended North Hagerstown High School. Mark was a carpenter for over 30 years. Mark has had many odd and ends jobs throughout his years for family and friends. Mark follows in his grandmother's, Ginny Kline, footsteps here at Grace. At a young age, Mark helped with the choir robes and other jobs.

Mark is married to his wife, Deb of 35 years, they have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. Mark enjoys fishing and hopes to retire at the beach in the future. 

Mark is excited to bring his service to Grace and feels honored to be working for a place he considers "home".

Clothing Closet Coordinator

Deb Ridenour

Deb Ridenour has a passion for ministry. She attended South Hagerstown High School. She has been married to Mark for 35 years, they have three adult children and 5 grandchildren. She has attended Grace Church with Mark and fondly remembers Mark's grandmother, Ginny Kline, who served in the clothing closet ministry as well.

Deb has worked as a substitute teacher, a small business owner, and full-time mother. Deb enjoys blogging for her Women's Group, the Connection. When asked to volunteer with the clothing closet, Deb said, "Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I am honored that you would entrust me with such an important ministry as the clothes closet...I want to show people the face of Jesus."

We are blessed to have Deb join us in ministry at Grace Church. We look forward to a thriving ministry in our community.