Dr. Gail Stearns, Pastor
Gail Stearns is a recent past Moderator of our Presbytery and Presbytery Council. She is Dean Emerita of the Wallace All Faiths Chapel at Chapman University, where she also taught Religious and Peace Studies as an Associate Professor. Gail currently consults with churches and businesses to weave together mindfulness and spirituality. She loves kayaking, reading, and spending time with friends.
Contact the Pastor at: gail@firstpresorange.org or Ext. 2.
Melissa Epley, Director of Communications and Operations
Melissa became the Director of Communications and Operations in 2022. She responsible for all church communication such as emails, bulletins, newsletters, and signs on campus, as well as other various administrative and operational duties. Outside of the office, you can usually find her spending time with family, exploring new places, gaming, or doing something creative like writing and drawing.
Contact Melissa at: melissa@firstpresorange.org or Ext. 4
Easter Garcia, Business & Finance Administrator
Easter joined our staff in 2022. Her primary duties include accounts payable and receivable, preparation of financial statements, accounting of contributions, payroll, insurance and other administrative tasks. She likes to read, listen to podcasts and music, and go to the latest Broadway show in town. She and her husband have four children and they love travelling together.
Contact Easter at: easter@firstpresorange.org or Ext. 3
Jeffrey Fahey, Director of Music
Jeffrey Fahey was born and raised in Minnesota. His love for music began as a young singer and instrumentalist in church and school. His involvement in music eventually developed into a passion for various types of performing arts. After graduating from high school, Jeffrey moved to Chicago to attend college, earning a BFA in Musical Theatre from Roosevelt University and a BA in Music Education from Northeastern Illinois University. He has worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago in several churches as music director, section leader, and cantor. Jeffrey also worked with various professional theatres and choral ensembles across the Chicago area as a performer, including the Chicago Choral Artists and the Hinsdale Chorale. Jeffrey relocated to Southern California in 2014 and has been the Director of Choirs at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights ever since. Under his direction, the Choirs of Los Altos have earned top honors and awards at SCVA choral festivals and numerous show choir competitions, including recognition for best musicianship. Jeffrey holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles and currently is a staff singer with the Long Beach Camerata Singers.
Contact Jeffrey at: jeffrey@firstpresorange.org.
Grace Kim, Organist / Accompanist
Originally from South Korea, Grace Hyeyeon Kim received piano lessons from the age of 5 and began accompanying for church services and choirs at 9 years of age. She eventually went to Yonsei University in Korea where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ performance and church music, while also serving as a church organist. Soon after she emigrated to the United States in 2003. She held a position as a church organist at First Presbyterian Church in Torrance, and in 2006 at First United Methodist Church in Fullerton. As a soloist, she has performed at many churches in Korea and in the United states. She featured as a soloist for North Orange County concert series in 2010. When she isn’t at the organ bench, she has accompanied many choirs, including the Pomona college choir and Fullerton School district high school choirs. She continued her studies in organ with Carey Robertson, who is on the faculty of Claremont University. She lives in Irvine with her husband, Daniel, and her son, Christian, who is twelve years old. She loves traveling with her family.
Contact Grace at: hyeyeonk@yahoo.com.