MEET OUR LEADERSHIP & STAFF!

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Halverson-Cano
Senior Pastor

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday
Hours vary due to meetings and events

Visit IUCC to experience Pastor Sarah’s commitment to Progressive Christianity. She is a gifted preacher who is devoted to the social justice causes we hold dear, and she has wonderful leadership talents. She is dedicated to racial and ethnic diversity and inclusion.

Pastor Sarah first came to IUCC at the age of nine (about 34 years ago). She arrived with her family, and they quickly became involved in the life of the church. Sarah participated in the youth group and emerged as a leader. She served as our Sunday School Coordinator/Youth Group Director from 1999-2005.

Pastor Sarah went on to earn a B.A. in Religion and English Literature from Chapman University in Orange, a Master’s degree in Divinity from Claremont University, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary.

Even though she’s been away from IUCC for some time (serving first as Associate Pastor at United Church of the Valley in Murrieta, and then as Pastor at Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa for 14 years), Pastor Sarah has been back for special occasions. She was ordained at IUCC 15 years ago and says, “It was so special that IUCC choir sang a beautiful Lakota song and I had two bell choirs!”

She spoke at the 25th anniversary of our Open & Affirming Celebration on Feb. 28, 2016. Here’s what she said at the time: “Decades ago, my mother made a decision to bring her children to IUCC, and it changed the course of my life. In 1991, I became a member. I was in the second group of kids to be confirmed at IUCC. The first vote I took as a voting member was for us to become an Open & Affirming church. I am rooted in the soil of the people of this church. I was raised by this village.”

Pastor Sarah is a well-known and well respected leader in the local religious community. For six years, she served on the board of the Southern California ACLU. For several years, she served on the board of Progressive Christians Uniting and The Center for Progressive Christianity. She chaired the Orange County Chapter of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) for nearly a decade, sat on the CLUE California Board, and continues to serve on the board of CLUE. She has served on the board of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council from 2006-present and is currently the president of the organization. She has long been an LGBTQ activist and advocate for social justice.

Pastor Sarah comes to IUCC with glowing references from community leaders:

Rabbi Stephen Einstein: “She walks with workers managing unfair labor practices, with immigrants who face deportation, and with every religious, racial, and ethnic group that suffers discrimination. She has been a leader in fighting for the rights of LGVTQ folks … She preaches with eloquence, she teaches with passion, and she counsels with a caring heart.”

Farrah Khan, Irvine City Councilmember: “Rev. Sarah has been a strong voice for the community through her civic engagement. She cares about issues important to residents and is willing to work to ensure that a faith perspective is heard while being mindful of the separation of church and state. I have witnessed her ability to eloquently share her passion for affordable housing, homelessness, sanctuary cities, and economic justice at city council meetings in Costa Mesa and Anaheim. She would be a welcome voice at the Irvine City Council.”

Ada Briceno, Unite Here Local 11: “She provides hope, comfort and inspiration to empower us with the word of God. She is a friend to hotel workers and stands with working families throughout all of the county…. We need more pastors like her and more opportunities to see women in leadership. She is an excellent leader, a kind and loving pastor, a fearless warrior for social justice, and an inspiration to our community.”

Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director, Greater Los Angeles Area Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): “Time and time again, Rev. Halverson-Cano has been there for the Muslim Community and all other marginalized communities. Whenever there is a threat to our community she is there…. She is well spoken, an excellent writer, and has a way of connecting to people. She is intelligent, courageous, and genuine. Her dynamic personality and inclusive teaching style draw us in and keep us connected.”

Pastor Sarah is excited to return to IUCC. “One of the draws for IUCC is your strong leadership,” she says. “I love to uplift people – to empower them to share the vision. To me, you’re a blessing. You’ve demonstrated that you want to make a difference and follow Jesus into our communities.”

Pastor Sarah and her husband Markyce have a daughter and a son. IUCC is thrilled to welcome them into our church family and looks forward to seeing her in action.

About the author: Tricia Aynes became the moderator of IUCC on July 1.

Craig Tyrl, MA, MFA
Administrative Pastor

Office Hours: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 10:30am to 6:30pm Email: Craig@iucc.org

Answering the challenge to “be the change” he wished to see in the world and in our church, Craig stepped up to deepen his commitment to IUCC. As many of you know, Craig felt a call to ministry as a young man, and obtained a masters in theology. Believing a gay man could not serve, his career took a different path. Discovering IUCC was a coming home experience and in his over a decade here he has been a gift to our ministry. His heart continued to whisper, and when the opening for a new administrator and tech lead came up, Craig threw his name into the hat! Because of his theology degree, and his clear call to ministry, we are reinstating our Administrative Pastor position. This is not a called (or ordained) position, but we see Craig’s heart for ministry and recognize his inherent gifts, as we seek to offer him the space to grow pastorally while meeting the challenging demands of both administration and technology.

Connie Jones - Moderator

First of all, I’d like to thank our previous moderator, Tricia Aynes, for successfully leading IUCC through the pandemic. Thank you, Tricia, for your grace and service of three years.

I am excited and honored to be selected as your new moderator where I will have numerous responsibilities looking out for the well-being of IUCC, working with leadership and representing the congregation.

I have lived in Southern California all my life and graduated from Corona del Mar High School, UC Irvine (charter class), B.A. Music and Occidental College, M.A. Music.

Initially, I joined IUCC in 2006 to sing in our outstanding chancel choir. I’ve served as chair of the Music Ministry and search committees for new choral directors. I also am choir librarian. Stepping outside of music, I served on the Pastoral Search Committee for our new settled pastor. Most recently, I co-chaired the Fund Development Committee and was selected to be on the Pastoral Relations Committee.

If you are reading this, I congratulate you on considering being a part of this loving church family who accepts everyone unconditionally no matter who you are. Join a ministry that touches your heart and get ready to change people’s lives.

Christopher Peterson - Director of Music

Email The Director of Music

CHRISTOPHER PETERSON has been the Director of Music at Irvine UCC since 2018. Chris is a teacher, conductor, choral clinician, author, editor, and choral arranger of music and books published in the United States and around the world. In his over thirty years as a music educator Dr. Peterson has taught in elementary, middle school, high school, church, community, festival, and collegiate settings. He earned the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine in choral and instrumental music education and taught music for nine years in the public schools of Maine. He earned the Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree at the University of Maine, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education and Choral Conducting at Florida State University.

At CSUF he trains and mentors undergraduate and graduate choral music educators and conductors and directs the Concert Choir and the Singing Titans Chorus. In May of 2019 he was honored as the University-wide recipient of the CSUF Carol Barnes Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has served as State Choral Representative and Southern Section President for the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), as well as the Western Division Representative for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) Council for Choral Education. He has also served the California Choral Directors Association in various offices, including CCDA President since 2021. His collegiate textbook “RESONANCE: The ART of the Choral Music Educator” is published by Pavane and is being used across the United States to train future choral music teachers and conductors.

He has been invited to teach, judge, and conduct choirs in more than thirty US states, five Canadian Provinces, and nine countries including China, England, Sweden, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, and Holland, and has conducted All-State Choirs across the nation including Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin, and California. His “hobby” for many decades has been enjoying singing barbershop harmony, and he is a BHS District Quartet Champion baritone, a top-5 medalist chorus director, and a four-time gold medalist with the Masters of Harmony, nine- time International Men’s Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Yuyoung Jeong - Pianist

YuYoung joined our music staff as a Collaborative Pianist in 2020. Her family moved from South Korea to Orange County when she was in sixth grade. She began her musical studies at the age of eight and has excelled ever since. She has earned both a Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music degrees at California State University at Fullerton. Recently, she just finished her Collaborative Pianist degree at CSUF where she had to demonstrate an excellence in performing as a soloist, performing as an accompanist, ability to sight read, improvise and transpose.

She came to IUCC because she wanted to work with Dr. Christopher Peterson. Her playing graces our sanctuary for our weekly services. weddings, memorial services and special occasions. She is a true gift to IUCC with her amazing talent.

Tristen Reineccius - MYP Director

I'm Tristen Reineccius and I am thrilled to be joining your community. I am a recent return to the area after moving out of state for the past few years and experiencing the state of TN. I grew up in a church in Corona in which I frequently volunteered in Sunday school and VBS. I am thrilled to have found one closer to home. I currently hold a BS in psychology and an Med in special education. I have extensive experience working with children both in and out of the classroom in a range of ages and needs.

In addition to this, I am a mom to a sweet three year old boy and a wife of almost five years. I also own my own photography business that I have worked on since I was in high school. It is deeply important to me as a human, educator, and parent that children (and people as a whole) are embraced, encouraged, and led with kindness. I hope to assist with continuing to grow and encourage the youth of IUCC.

Email: Tristen@iucc.org

Dustin Nguyen - Youth Coordinator

Outside of church, I'm a professional actor for stage, camera, and voiceover. Earlier this year, I was in Colonialism is Terrible, But Pho is Delicious at the Chance Theater in Anaheim, and the Orange Curtain Review has nominated me for Best Featured Actor.

Once again, I'm ecstatic to begin this journey with all of you. I look forward to causing some "good trouble" and finding creative new ways to do ministry in our changing world.

Email: dustin@iucc.org Hear Dustin Preach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_mGCRHQNzU Article about Dustin: https://diocesela.org/news/dustin-vuong-nguyen-wraps-up-ecojustice-fellowship-with-mid-autumn-vespers-on-sept-28/

I'm Dustin Nguyen and I'm thrilled to be your new Youth Coordinator. I'm coming from the Episcopal Church, and if I hadn't been Episcopalian, I would've gone with the United Church of Christ, and most definitely IUCC. I've long admired IUCC as a beacon of progressive Christianity in Orange County and am ecstatic to now be here.

An amusing fact about me is that I was evangelized into Christianity by the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. I wouldn't be a Christian today if not for Buddhism. I've come to embrace this dual-belonging, realizing that my Asian culture and spirituality enriches Christianity, and that it would be a tragedy to throw such expansiveness away.

I believe social justice is an integral part of following Jesus. In 2023, I was one of six selected among a national pool of applicants to be a 2023 Episcopal Ecojustice Fellow. In the program, fellows learn about creation care advocacy and develop a final project to serve their local communities. My final project is called, "Mid-Autumn Vespers," an evening worship service on Zoom themed after the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a holiday celebrated in many Asian cultures. The service combines Christianity and Asian spirituality to celebrate the harvest and our interconnectedness with God's creation.