Clergy

Rev. Sarah Campbell, Team Lead Minister

A graduate of Macalester College and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Rev. Campbell served churches in Grand Rapids, MI, and Bemidji, MN, and worked as a campus minister and a community organizer before coming to Mayflower in 2005. Sarah is a fellow of the Fund for Theological Education, a Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Grant recipient, a National Council of Churches Circle of Names Campaign Honoree (2011), a Leyseth award recipient (2010), and a recipient of the Louisville Institute’s Sabbatical Grant for Pastoral Leaders (2010, 2016). She was awarded the Avery D. Post Ecumenical and Interfaith Achievement award at the 28th General Synod of the UCC in 2011. Sarah was chosen by the United Church of Christ to serve as a delegate to the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan, Korea, in 2013. Her publications include “Are you a Theologian?” Prism, (volume 10, spring 2004); “Non Creedal in the Cradle of Creedalism: Six Months In Istanbul,” Prism, (volume 25, spring 2011); “Pilgrimage to Varanasi, the Holy City of Death,” Common Lot (winter 2016) p 12; and “Ars Moriendi et Ars Maerendi: A Guide for Progressive Christians” (self-published 2016). Under Campbell’s leadership, Mayflower has embraced a clear mission for “God’s dream of justice,” partnering in the building of Creekside Commons workforce housing; transforming the church’s pre-school to an all-day early childhood center for mixed-income families; forging a powerful community organizing relationship with ISAIAH; refusing to sign civil wedding licenses until the state’s definition of marriage provided equal marriage rights for all; committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2030; changing the governance model to make the church more nimble and responsive; and building the staff, including a full time associate minister to empower the church’s justice work. She has lived in Avignon, Rome, Istanbul, and London. Sarah’s husband, Gus, is a writer and classics professor. They have two grown daughters, Hope and Hannah.

Rev. Christian Briones, Associate Minister

Christian Briones is a first-generation U.S. citizen and a native of Garland, TX. His mother came to this country from El Salvador and his father from Mexico. During high school, he felt the call to ministry and moved to Abilene to pursue a degree in Biblical Studies from Hardin Simmons University. To build a fresh expression of Christian community, he spent a semester in London with Awaken Church. His Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Sexual and Gender Justice is from Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth. For three years he was named a Walker Preaching Scholar, an award given to Brite students identified as gifted preachers. In addition, he was a part of QUOTA (Queer Union of Thoughtful Academics) and served with The Women’s Center in Fort Worth as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. During seminary, Christian served as Director of Youth and Children at Edge Park United Methodist Church in Fort Worth. He regularly led worship at Edge Park and was responsible for organizing fundraising, community outreach, and youth community-building events. He was ordained at First Congregational UCC, Fort Worth, TX, on May 25, 2019. When not engaged in ministry, Christian unwinds by reading (critical race theory, novels, Marvel comics, and the latest works of his favorite scholars) or writing (journaling to poetry to punchlines in sermons yet to be preached).

Bree McKee-Miller, Director of Faith Formation

Mayflower member Bree McKee-Miller is serving as the interim Director of Faith Formation (fall-winter 2021-2022) as a search committee is formed to find our permanent director. Bree (she/her) holds a BA in Religious Studies with a minor in History from Chapman University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She is a writer, fiber artist, knitting instructor, rock climber, and geek. She is fundamentally a creative with a passion for empowering others to try new things, express themselves, find meaning, and be understood. She lives in Eagan with her husband Greg, daughter Chloe, and new King Charles Spaniel puppy Nezuko. Bree has been a member of Mayflower for roughly a decade and looks forward to serving the church community over the next several months.

Music Leaders

Nancy Grundahl

Nancy Grundahl has been the conductor of the Mayflower Adult Choir for more than 35 years. She is also the children’s choir director at Mayflower. She is the recipient of the 2019 F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Choral Directors Association of MN, a prestigious award that recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions, noteworthy servant leadership, and promotion of choral music within their communities and throughout the state of MN. 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. More than 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 grandchildren, walking the dog and gardening keep her balanced and full.

Ann Braaten

Ann Braaten joined Mayflower in summer 2022. She comes to us with many years of experience in church music as organist, accompanist and worship collaborator. She is a highly qualified and very versatile musician with a great, open spirit. Ann grew up on a farm in central Illinois and left to attend St. Olaf College. She started playing the organ for church services when she was 13. For the past 30 years, she has been playing at churches in Brooklyn Park and St. Paul. She and Tim Anderson live together in Roseville. She has two adult children and three grandchildren. Her favorite part of service playing is leading hymn singing!

Randi Rexroth

Randi Grundahl Rexroth is the conductor of the Mayflower Youth Choir and the Mayflower Handbell Choir. She has taught choral music in Minnesota and Wisconsin and grew up in the Mayflower youth music program. Growing up singing at Mayflower was a meaningful experience and she hopes to provide the same for the next generation of singers. As a youth who sang with the late and beloved Dana Blanck, Randi is honored to continue the vibrant tradition of children and youth singing at Mayflower. Currently she teaches at Visitation School in Mendota Heights and is the assistant director at the Twin Cities Women’s Choir. Randi is also an arranger and composer and enjoys creating new pieces for choirs and small ensembles. She loves to garden, knit, and spend time with family at cabins.