The Staff at Little Falls United Methodist Church have spent many years dedicated to Christian Service. Our staff enjoy serving our community whether in sharing our faith or
just lending a helping hand.

MEET OUR PASTOR: Rev. Don Mitchell
e-mail: info@littlefallsumc.org

Pastor Don comes to us from the Knowlton UMC in Columbia, NJ in the Skylands District. While there, the church has grown in membership and worship attendance, and has added multiple new outreach ministries. Some of the Knowlton Church’s accomplishments during Pastor Don’s five-year tenure include: a new Community Thrift Store Ministry, a new Community Food Pantry, a Medical Equipment Sharing Ministry, a Kids Come First outreach ministry to children in need, an Adopt-a-Grandparent program with the nearby nursing home, and the confirmation of 27 local youth.

Prior to serving at Knowlton, he was the Associate Pastor/Youth Minister at the United Methodist Church in Basking Ridge. During his years of ministry there, Pastor Don led many out-reach ministry initiatives, including ecumenical teams who built Habitat for Humanity homes throughout Somerset County. He also focused on meeting the needs of today’s families with children and youth, as well as our young adults and senior citizens. He is a strong advocate for developing small-group ministries where members of all ages can learn one another’s stories, deepen friendships, and share life’s joys and challenges together.

Pastor Don earned Masters Degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary as well as East Carolina University. He has also completed postgraduate coursework at Wesley and Drew Seminaries. A native of Kenly, North Carolina, Pastor Don taught college English and journalism prior to answering the call to attend seminary and enter full-time ministry. He has lived in New Jersey since 1998 and is looking forward to long-term ministry with the Little Falls Church. His wife, Maria, is a native of Glen Ridge, and her parents now live in the Clifton area. The Mitchells are very happy to be near extended family, and most of all, to be a part of the Little Falls UMC church family.

Music Director:  Paul Erickson

E-mail: info@littlefallsumc.org

Paul has been involved in church music since age 12, when he began playing the organ at Central Presbyterian Church in Paterson.  After receiving a degree in Music Education for Temple University, Paul taught classroom music in the Paterson schools before a career change brought him to Prudential Financial.  However, through the years he has always been involved in music ministry.

Paul came to LFUMC as organist and choir director in 1992, after seven years at Totowa UMC.  He is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists, and principal Horn for the Bloomfield Symphony.

Handchimes Choir Director:  Janet Dewes

E-mail: info@littlefallsumc.org

BIO COMING SOON!

Youth & Young Adults Director: Dawn Maffetone
E-mail: info@littlefallsumc.org

Active as a Certified United Methodist Lay Speaker for over six years, Dawn has significant experience as a leader in her local congregation in conducting Bible Studies, leading VBS, participating in the Walk to Emmaus, and in working with the teens and young adults in her area.

Professionally, she has served as a Supervisor for the Birth Haven Group Home for teen mothers and infants, providing a positive, supportive Christian rolemodel, while counseling and supporting young mothers as they transitioned from the group home to independent living.    Dawn has also led the Girl Scouts in the Highland Lakes/Newton area of New Jersey for more than 13 years.  This year, eight of the teenage girls will be graduating high school, all of whom remained an active part of her troop for the entire 13 year period.

Dawn has also coordinated playgroups for young children and Mom’s Support Circles, as well as youth/young adult outreach initiatives to local nursing homes.  She has served as President of the Women’s Social Committee and Fundraising Coordinator for the Walnut Ridge School.  She also has gifts in communication and social media/networking.

We warmly welcome Dawn and her family (husband Michael, daughter Meghan, and son  Steven) to our church family and pledge our support to her as we work together to minister to our youth and young adults here in Little Falls.

Administrative Assistant:  Barbara Gray

E-mail: info@littlefallsumc.org

Barb serves as our church administrative assistant.  In addition to assisting Pastor Mitchell she provides general oversight to our church office.  She coordinates our church communications, including our weekly/monthly newsletters, press releases & maintains/designs our church web site.  Prior to joining the staff at LFUMC she served as the Public Affairs Director at Trinity Broadcasting Network, New York City and Communications Director at Calvary Temple in Wayne.  She studied Marketing & Communications at Durham College in Ontario, Canada where she was born & raised.  She has three adult children, two of whom reside in Canada.