Meet Our Pastor
Rev. Linda Watkins Motter
pastor@calumc.org, (410) 268-1776 ext 201
Reverend Linda Motter has served as Calvary’s pastor since July 1, 2021. Dating back to her Great-Grandfather, she feels thankful and blessed to be one of five Methodist pastors (one each generation) on her paternal Watkins family tree. Her strong Methodist heritage blends easily with Calvary’s deep Methodist roots. Pastor Linda answered God’s call into ministry and graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC. This occurred after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University and working as a compassionate dental hygienist for 32 years.
Pastor Linda enjoys working with all ages and stages of life. She served on staff at Damascus UMC in Damascus MD as the Minister of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation and also was appointed there in 2011 as the Associate Pastor. In 2014, she was appointed to Olivet UMC in Lusby MD where she faithfully served through June 2021. Pastor Linda’s deepest passion is serving as a bridge to connect people with the life-giving gracious love of God in Jesus the Christ. Her greatest joys in ministry include teaching, worship and pastoral care.
Outside of ministry, Pastor Linda loves to read, laugh, enjoy music, dance and spend time with her dear family – her supportive husband since 1982, their three adult sons, two daughters-in-law and one adorable grandson.
Meet Our Staff
Gaby Garzón
Director of Music
musicdirector@calumc.org
(410) 268-1776 ext. 204
From Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, Gaby Garzón began her music training at the age of five, under the tutelage of her father. She excelled at both piano and cello before pursuing conducting. In 2012, Gaby founded Campamento Elevare - not Festival de la Música Orquestal, an international faculty made up of 13 musicians training students in Ajijic, Jalisco, México. She currently serves as the Artistic Director for the festival. Gaby also serves as Chief Administrator of Elevare A.C., a non-profit organization that teaches music to underprivileged families for free in Jalisco, Mexico.
She has attended conducting masterclasses with Guillermo Salvador, Kenneth Kiesler, Sara Ioannides, and David Itkin. She served as Alondra de la Parra’s assistant at Jalisco Philharmonic in 2013 and has assisted Mtro. David Itkin at Abilene Philharmonic in Texas and Mtra. Sarah Ioannides at Tacoma Symphony in Washington.
Gaby holds a bachelor’s degree in Science of Communication from Universidad América Latina in Guadalajara, and a master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from Wichita State University where she studied with her mentor Dr. Mark Laycock. Additionall, she worked with David Itkin at University of North Texas from 2019 to 2021.
Gaby married her best friend, Marcus, in the summer of 2021. Marcus is a Trumpet player at the U.S. Naval Academy Band since 2020. In her free time, she enjoys baking and cooking.
Sara DeVane
Director of Communications
communication@calumc.org
Sara started serving Calvary UMC in July 2022 as Director of Discipleship and Congregational Care. With over 20 years of ministry experience serving in churches in Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tacoma, Washington. God has used her gifts and talents as an Associate Pastor, College Minister, University Chaplain, Music Minister, Youth Director, Children’s Minister, Missions and Outreach Pastor, Senior Adult Minister, VBS director, and Counseling/Care Minister. She really has served in every aspect of church life!
Sara received a BS in Business Management & Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University and went to Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond for her MDIV. She is passionate about connecting with people of all ages, connecting them with the Father, and walking beside them as they grow closer to Him! You will find Sara leading different bible studies throughout the week, giving the Children’s sermon in worship on Sundays, counseling anyone who needs a listening ear, making hospital visits, coordinating weddings, and juggling multiple ministries here at Calvary.
When she’s not doing ministry at Calvary, she is reading a book (she loves romance and fantasy), drinking Sweet Tea from Chick-fil-A, playing board games with her family, or doing something arts & crafty! Sara has been married to Rev. Dr. Patrick DeVane since 2008 and they have two amazing kids, Piper, born in 2009, and Andy, born in 2011.
Even though she’s working remotely, her heart and email is always available. She is centered on praying for YOU and how God could use you in the ministries and programs at CAUMC!
Karen Schnell
Church Administrator
office@calumc.org
(410) 268-1776 ext. 200
Karen Schnell joined Calvary UMC in June 2019 as Church Administrator. She previously served as Executive Assistant to the Board of Selectmen for the town of Mansfield, MA. She also served Mansfield as a Community Development Coordinator and Program Director for the Department of Public Health. She holds a degree in health care administration from Stonehill College. Karen is active in homeopathic health promotions and education, particularly Alzheimer's disease research and support. During her free time, Karen values spending time with her husband Scott, dog Abby & cat Eli. They all travel together and particularly enjoy outdoor activities and the beach. She also enjoys gardening and worship music.
Nancy Mills
Director of Discipleship
discipleship@calumc.org
Nancy first began her ministry work in 1999 at Community United Methodist Church in Crofton as the Coordinator of Lay Ministries and then as Christian Education Director. She began working at Calvary in 2013 as Director of Discipleship and retired in July, 2022. She was excited to be back working at Calvary in 2023!
She attended the Lay Leadership Academy at Wesley Seminary and is certified in Christian Education and Spiritual Formation. She loves facilitating studies and forming relationships as she leads bible studies. She is so excited to be leading a Middle/Senior High Sunday morning class as well.
Nancy is married to Gary who works at the Board of Education. Between them, they have three adult sons and 3 grandchildren who are the light of their lives!
Nancy loves spending time with family, reading and the Washington Capitals and the Washington Commanders!
Dr. Joseph Gryder
Director of Youth Ministries
youthdirector@calumc.org
(410) 268-1776 ext. 205
Joseph Gryder joins us as the Director of Youth Ministry after 8 years of volunteering in multiple congregational leadership and children's education positions here at Calvary. He has a foundation in diverse types and levels of management, as well as 15 years experience mentoring Midshipmen and teaching at the university level
Julie Taylor
Community Outreach &
Dir of Congregational Care
community@calumc.org
(410) 268-1776 ext. 204
Julie Taylor became a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in 2000. After raising her two wonderful daughters at Calvary, she joined the staff in 2017. Julie loves to share God’s love with people ages 0-100 and, as such, has had a few different roles: Director of Children’s Ministries, Congregational Care, and currently Community Outreach.
Julie has an MA from the University of Denver. Previously, she taught high school English and coached.
For fun, she spends time with her daughters, Sofia (21) and Asha (18), and two German Shepherds, Ruba and Wayson.
Julie feels so grateful to have been a part of the Calvary Family for so many years, a place where God surely moves. All the time.
Claire Zarrilli
Director of Calvary Center School
calvarycenter@calumc.org
(410) 268-3812
Claire Zarrilli joined Calvary United Methodist Church in 1996. She was married and baptized her three children here, so it was natural for her children to attend Calvary Center School (CCS). While her daughter was a CCS student, Claire became a 3s teacher and taught for five years. She then attended the Notre Dame of Maryland University to earn her Masters in Teaching and earned state certification in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education. In addition to preschool, Claire has taught first and fourth grades. In 2021, Claire became CCS Director, succeeding Johnna Parker, her previous co-worker and her son's kindergarten teacher. Claire loves working with CCS' dedicated, nurturing and experienced staff, as well as, the devoted leadership team of Calvary UMC. The best part of the job, however, is greeting our young learners each day and getting to know them and their families. She feels blessed with such a wonderful school community. Outside of CCS, Claire loves spending time with her family, volunteering, sailing, reading and doing many types of crafts and needlework.
Malcolm McFadden
Audio Visual Engineer
malcolmyates34@gmail.com
Malcolm McFadden was born in Washington DC and raised here in Annapolis, Maryland. He writes comic books in his spare time and has been the Audio Engineer at Calvary UMC since 2014.
Dave Rainey
Handbells Director
raineybuilds@aol.com
Dave began ringing handbells in Junior High School at the First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank, NJ. He rang there under the leadership of Dr Robert Ivey through High School. During that time they rang for numerous church events as well as yearly tours to the national handbell conventions throughout the Country. Dave left for college and joined the Bucknell University Rooke Chapel Ringers lead by William Payne.
After graduation, he eventually continued Ringing at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Salisbury, MD where he rang for 30 years and began part time directing to fill in as necessary.
Dave left Salisbury and moved to Annapolis in 2016 and loved the music at Calvary. Soon after he jumped into the music and bell ringing, he became the director and has enjoyed the fellowship of Bell Ringers young and old.
Kathryn Longabaugh
Children’s Ministry Assistant
katlee99@gmail.com
Kathryn came to Calvary in 2018, when the Navy moved her family from California to Maryland. Led by her passion for teaching children about the Christian faith, she has been a Sunday school teacher and vacation bible school leader for nearly 10 years.
She has a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of West Florida, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Vanderbilt University. As Calvary’s Sunday School teacher for grades K-5, she loves to incorporate object lessons, scientific demonstrations, and even puppets for added fun and wonder as kids learn all about God and the beautiful world He created.
Kathryn is a substitute teacher in her spare time, loves to read, studies Christian apologetics, and occasionally picks up knitting needles. As a proud Navy wife, after many years of moving, she is happy to set down roots in Annapolis. She lives with her husband Chris (USNA Permanent Military Professor) and three children, Jack (14), James (12) and Charlotte (10)...and their cat, fish and leopard gecko…because, why not?
Lay Leadership
Church Council (Class of 2024)
Chair: Cathy Humphrey
Lay Member to Annual Conference: Nelson & Susanne Gardner
Lead Pastor: Rev. Linda W. Motter
Finance Secretary:
Treasurer: Paula Hansborough
Recording Secretary: Cathy West
United Women In Faith President: Claudette Cozad & Laurel Scott
United Methodist Men President: Bill Lovelace & Tom Scott
Youth Representative: TBD
At Large Members: Susan Mabe
Chair of Ministry Teams
Staff/Parish Relations: Mark Jones
Finance: Mike Roblyer
Missions: Julie Taylor
Education: Nancy Mills
Worship: Jay Irwin
Nominations & Leadership Development: Rev. Linda W. Motter
Board of Trustees
Class of 2025 Beth Hutcheson, Lon Slepicka, Cyndy Marlette Adams, Lee Johnson, Bill Lovelace, & Dave Myers
Class of 2026 Melissa Flaherty, Denny Love
Nominations and Lay Leadership
Class of 2025 Steve Frantzich, Bill Lovelace, Denny Love, & Miriam Stem
Class of 2026 Cathy West
Altar Guild: Elaine Irwin
Congregational Care: Julie Taylor, Interim
Education: Nancy Mills, Interim
Finance: Chair: Mike Roblyer
Missions: Julie Taylor
Prayer Group: Julie Taylor, Interim
Worship: Chair: Jay Irwin, Vice: Cathy Humphrey
Visit Us
301 Rowe Boulevard
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–3pm
Phone
(410) 268-1776