Meet Our Staff

Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr. (Senior Pastor)

Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr. came to Pine Street in 2005. His pastoral responsibilities include preaching, providing pastoral care, moderating the Session, supervising and mentoring staff, and helping the church discern God’s vision for its future and ministry. He also enjoys teaching and has a special interest in adult education and faith formation.

Russell loves the people of Pine Street, saying “they embody the love and kindness of Christ and trust my leadership. I also love the openness of our people to learn and to grow. It is a joy to serve them.”

His favorite scripture is in Genesis 32, where Jacob wrestles with an angel and will not let go until God blesses him. Having faith in God can be a struggle, but Russell believes that the struggle to have faith and to know God more deeply is worthwhile, and that if we hold on to God, God will answer the deep longings of our hearts.

Prior to coming to Pine Street, Russell held pastoral positions in South Carolina, Illinois and Hartsville, Pa. He received a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from The College of Charleston.

Russell believes “Pine Street is a unique Presbyterian Church in that it celebrates weekly the Lord’s Supper. We encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament, and I do believe that this encounter forms us into the kind of community the world needs, a community that transcends ideology and partisanship to be the people of God for the world God loves.”

Russell is an avid reader and loves international cuisine. He enjoys traveling to new places and meeting people from other cultures. His college-aged children help keep him young at heart! Russell and his wife Myriam live in Mechanicsburg.

E-mail: rsullivan@pinestreet.org

Rev. Alex Lang (Associate Pastor)

Rev. Alex Lang is passionate about helping people discover and fully live out their faith. Alex designs innovative, engaging programs for Pine Street’s youth (6^th – 12^th grades), focuses on ways to bring new members into the church and works with Dr. Sullivan to oversee the deacon’s board.

If you’ve never been to church or if it’s been a while, Alex says you will find a welcoming community at Pine Street. “If you’ve never felt comfortable in church or have questioned whether or not religion is really the right thing for you, then Pine Street is a place where you can search and explore those questions you’ve never been able to answer.”

Alex’s favorite scripture is Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (NRSV)

Prior to his ministry at Pine Street, Alex served as director of youth ministries at Princeton United Methodist Church and as a chaplain for the mentally ill at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. He holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University.

Alex lives with his wife Courtney and son Elijah in Harrisburg. Alex loves watching and creating films. He wrote, directed, produced and edited a feature-length film entitled Shadows. (www.vanishlikeshadows.com) He is a serious fan of sushi, ice cream and trance techno.

E-mail: alang@pinestreet.org

Thomas Clark-Jones (Organist-Choirmaster)

Thomas Clark-Jones has been leading Pine Street’s music ministries since 1998. He directs the adult choir and Chamber Singers, leads the adult and youth handbell choirs, and works with the children’s choir. For worship services, he presides at the organ and selects the hymns and liturgical responses.

Tom appreciates the opportunity to work in a church that is on the cutting edge of liturgical renewal in the Reformed tradition. He finds it deeply rewarding to be part of a church that views the Sacraments as integral to worship and enjoys the dedication of all the musicians within the church.

“Those who choose to join this ministry are gracious and wonderful people who not only make great music for me (and the congregation!), but who are also my friends and support group,” he says.

One of Tom’s favorite Scriptures is Isaiah 55:6-7: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake their way and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

“The heart of Pine Street is huge – loving the whole world and each individual who crosses our threshold,” Tom says. “Come, join the journey with friends. In so doing, you will find yourself in the presence of the Living God.”

Prior to coming to Pine Street, Tom led worship and taught music in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia. Tom holds a Bachelor of Music from Wilkes University and a Master of Arts from The State College of New Jersey.

Tom enjoys traveling and loves classic cars, including his 1966 Pontiac Bonneville convertible which doesn’t see enough drive time! If he wasn’t a professional musician, Tom would like to be an officer on the Star Ship Enterprise or serve on the crew of Deep Space 9.

Tom and his wife Rev. Denise Clark-Jones live in Camp Hill.

E-mail: tjones@pinestreet.org

Cheryl A. Goode (Director of Children & Family Ministry)

Cheryl A. Goode became a full-time staff member in 2008, but has been learning, serving and volunteering at Pine Street since she was a child. She now serves as the Director of Children & Family Ministry. Cheryl is responsible for the children, family and volunteer ministries.

Cheryl is an enrolled educational assistant and is currently working towards certification as an Associate Christian Educator. She is a member of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. “Working in the church is a calling and an opportunity to serve God as well as the people of the church,” she says.

One of Cheryl’s favorite scriptures is Matthew 9:13-15, where Jesus welcomes and blesses the little children. “Pine Street has done an amazing job of including children in worship and in the life of the church,” she says. “These children have the opportunity to know worship and grow in their faith.”

When she is not busy ministering to Pine Street’s children and families, Cheryl enjoys reading, gardening, cooking and baking. Cheryl and her husband John live in New Cumberland.

E-mail: cgoode@pinestreet.org