Pastor Byron Arledge
We welcome Rev. Dr. Byron Arledge to Messiah Lutheran Church, where he is serving as Interim Pastor with us. His entire career, Pastor Byron has served as both Pastor and Licensed Professional Counselor serving as Executive Director of Pastoral Counseling Services for 45 years in Akron. An ordained Pastor in the Evangelical Church of America (ELCA), he has served as Pastor and Interim Pastor in eight different churches.
Douglas Hicks
MUSIC DIRECTOR
music@messiahlutheran.cc
Doug has life-long ties with Messiah and has been producing stunning music with us for many years. He studied piano performance at the University of Miami (Florida) and has taught as an associate professor of music at the University of Akron. Doug’s interests include traveling, training for marathons, and staying physically fit. He also enjoys keeping up the latest technological advancement and he routinely serves as our tech wizard around the church.
Moriah Sprit
MUSIC EDUCATOR
worship_leader@messiahlutheran.cc
As a mezzo-soprano, Moriah Sprit has been described as having, “A beautiful, light voice with nice warmth and vibrancy”. In recent years, Moriah has been a featured alto and soprano soloist in Haydn’s The Creation, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Fauré’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Handel’s Messiah. Moriah recently graduated Summa Cum Laude in the Fall of 2019 from the University of Akron with her Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Throughout her Akron career, she studied abroad in Jamaica and began her own private piano studio. Moriah is currently aspiring to have a musical impact in the community by educating others with a teaching pedagogy that encourages creativity and fosters inspiration.
Carl Saurman
TREASURER
treasurer@messiahlutheran.cc
Carl and his wife Charlene joined Messiah Lutheran in 1976 and were married there that same year. They have two children Mark and Tammy, and three grandchildren. Carl has been treasurer for Messiah Lutheran since 1995. Retired from Babcock&Wilcox as IT Application Development Manager, he enjoys flying, racquetball, golf, trumpet, choir, playing with the grandkids, and traveling the world.
Gail Wertheimer
CUSTODIAN
Gail has been attending to our facilities for many years. Not only is she familiar with Messiah, but she knows every nook and cranny around northeast Ohio. She has a big heart for serving others and loves to garden. She enjoys spending time with family and tending to her feline friends!