Rev. Douglas Norris, Interim Senior Pastor
This is his fifth time at our church. He was an Associate Pastor (Minister of Education) for five years—1969-1974, Senior Pastor for ten years—1983-1993, substitute for Bob Olmstead for six weeks in 2000, substitute for eight weeks from August 14-October 2, 2022, and now Interim Senior Pastor for eight months—November through June.
Doug began his ministry at the age of 18 while a sophomore at Hamline University in St. Paul where he met Eleanor, a Lutheran who rather than attending her prescribed Lutheran college, commuted to Methodist Hamline where she met Doug.
Doug was appointed pastor of two rural Methodist churches. Typical dating was Ellie’s attendance at his Sunday church youth events. He drove 200 miles round trip!
From graduation, he went to Japan as a short-term missionary in a Methodist boys’ junior and senior high school in Nagoya. Ellie was a Minnesota high school business teacher.
Doug and Ellie were married in in 1958, moved to Evanston, Illinois, where Doug entered Garrett Theological Seminary and Ellie taught at the Evanston Township High School.
They have served churches in Texas, Minnesota, Australia, California, and Arizona. Following his retirement in 1999, he has been appointed interim pastor at four churches in California and Arizona and now in Palo Alto.
Fifty-two years ago, his second year in Palo Alto, Doug was asked to direct the annual June California-Nevada Conference Family Camp. During Covid-19 the 2020 and 2012 camp attendance was via Zoom and You Tube. 2023 is scheduled at Koininia Conference Grounds in Corallitos.
In 2006 Doug received the designation of Pastor Emeritus from our congregation. In 2011 at the 50th anniversary of his Garrett graduation, he was asked to allow Garrett, with their $1,000 startup, to create a Douglas and Eleanor Scholarship that, when endowed at $25,000, would begin awarding annual student stipends of 5% of the total annual value. They hesitated until urged by family and friends to accept the challenge.
Now after ten years, six annual recipients with initial goals of entering pastoral ministry have received stipend blessings totaling more than $45,000 toward their seminary studies. An early addition to the support of their scholarship came from the Centennial Endowment Fund for $10,000. Doug’s 2013 book I’ll Go shares 60 years of ministry experiences, many unique. Book profits, and dedicated annual support from family and friends has kept a steady growth in step with student needs.
God has blessed them with a fabulous family of three sons, seven granddaughters, one grandson and one great-granddaughter. A highlight of his interim ministry in First Church will be the baptism of great-granddaughter Ada Jeanne where he baptized her mother, Alison.
Rev. Gerardo García Palacios, Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries
Rev. Gerardo García Palacios was born in Mexico City. His family is composed of his parents Gerardo S. García Sr. and Laura Herrera, and his two younger siblings– Yoalli García (sister) and Ernesto García (brother). Gerardo has strong Presbyterian foundations. He grew up in the National Mexican Presbyterian Church in Mexico City “Principe de Paz.” It was there he began to develop the following: his leadership, the importance of teamwork, love and respect for nature and all of God’s creation and serving his neighbor. It was his work in the church and his dedicated service at such a young age, the National Mexican Presbyterian Church considered him a semi-official within the church. He was encouraged by the Senior Pastor to take theology classes along with the other Ruling Elders at the age of 15.
In August of 1996 his entire family immigrated to the USA. In the same year, Gerardo and his family found a Presbyterian LatinX Ministry in San Mateo, California, “Latinos Unidos En Cristo.” Gerardo’s participation and integration to the church was absolute and complete.
Within a 17-year period at Latino Unidos, Gerardo participated and worked as: Worship Director, Sunday School Teacher for children and adults, Youth leader, Moderator of the Evangelism Committee, among other responsibilities. During this time, Gerardo was ordained at Latinos Unidos as: PCUSA Deacon and later, a Ruler Elder. In 2005, Gerardo was commissioned by the Presbytery of San Francisco as Commissioned Pastor (CLP). He served as a Commissioned Pastor for six years at Latinos Unidos En Cristo, and for four years at the Mission Presbyterian Church “La Iglesia” on the Mission District in the City of San Francisco. Gerardo has a B.A degree in Theology and Bible Studies from the Latin American Faculty of Theological Studies Seminary (FLET) in the state of Florida. In June 2018, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Gerardo is fully bilingual (Spanish and English) and bicultural, skills that helped him in his work as Campus Operation Director at Fuller Seminary’s extension in Menlo Park, California. On July 16th, 2020, Gerardo was ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament by the San Francisco Presbytery. Rev. García completed his one-year chaplaincy residence program, followed by another year specialization fellowship at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. He provided spiritual care and pastoral care to patients and medical personnel at the beginning and middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, Gerardo is working to become a Board-Certified Chaplain (BCCI). He serves in a non-profit organization Upward Scholars at San Mateo County, providing spiritual and pastoral care to immigrant/low-income students. Rev. García Palacios is an adjunct professor at the Spanish theological seminary ELET (Escuela Latinoamericana de Estudios Teologicos) at El Cerrito, California. Rev. García Palacios is currently completing his Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) at Berkeley School of Theology in Berkeley, California.
Mark Shaull, Director of Music
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Mark Andrew Shaull has been Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto since 1995. Prior to coming to Palo Alto he held Director of Music positions at Bethel Lutheran Church of Cupertino and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Los Altos. He is currently in his 36th year of music ministry. He holds a B.A. degree from San Jose State University, where he has completed graduate studies.
Mark has been Director of Choral Activities and Performing Department Coordinator at Los Altos High School since 1984. In addition to directing The Main Street Singers and five other choral ensembles on campus, he leads an active department with yearly performances of major works, musicals and numerous choral festivals. Under his direction Los Altos High School choral ensembles have achieved a truly international reputation, having completed concert travel to 47 countries spanning six continents.
Diane Keller, Organist
Diane is a native of Tucson, AZ. She holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Organ Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University.
Her musical career has included serving as a Guest Organist at the Salt Lake Tabernacle from 1994-2012, teaching piano and organ lessons both privately and in groups, and teaching preschool music classes.
As an active member of the American Guild of Organists she has served on the board of the San Jose Chapter for many years including serving as Dean from 2011-2013.
Diane and her husband have lived in the Bay Area since 1999 and are the parents of three children. Diane joined us as organist in January 2015.
Debbie Krueger, Weddings & Memorials Coordinator
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Kyle Sofman, Concerts Coordinator
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Kyle Sofman is the Program Director at Music in the Schools Foundation where she manages a music program for students in underserved and low-income communities. Kyle has also taught music in the Bay Area for over twenty years. Outside of her work in music education, Kyle has performed with the Peninsula Women’s Chorus where she was the section leader, managed volunteers, and served on the Board of Directors. She performs in recitals and appears as a soloist with area choirs.
Kyle received a Bachelor’s of Music Education at Oberlin College Conservatory and a Masters in Music Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2015, she received her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from San Francisco State.
Kyle has a penchant for all things purple. When purchasing an item, her first question is usually, “Does it come in purple?” She also enjoys growing sunflowers on her deck, dreaming of Italy, and spending time with friends and family.
Susan Stephens, Administrative & Facilities Manager
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Susan Stephens is our Administrative & Facilities Manager, She can be reached at the main church number during office hours 9 AM to 4 PM.
Char Cutkosky, Administrative and New Media Associate
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Char grew up as a member of First Palo Alto and now works as an administrative associate and manager for our website and social media pages. Their office hours are 12 PM through 4 PM.
