Staff
Jennifer Parks-Snyder
Pastor
Office: 717-533-9668 ext. 105
Email: pastor@firstumchershey.org
Rev. Dr. Jenn Parks-Snyder began her appointment as pastor of First United Methodist Church of Hershey on July 1, 2021. Previously, she was the pastor at Lightstreet United Methodist Church in the Lewisburg district for eleven years. She also served as an Assisting Elder for the Lewisburg District for two years. Prior to that, she was the Associate Pastor at First Hollidaysburg UMC for three years; she served as the pastor of Caledonia Charge in the Chambersburg area for three years and Powell's Valley Charge in the Harrisburg area for four years.
Before entering pastoral ministry, she was a Children and Youth Caseworker for Berks County. She received her Master's of Divinity in May 2006 and her Doctorate of Ministry in Church Leadership in May 2018 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
Pastor Jenn is married to Scott Snyder, who works at Lowes in Palmyra, PA. Together, they have three young adult children: Lucas, Alex, and Davi.
Pastor Jenn is open and affirming in her theology.
Office: 717-533-9668 ext. 105
Email: pastor@firstumchershey.org
Rev. Dr. Jenn Parks-Snyder began her appointment as pastor of First United Methodist Church of Hershey on July 1, 2021. Previously, she was the pastor at Lightstreet United Methodist Church in the Lewisburg district for eleven years. She also served as an Assisting Elder for the Lewisburg District for two years. Prior to that, she was the Associate Pastor at First Hollidaysburg UMC for three years; she served as the pastor of Caledonia Charge in the Chambersburg area for three years and Powell's Valley Charge in the Harrisburg area for four years.
Before entering pastoral ministry, she was a Children and Youth Caseworker for Berks County. She received her Master's of Divinity in May 2006 and her Doctorate of Ministry in Church Leadership in May 2018 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
Pastor Jenn is married to Scott Snyder, who works at Lowes in Palmyra, PA. Together, they have three young adult children: Lucas, Alex, and Davi.
Pastor Jenn is open and affirming in her theology.
Lew Parks
Assistant Pastor
Office: 717-533-9668
Email: lew.parks@firstumchershey.org
Rev. Dr. Lewis A. Parks comes to us with extensive experience. He is an ordained elder of the Susquehanna Conference who has pastored congregations of all sizes throughout the conference. He is also professor emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC for which he continues to teach online courses in church leadership and United Methodist governance. He is the author of three books published by Abingdon Press.
Dr. Parks is married to Peggy Parks, who has been a member of Hershey First these past two years while he was on interim assignments. The Parks have two grown children, one of them our own Pastor Jenn, and six grandchildren. They live in Lebanon.
Office: 717-533-9668
Email: lew.parks@firstumchershey.org
Rev. Dr. Lewis A. Parks comes to us with extensive experience. He is an ordained elder of the Susquehanna Conference who has pastored congregations of all sizes throughout the conference. He is also professor emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC for which he continues to teach online courses in church leadership and United Methodist governance. He is the author of three books published by Abingdon Press.
Dr. Parks is married to Peggy Parks, who has been a member of Hershey First these past two years while he was on interim assignments. The Parks have two grown children, one of them our own Pastor Jenn, and six grandchildren. They live in Lebanon.
Shawn Gingrich
Shawn is Director of Music Ministry leading the choirs and praise teams and serving as organist. He holds undergraduate degrees from Lebanon Valley College, a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College, and the Doctor of Worship Studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. In addition to his church work Shawn is an adjunct music instructor at Messiah University in Grantham, is Artistic Director of Hershey Handbell Ensemble, and volunteers on numerous boards, including The American Guild of Organists, The Handbell Musicians of America, and the Mt. Gretna Bible Festival. Shawn and his wife Laura have four adult children: Peter, Sarah, Christian and Aaron and they reside in Elizabethtown.
Cassandra McCachren
Cassie graduated from Millersville University with a BS in Elementary Education in 2010. She spent two years teaching in the School District of Lancaster before joining the staff at First UMC in August of 2012. She resides outside of Middletown with her husband, Peter; son, Crosby; and daughter, Grace. Cassie is passionate about serving and missions. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, camping, walking, and spending time with family and friends.
Phil Jurus
Coordinator of Congregational Care
Office: 717-533-9668 ext. 118
Email: phil.jurus@firstumchershey.org
Office: 717-533-9668 ext. 118
Email: phil.jurus@firstumchershey.org
Academic background: BA, History and Political Science: Muhlenberg College, MDiv: Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia, MA, International Relations: Lehigh University, Ordained: Lutheran Church in America. Extensive experience as a silversmith, goldsmith, and wood artisan. He enjoys creative writing, singing (a member of the Trinity Choir) and the study of pre-historic and indigenous people and their art. He has two children.
Amanda Straw
Administrative Assistant
Email: amanda.straw@firstumchershey.org
Amanda graduated from Elizabethtown College in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in English with minors in Mass Communications and Women & Gender Studies. In 2015 she earned a Masters degree in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg, specializing in popular culture and ethnography. She has worked in Hershey for well over a decade, at Hersheypark/ZooAmerica, Hershey's Chocolate World, the Hershey Story museum, and The Hershey Company's 19 East Chocolate headquarters and West Hershey Plant. In her free time she volunteers at the Middletown Public Library, writes fiction with Central Penn & Quill, and enjoys knitting and playing with Legos.
Email: amanda.straw@firstumchershey.org
Amanda graduated from Elizabethtown College in 2006 with a Bachelors degree in English with minors in Mass Communications and Women & Gender Studies. In 2015 she earned a Masters degree in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg, specializing in popular culture and ethnography. She has worked in Hershey for well over a decade, at Hersheypark/ZooAmerica, Hershey's Chocolate World, the Hershey Story museum, and The Hershey Company's 19 East Chocolate headquarters and West Hershey Plant. In her free time she volunteers at the Middletown Public Library, writes fiction with Central Penn & Quill, and enjoys knitting and playing with Legos.