Worship Leaders

Rev. Sarah Campbell, Team Lead Minister (2005 to present)
A graduate of Macalester College and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Rev. Campbell has also served churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Bemidji, Minnesota. She has worked as a campus minister and a community organizer. Sarah is a fellow of the Fund for Theological Education, a Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Grant recipient, a Leyseth award recipient (2010), and a recipient of the Louisville Institute’s Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders (2010). Her upcoming sabbatical project is “Non-Creedal in the Cradle of Creedalism: Four Months in Istanbul.” During the last six years Mayflower has embraced a clear mission for “God’s dream of justice”; partnered in building 30 units of workforce housing on our land; transformed the church’s pre-school to an all-day Early Childhood Center for mixed-income level participants; forged a powerful community-organizing relationship with ISAIAH as a leader congregation in the health care reform movement; refused to sign civil wedding licenses (at least until such a time as the state’s definition of marriage provides equal marriage rights for all); and changed the governance model to make the church more nimble and responsive in our rapidly changing world. Sarah’s husband, Gus, is a writer and Classics professor; her daughter Hannah is a recent graduate of Carleton College; and daughter Hope is at Wesleyan University.

Rev. Howard K. Bell, Interim Associate Minister
Rev. Howard K. Bell oversees adult education and congregational development, while assisting with pastoral care. Howard previously served for 20 years as executive director of Pathways, a health crisis resource center in Minneapolis. Prior to that, he was associate executive director for the Minnesota AIDS Project, coordinator of hospice care at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and program director at the University of Minnesota YMCA. His volunteer roles have included spiritual care at Hudson Hospital & Clinics in Hudson, WI, treasurer and finance committee chair at the United Church of Christ in New Brighton, founder of the Minnesota Coalition for Death Education and Support, founding board member of the Minnesota Hospice Organization, and numerous roles in the Minnesota Conference including Open And Affirming/LGBT Team, Associate Minister Search Committee, and the Re-alignment Task Force. Howard has ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. He has been a member of the United Church of Christ in New Brighton since 1999 where he has a four-way covenant. Howard was born in Washington, PA, and received a BA from Bethany College in West Virginia in 1969 and masters of divinity from Yale Divinity School in 1972. Howard has four adult children and seven grandchildren. He and his partner of 21 years live in New Brighton.

Rev. Gretchen Deeg, Lilly Resident Minister
Originally from Ohio, Rev. Gretchen Deeg came to Minnesota by way of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Masters of Divinity at Lancaster Theological Seminary.  Gretchen was raised in the United Church of Christ and her background includes work as a camp chaplain in Pennsylvania, leader for youth retreats around Ohio, and programs coordinator for the chapel of Ohio Northern University, where she also received her BS.  She is particularly interested in intergenerational work and the weaving of faith and a love of the Earth. Gretchen has been serving Mayflower as a pastor and teacher with a particular emphasis on supporting the justice ministries of the church since August 2011.  As a Lilly Resident, she is part of a Lilly Endowment supported Transition-into-Ministry Program.  This two year program is designed to support new pastors in their transition from seminary student to full-time pastor and give new pastors a strong and healthy start in pastoral ministry.  Gretchen is Mayflower’s third Lilly Resident.

Nancy Grundahl
Nancy Grundahl has been the conductor of the Mayflower Adult Choir for over twenty years. Nancy has worked with Mayflower organist Dorothy Williams and Dana Blanck, violinist and director of Mayflower's youth and children's choirs for almost 30 years! Nancy holds vocal performance degrees from St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. As a soprano soloist, she has appeared in recitals and concerts throughout the area, and has taught voice at St. Olaf College. In addition to her work at Mayflower, she is the conductor of the Angelica Cantanti Concert Choir (youth choir) and the Riverside Singers of Augsburg College (treble choir). Over 60 of her arrangements and compositions for choirs have been published by Santa Barbara, Alliance, Augsburg Fortress and Hal Leonard. She is active as a clinician and guest conductor. Her work with choirs draws upon her experience as a solo singer and voice teacher. Her exploration of vocal techniques for beautiful singing is a focus of her teaching and conducting. She enjoys finding repertoire for the Mayflower Choir that challenges the singers and enhances and deepens the worship experience. Family time at the cabin, taking care of her grandsons, walking the dog and gardening keep her balanced and full.

Dorothy Williams
Dorothy Williams’ musical experiences began early and continued through a piano major at Texas Wesleyan College, a Masters degree at Colorado State University, and doctoral studies at North Texas State University. She served as staff and recital accompanist in vocal studios at Eastman School of Music, and on the music faculty at North Texas State University, Chicago City College, University of Calgary, University of Western Kentucky, and Texas Woman’s University.  In the Twin Cities she has collaborated with various groups, including Harmonia Mundi, Calliope Women’s Chorus, One Voice Mixed Chorus, TransVoices, Vocalpoint, and Mayflower Church to compose and arrange works for performance. She has two children and six grandchildren, and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dana Blanck
Originally from West Des Moines, Iowa, and Plymouth Congregational Church, Dana stayed in Minnesota after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a BFA in violin. She has been in church music her entire life and continues to find meaningful work assisting youth in making music and leading worship at Mayflower Church. Three youth choirs and work with the senior high youth group keep her challenged and active in the lives of many young people. Faith formation through service, community, and relationships help define Dana’s goals and purpose. Dana works as a music specialist at Mayflower Nursery School and St. John’s Child Care Center, and has a few private piano and violin students. Working at Mayflower Church with energetic, thoughtful, and creative kids, colleagues and friends is her passion! She and her husband, Stan, have built an off-the-grid timber frame cabin on 20 acres of forest in Embarrass, MN, and enjoy their time there with family and a 1940 Farm-All tractor named Marie. Dana has a daughter, Erin, and a son, Christian, both of whom are teachers and Mayflower members.