OUR TEAM
From our Ministry Team to our Administrative Staff, each member of our team brings a unique skill set to our Community of Faith. Together, we are committed to serving you-- whether it's nurturing your relationship with Christ, booking your Wedding or finding your way through tough times, we are here to help.
Rev. Dr. Richard A. Nelson
Intentional Interim Minister
Rev. Dr. Rick Nelson is a Southern California guy at heart, having grown up in San Diego. The sights, sounds, and smells of the ocean have once again issued their clarion call, and he is back “home” for this chapter of life and ministry among us. Rick received his doctorate in Leadership, with a thesis entitled: “The Flourishing Life”—a study of pastors and leaders, and that which makes them happy. As the Psalmist proclaims (144:15): “Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!”
He was contracted and called to serve among us beginning in 2023 and will be with us at least through 2024. Having served for almost 40 years as a lead pastor of congregations primarily in the West, in a variety of contexts and situations, his calling now is to assist congregations in transition—we call it, Intentional Interim Ministry. Rick is trained and certified for this process of walking alongside of congregations and their leaders in discovering God’s preferred future as they seek to call their next settled pastor. Rick loves what he does and can’t get over the privilege he has of serving in this ongoing cause of Christ in God’s wonderful world!
He and his wife, Kristen (a UCC Pastor in Riverside), together have 6 children, 7 grandchildren, and various critters scattered about the West. Spending time chasing them down and enjoying their company is a primary off-time occupation. They also enjoy sports events, golf, live music venues, great food, good books, and almost anything on or near the water.
In Memorium Michael Moorhead
Licensed Minister
We mourn the loss, and celebrate the victory, of Michael, whose earthly life ended around Easter of 2023. He had served us officially as a certified minister for 22 years, and was a precious gift to this place.
Michael had the unique professional combination of being both a lawyer and minister. He began his career as a trial attorney in the 1970s, having obtained his J.D. from Loyola University. After 25 years and many cases, he stopped trying cases and started mediating them. From then on, he helped resolve complex and wide-ranging legal issue, and also mediated issues that arise in a wide variety of churches and their pastors.
In 2002 he became a Licensed Minister through the United Church of Christ in order to serve more deeply here at The Neighborhood Church. He strongly believed that God has given each of us unique and wonderful gifts that are meant to be used in service to God.
David P. Sateren
Director of Music
David began his service in church music singing in a children's choir directed by his mother. He graduated to the adult choir as a freshman in high school singing tenor, his voice gradually lowered so that by the time he was a junior he was singing bass next to his father. At the age of 18 he began his professional church-music career as an organist. Since that time, for over 40 years, he has served congregations in Southern and Central California working with singing and ringing choirs of all ages. He is deeply committed to bringing spirit-filled worship and musical excellence together. He is a conductor, singer, and organist, and holds a music degree in voice from California State University, Stanislaus and also completed graduate studies in Choral Conducting at the University of California, Irvine.
David and his partner, Karl Snider were excited to celebrate their marriage in the Fall of 2015 at The Neighborhood Church, celebrating 27 years of committed relationship. Karl’s life and passing into glory was celebrated in 2023. David remains a resident of Long Beach where he tries to keep up with a house originally built in 1931 and provide for their adopted dog, Lucy, who is eager to welcome him home no matter what hour rehearsal may have finished.
Setta Lytle
Director of Operations & Wedding Director
Setta is a longtime South Bay resident. She graduated magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with a BA in Economics. Her professional career began with ARCO in Internal Auditing and Contract Administration. After four years, she left ARCO to open the Palos Verdes Café, a favorite coffee shop for many locals in Malaga Cove. Setta's years at PV Café were a fulfillment of a dream of having her own place and running her own business-- she left it behind only when she began her family.
Setta loves spending her free time with her husband Tom and two adult children, Becky and Ricky. Besides her family, Setta's great joy is cooking and baking-- providing a meal or treat is one of her favorite ways of saying "I love you." If she isn't spending time with her family, you can often spot her running on the beach or hiking the beautiful trails of Palos Verdes.
Setta enjoys being a part of the community at The Neighborhood Church, overseeing the business activities, working with our wedding couples, and making herself available to lend support to members of the various Church groups and Ministries. She has a heart for God and feels at home here.
Dr. Hyunju Hwang
Organist
Hyunju first visited The Neighborhood Church in 2005 for an organ recital by Paul Jacobs and immediately fell in love with the Church and magnificent organ. Then and there, she started to dream of someday being the organist at The Neighborhood Church, and 14 years later, her dream came true.
Hyunju was born in Seoul, South Korea, and studied the organ at Yonsei University. She then started a gradual move from east to west, receiving a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College (New Jersey) in Organ Performance and Sacred Music; an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland School of Music (Ohio) in Organ Performance; and finally a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance, with minors in choral conducting and sacred music, from the University of Southern California.
Hyunju is active in the Long Beach Chapter of the American Guild of Organists as an officer and recitalist. Besides performing the organ, she loves teaching the organ and piano, traveling to faraway places, and spending time with her "fur-daughter," Mochi (a Bichon Poodle mix). On weekdays, you can frequently find Hyunju and Mochi sitting together on the organ bench hard at work.
Ellen Steinmetz
Children's Choir Director
Ellen has worked with children and their families for over forty years. From the East Coast to the West, she has directed Children's Choirs and helped little ones prepare for everything from singing on Sundays to musical plays by teaching music basics.
At the Neighborhood Church, Ellen directs our two Children's Choirs-- the Seaside Singers and the Sonshine Singers for younger voices. With her guidance (and patience!), the Children's Choirs have become a central part of our Family Christmas Eve Service and have presented musicals retelling favorite Bible stories.
Ellen is musically gifted and active in multiple South Bay Choral Groups, including the Space Chorale of Northrop Grumman and the South Bay Women's Chorus. She studied music at Duke University and holds a Masters in Music Education as well as a Masters of Music in Organ Performance from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University.
Allison Schmitz
Youth and Children’s Ministry
Allison Schmitz is a native of the peninsula and a ball of energy. On top of teaching ‘Mommy And Me’ and Sunday school at the Neighborhood Church she’s also a fully credentialed K-12 teacher who found her true calling in early childhood education. In ‘Mommy & Me,’ she focuses not only on the children, but the parents as well. She also leads our Youth Group and is involved in our Children’s Ministry.
She volunteers in support groups for Postpartum Depression and has helped lots of new moms cope with the struggles of being a new parent. We can’t believe there are three of her, but yes— Allison is a triplet! She is also a mom to a 12 year old daughter and 8 year old son!
Myra Ghabrial
Sunday School Director
Myra immigrated to the United States from Egypt in 1971 and found the Neighborhood Church in 1987. Born in Cairo, Myra came to the United States with her husband with dreams of beginning a family and creating a new life together. She is fluent in English, French and Arabic and has worked with children on the Peninsula since 1985. With a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from California State University Los Angeles and over 40 years experience working with children, Myra looks forward to welcoming new families into our Church community.
In her role as the Director of our Sunday School, Myra helps coordinate teaching plans, trains teachers, and works one on one with children in our Christian Education program. She has tremendous energy and a cheerful, positive attitude towards others, along with an incredible memory! She remembers and greets our students and parents by name every Sunday morning.
Myra and her dedicated husband Magdy now call Palos Verdes home. Although it is a long way from Cairo, Myra has surrounded herself with a loving family and incredible community and spends her spare time gardening, swimming, and visiting with her daughter and grandchildren.