About Us
Pastor and Staff
Dr. Joe Bettridge
Pastor
Joe and Becce are delighted to be back in Puget Sound having served long term pastorates in Alaska and Arizona. Joe received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and his Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Joe’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to God’s purpose.” In his ministry Joe strives to preach expository sermons, usually in a ten to sixteen week series. His sermons make God’s Word available to the congregation and give his listeners an in-depth understanding of the books of the Bible. He has been involved in the ministry of Christian healing for 35 years.
Email: Joe Bettridge, Pastor
Sylvia Sullard
Director of Youth Ministries
Sylvia has been a part of the FHPC community for 10 years; all of them spent serving in youth ministry. Her story begins near Seattle, where her parents, both teachers, raised Sylvia and her younger brother. Sylvia attended Seattle Pacific University and went on to a youth ministry internship in Gig Harbor and then to Phoenix, AZ for 3.5 years before coming to Friday Harbor in 1997. Youth ministry is about being a signpost to middle & high school aged youth, pointing them to Jesus and the great news of God’s kingdom. We connect with young people through two programs, Devo’ and Reality Check, one-on-one discipleship appointments, and by supporting youth at sports events, band concerts, skating competitions, and academic gatherings. There is a team of adult leaders as well as a student leadership team that serves the middle school youth group. In all things, we seek to be authentic ambassadors for the gospel of Jesus and have a great time, sharing His kingdom with all we encounter.
LeAnne GrosJacques-Burt
Director of Children's Ministries
LeAnne GrosJacques-Burt was born and raised in Willamette Valley, Oregon. LeAnne is the mother of 4 children, Catherine, Peter, Michael and Christine. LeAnne grew up on a farm in a small Catholic town and attended Catholic school. LeAnne’s love for children started early on as she studied to be a kindergarten teacher. Starting a family of her own changed that dream a bit. When Catherine was 3, LeAnne began of what is now 19 years of children’s ministry. LeAnne worked in Oregon as children’s ministry educator, attended many hours of early childhood education and children’s Christian education classes. LeAnne became a preschool teacher at a Christian school in Oregon. In 1997 she moved to the island which was familiar to her because she had family here. Nine years ago LeAnne took the job at the Presbyterian Church, as the Children’s ministry director. LeAnne also taught toddler group, for one year at the lighthouse preschool. LeAnne started the afternoon kids program, “Genesis” and the Sunday school program and Nursery care. LeAnne directs the Vacation Bible school program each summer and has a great love to watch the children’s grow up with the knowledge of Jesus’ love for them. LeAnne also is the director of Kids Club.
LeAnne and her husband, Don Burt, continue to farm in the San Juan’s and spend time with their children’s activities.
Email: LeAnne GrosJacques-Burt, Director of Children's Ministries
Torrey Prescott
Office and Volunteer Coordinator
Torrey was born and raised in Los Angeles, California with her parents and four siblings. She attended University of California, Davis and was graduated from California State University, Humboldt, in English Literature and Elementary Education. She and her husband bought land on San Juan Island in the late 70’s and moved to the island in 1983 with their children. Torrey worked in her career of Early Childhood Education for 23 years. Retiring from teaching, she began her position at the church in September 2007. Torrey feels the importance of being responsive to those who call and who come by the church. She believes in the ministry of hospitality and compassion. Torrey is a current elder and was also an active deacon for several years. She works with volunteers and staff to get the work of the church accomplished with much appreciation of all contributions. She strives to share the love and compassion with others that the Lord has shown her. One of her favorite verses is:
“…and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ….” Ephesians 3:17-18
Email: Torrey Prescott
Terry Forsyth
Organist
Terry was born 1952 in Los Angeles area and raised half his school years in Nevada. He started playing for church in eighth grade. After actively serving a full enlistment in the navy for six years, Terry earned his BA in Music (music composition) at Gardner-Webb College now university, a baptist school, in 1981. Terry's musical service to God has been exciting and about as wide as God could have given by serving Him in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist and Nazarene churches. Playing at FHPC gives Terry opportunity to utilize all his experience and music giving everyone the ability to hear music from whatever their prior traditional church experience.
Grateful for being led to serve God at FHPC, Terry says meeting the various music needs of the worship experience is a great joy and blessing.
Moving to Friday Harbor in 1997, Terry and Kathie spend their non-working time with their two bassets, working on their house and giving God thanks for the blessing of living on this island.
Email: Terry Forsyth, Organist
Session
Session/Committee Leaders
Worship: Pam Starr & Jeri Ahrenius
Congregational Life – Torrey Prescott
Christian Ed – Jill Urbach
Administration –Alayne Sundberg & Dan Zaehring
Mission – Bob Benz & Mary Ray
Pam Starr, Layne Sundberg, Dan Zaehring, Mary Ray and Torrey Prescott
Deacons
Patti Bair, Linda Barnhart, Lynette Guard, Melissa Guard, Mike Ahrenius, Ken Norris, Helen Sawyer, RuthAnn Krooswyk, Curt VanHyning & John Stimpson
.History
The Presbyterian story on San Juan Island begins before the Civil War when the 50 year-old Abraham Lincoln was running for the office of President of the United States. He could not have known that across the continent that very year of 1860, on an isolated island which was disputed territory between the Americans and the British, a “colored” missionary from Victoria was holding services in the log school house at Portland Fair Hill.
The missionary met with the pastor of a Presbyterian church in Victoria who began periodically to cross Haro Strait. Thus, the Rev. Thomas Summerville divided his time between Victoria and San Juan Island, ministering to both congregations.
As the populations of both communities grew, so did the need for full time pastoral care. With this in mind, in 1870 Rev. Summerville sent his young friend, T.J. Weekes, to the San Juan church as their regular pastor. Only two years later, just seven years after the death of Abraham Lincoln, the “Pig War” was peacefully resolved and T.J. and his flock found themselves in official United States territory 17 years before Washington became a state.
If you travel out of town via Spring Street and turn left on Douglas Road, you will pass the history of Presbyterians on our island. Just up the street from the ferry landing the new sanctuary stands. Dedicated on June 5, 1988, its bell was moved from the belfry of the old church just across the street. The old church was dedicated to the Lord a century ago on December 5, 1897. The structure still stands and continues to serve the community as an office building. Yet, if you continue out of town for a mile, turn left on Douglas, go another mile and look up cemetery hill, you will see a “beautiful little Gothic church, (now on the official Washington State Historical Register) constructed almost wholly by volunteers of the congregation…” Begun in 1878, incurring no debt, and four years in the building, the “Valley Church” was dedicated to the Lord on July 8, 1882 by the Presbyterian congregation led by none other than T.J. Weekes.
Weekes continued to serve as pastor of the Valley Church until he moved from the island at the beginning of 1891. Since then God has richly provided the professional and lay leadership we have needed. In that time, the church grew with the nation through its trials and triumphs: the Spanish-American War, the Great War, Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Moon landings, the Gulf War.
Thus, for most of our nation’s history, Friday Harbor Presbyterians have added their own history as people of God, faithfully proclaiming the saving grace of Jesus Christ. That is our job, our mission. With God’s grace that history will be our future.
Adapted from Presbyterian Story on San Juan Island
Compiled by Frances M. Seels
Location
We are located at:
425 Spring Street / P O Box 946
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Directions: If you are coming by ferry, you will take the main street of town, Spring Street, up the hill from the ferry landing almost three (counting on the left) blocks. The church is on the left just before the four-way stop.
