Staff

Jay Rowland was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1998, his first call was pastor at Norriton Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of Philadelphia. In 2001 he was called to First Presbyterian Church, Rochester Minnesota where he served as associate pastor for 22 years. He earned his BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota in 1986 and worked in local news at WCCO-TV and television production at Cable Value Network both in Minneapolis where he was born and raised. Jay moved to Los Angeles where he landed at Paramount Pictures then Universal Pictures working in network and syndicated TV programming. During that time he experienced a call to ministry and left Los Angeles for New Jersey and Princeton Theological Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity in 1998. That was also the year Jay and Kari were married. They have four adult children--three daughters in Minneapolis and a son, the youngest, who lives in Rochester, MN.   Jay writes, "Everything Jesus says and does in the Gospels (and in our lives today) is a beacon for navigating the darkness and uncertainty of life in this world. From the beginning Jesus invited anyone to join Him. No exceptions. That's both the wonder and the work of the church as we follow him today. Church is where we practice living as a Jesus Christ community, distinct from the many other communities everywhere around us, whether benevolent or not."

Sarah was born in Nebraska, but grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she started playing the piano at the age of five. She spent her high school years in Dubuque, Iowa and Rochester, Minnesota, while her mother studied for ministry in the Presbyterian Church. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska with a major in piano performance. After being a stay-at-home parent during her children's early years, Sarah enjoyed many years of musical work as a collaborative pianist in high schools and colleges in the Kansas City area. She taught piano at Maple Woods Community College and at William Jewell College's Community School of Music, and was accompanist for the Kansas City Women's Chorus. Through the years, Sarah has served as organist, pianist, and choir director for Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches. Now retired, she delights in having time for quilting, creating dollhouse miniatures, reading, and learning to play the harp. With her husband Dennis, she enjoys traveling to attend baseball games, to visit their six children and 3 grandchildren, and to see the world. Dennis and Sarah live in The Villages with their two 3-legged cats.

Melanie was born and raised in the Panama Canal Zone. Her love of music began at a very young age when she was cast in her first community theatre musical “SHOWBOAT” at the age of 10.  Bitten by the theatre bug, she performed in summer theatre productions, sang in school choirs and began piano lessons so that she could accompany her school and church youth choirs.  Melanie was an active Thespian in her high school drama program.  She attended the University of Central Arkansas, where she majored in Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology with a minor in Special Education.  She returned to Panama after graduation in 1980, to get married and begin her teaching career as a K-8 Music teacher at St. Mary’s Parochial school.  Music continued to be her hobby as she performed in several community theatre productions at the Theatre Guild and the Pacific Theatre Arts Center.  In 1984 she began her career with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools.   In 1997 she received a Silver public service award for her contributions to the Panama Canal community.  In 1999 she received a Lifetime Theatre Guild membership for her work as President of the Theatre Guild having directed more than twenty musicals.  Melanie won two FORSCOM awards for acting and musical direction.  When the military bases in Panama closed in 1999, Melanie and her family transferred to Okinawa Japan where she continued to volunteer with the community theatre program “Pacific Okinawa Players”, as well as serve as the concert accompanist for the secondary schools.  She served as President of the POPS board of directors and directed the music for over thirty shows.  In 2011 she received a Lifetime Membership award from the POPS organization (Pacific Okinawa Players).  Melanie shares her love of music and theatre with her multi-talented husband Fred.  They will celebrate 44 years of marriage this December.   After 38 years of serving the military connected students, Melanie retired and moved to The Villages in 2022. She was thrilled to be invited to join Bach With A Beat by member Lois Young, whom she knew in Okinawa!  Melanie is a proud mother of two wonderful sons, two beautiful daughters in law, and three precious grandchildren.