June 15th 2025 - SERVICE - Rev. Dr. Jacob Ledwon

Rev. Dr. Jacob C. Ledwon,

Retired Pastor of St. Joseph University Parish, Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Jacob C. Ledwon to join us at this week's Sunday Service.

Father Ledwon was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Buffalo in 1972. He has a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in Theology from St. John Vianney Seminary and a B. Mus. in Piano Performance from Manhattanville College. He earned a Ph.D. in Musicology from SUNY Buffalo where he specialized in the study of medieval chant manuscripts.

Father Ledwon had been the Pastor of St. Joseph University Parish for the past 33 years, of which he recently retired. St. Joseph University Parish has been cited in national publications as a model of engaging liturgy for young people. Recently it was one of twelve parishes from across the country invited by Parish Catalyst in California to participate in a cohort to address the question of outreach to young adults, and it was chosen by Daniel Markham for his book, 52 Masses, as the parish to represent New York State as a model for vibrant worship.

In 2005 Father Ledwon was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Niagara University for his “contributions to the religious and cultural life of Western New York.” He is currently working on his “bucket list,” completing a book, entitled Twenty Questions: I’m thinking about life, and preparing songs for his third CD, Songs for Goodnight and Goodbye.

Thank you so much Rev. Jacob C. Ledwon!

June 22nd 2025 - SERVICE - Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein

Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein, Congregation Shir Shalom, Williamsville, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein to join us at this week's Sunday Service.

Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein came to Buffalo in the Fall of 2008 to serve as the rabbi of Temple Sinai, now called Congregation Shir Shalom. He brings warmth, creativity, and compassion to the role of synagogue rabbi. A trained chaplain and gifted teacher, he is actively engaged in all aspects of communal life, from helping people with their everyday struggles, to intricate details of synagogue governance.

Rabbi Alex is a respected leader in the Buffalo area, serving on many local boards including: the Buffalo Board of Rabbis, the Network of Religious Communities, Jewish Family Services, the Bureau of Jewish Education, Jewish Community Center, and the Coalition of Economic Justice. He has served as president of the Network of Religious Communities. He is also on the national board of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association out of Wyncote, Pennsylvania. He works with leaders of all faiths, to improve the quality of life in Western New York and beyond.

A 2004 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College he also holds Masters and Bachelor Degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary, as well as a Bachelors degree from Columbia University. Before coming to Buffalo he served as rabbi of Temple B´nai Abraham in Bordentown, New Jersey, and directed the Community Partnership Program for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

He currently resides in Amherst, with his wife Ashirah, and three young children, Jarah, Boaz, and Noam.

Thank you so much Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein!

June 29th 2025 - SERVICE - Venerable Dr. John Course

Venerable Dr. John Course, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Fonthill, Ontario.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Venerable Dr. John Course to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

The Venerable Dr. John Course is in his forty-third year of ordained ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Niagara where he has served as rector in four of its parishes.

He has a PhD in Ancient Near-Eastern Language and Literature and has taught the introductory course to the Old Testament at Trinity College, Toronto.

He is currently the Archdeacon of Brock and rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Fonthill, Ontario on a part-time basis.

His outside interests include downhill skiing, golf, and woodworking.

Thank you so much Venerable Dr. John Course!

JULY 6th 2025 - SERVICE - REV. Jan Hubbard

Rev. Jan Hubbard, Retired, United Methodist Church, East Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Jan Hubbard, Retired to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

Rev. Jan Hubbard is a retired United Methodist Elder who has served the United Methodist Church congregations in Western New York for 30 plus years.

In addition to serving in various parishes around Western New York, she has also worked as an Intentional Interim Pastor and served most recently at St. James United Church of Christ in Hamburg, NY.

Jan is happily married to her husband, Pastor Dr. Langdon (Buddy) Hubbard who has been serving his own congregation, the First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora for over 20 years now.

Together, the Hubbard’s have two grown children, Bethany and Daniel.

In retirement, Jan uses her Licensed Master Social Worker Degree (LMSW) with the Samaritan Counseling Center to help those struggling with grief, mental health and marital relational issues.

She loves being retired and able to spend time caring for her two grandchildren, Zoey and Jack and, golfing with husband, Pastor Buddy, though she wishes she could keep the ball out of the sand traps.

Thank you so much Rev. Jan Hubbard!

July 13th 2025 - SERVICE - Rev. Dr. Skip Ferguson

Rev. Dr. Skip Ferguson,

Honorably Retired minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Skip Ferguson to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

Prior to his retirement, he pastored churches in Northern Virginia and the Hudson River Valley and, also served as a hospital chaplain. He earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, and was ordained by the Presbytery of New York City.

Most recently, he served as Transitional Pastor at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. He has also guest preached at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Kenmore Presbyterian Church and, Lafayette Presbyterian Church. In 2019 he was Interim Executive Director of the Graycliff Conservancy.

He began his career practicing law, first in Chicago and then in Buffalo, before shifting to the business world, where he ran Alpine Sports, worked as an international consultant and, as Editor of Management and Finance publications at the Economist Group in New York City. He earned his BA from St. Lawrence University, MBA from the Wharton School and, his law degree from Cornell Law School.

He also was a contributing editor for Knowledge@Wharton for 7 years, focusing on leadership and organizational transformation; edited two series in the Financial Times (one on Finance, the other on Marketing); and have written articles for The Christian Century and Presbyterian Outlook.

Thank you so much Rev. Dr. Skip Ferguson!

JULY 20th 2025 - SERVICE - REV. JAN MAHLE

Rev. Jan Mahle, East Aurora Christian Church, East Aurora, NY. 

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Jan Mahle to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

The Rev. Jan Mahle is currently serving as pastor of the East Aurora Christian Church. Prior to being called as pastor, she served as a Campus Minister at D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY. for 20 years. She retired from that position in January 2020.

While serving at D'Youville, she was the transition pastor for a number of congregations. You might say she is a Church Woman United because she has served various congregations to include the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American Baptist faiths. As an aside, she considers herself to be a "cultural Catholic".

She graduated from Hiram College, attended Vanderbilt Divinity School and completed her Masters of Divinity at Methodist Theological School in Columbus, OH. She was ordained in 1982 although she had been serving as an Associate Pastor since 1977.

Jan met her husband Marvyn while at college. They have been married 44 years. They have 2 wonderful adult children plus a great son-in-law and 2 fabulous granddaughters.

Thank you so much Rev. Jan Mahle!

July 27th 2025 - SERVICE - Rev. Dr. Ray Schooler

Rev. Dr. Ray Schooler, D. Min.

American Baptist International Ministries, King of Prussia, PA.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Ray Schooler to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

Rev. Ray was born and raised in Texas, but ministry has provided opportunities to live and serve in several different places. He has served in local church ministry in several capacities including, Senior Pastor. Ray has served on the American Baptist Churches (USA), and as President of the Board of International Ministries (IM). It was in this role with IM that he discovered a passion for Global Missions.

In 2007 he went on staff with IM as the Sr. Dir. of Donor Development and Church Relations. In this role he travels a great deal and that has allowed him to visit all over the US and several International Countries, mostly Third World or Developing countries, where the International Ministries Missionaries are serving.

Ray has been a guest speaker at Holloway Chapel for several years and always enjoys the “Holloway Experience” and especially the fine folks who make up this unique gathering.

Ray and his wife (Gail) live in Buffalo (Lancaster), NY and have five adult sons, two daughter-in-laws and three grandchildren. He enjoys playing golf and manages to squeeze in a few rounds in between his trips and enjoys volunteering at Roswell Park with the Spiritual Care Department.

Thank you so much Rev. Dr. Ray Schooler!

August 3rd 2025 - SERVICE - Rev. Richard (Duke) Zajac

Rev. Richard E. Zajac, Chaplin at Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Richard (Duke) Zajac to join us at this week's Sunday Service.

Richard E. Zajac, known in many circles as “Fr. Duke” has been a staff chaplain at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo for the past 40 years.

He is presently serving on many Boards and Committees throughout the community including Catholic Medical Partners, Town of Amherst Meals on Wheels, Seminary Alumni Association, as well as the Perinatal Bereavement Network.

He has chaired or co-chaired the Sister’s Hospital Ethics Committee since its inception in 1984, and serves on the Ethics Committee for the Catholic Health Care System of Western New York.

He served on the National Advisory Council of the National Association of Catholic Bishops, and served as the Chairman of the Board of the Life Transition Center as well as the South Buffalo Community Development Association.

He served on the Boards of the Upstate New York Transplant Services, Baker Victory Services, Bishop Timon High School, WNY Peace Center, Catholic Health System’s Corporate Members Board, Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries (BAMM), Sister’s Hospital Credit Union as well as the American Cancer Society.

He has also served 7 terms on the Priests’ Council of the Diocese of Buffalo, 2 terms on the Priests’ Personnel Board and 3 terms on the Priests’ Council of New York State.

In his spare time, he has authored four books: Life Injections I , II , III & IV, and is presently writing a book on preaching at funerals for priests, ministers, and deacons. He enjoys reading, smoking a good cigar and baseball for which he’s been an officer of the Parochial Baseball League since 1969 and was inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Thank you so much Rev. Duke Zajac!

August 10th 2025 - SERVICE - Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Wilson

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, Lead Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Wilson to join us at this week's Sunday Service.

The Reverend Doctor Jeffrey M. Wilson has been a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since July 2002. He served the majority of his ministry as part of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod where he led three congregations: Redeemer – McLean, VA; Bethel – Manassas, VA; and St. John – Riverdale, MD. Pastor Jeff was called to serve Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Buffalo, NY in October 2023.

Pastor Jeff was raised in Orange, TX. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems from Stephen F. Austin State University – Nacogdoches, TX. After working as a programmer for six years in Houston, TX, he began attending the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary) where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. In May 2012, he matriculated in the Doctor of Ministry program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, with a concentration in Congregational Mission and Leadership. He successfully defended his doctoral thesis in March 2017.

Pastor Jeff believes that faith is a part of every aspect of our lives. He enjoys cooking and experimenting with food, especially Mediterranean and Texas BBQ. His blog brings faith, food, and curiosity together at epicuriouslutheran.blog. He enjoys food, good music, good wine, and being outside. He has been a beekeeper since 2022. He has a daughter, Caroline, who lives in Northern Virginia, and a tuxedo cat named Gatsby.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Wilson to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

Thank you so much Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Wilson!

August 17th 2025 - SERVICE - REV. Dr. Melody Rutherford

Rev. Dr. Melody Rutherford,

Director Spiritual Care, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Melody Rutherford to join us at this week's Sunday Service.

As a fully endorsed, board certified chaplain, Rev. Dr. Melody Irene Rutherford currently serves as Director of Spiritual Care at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Rutherford has several years of experience in healthcare in areas such as chaplaincy services, palliative care, end of life care, clinical pastoral education, and mission services. As an ordained minister, she maintains ecclesiastical endorsement in chaplaincy through the American Baptist Churches. She served as Adjunct Professor teaching “Care & Counsel” for the master’s degree program at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, NY.

Within the Spiritual Care Department, Dr. Rutherford leads a large team of spiritual caregivers (paid & volunteer) from various faith traditions and perspectives. She facilitates the quality-of-life Bereavement / End of Life Program, Life Recorded Program, regular (General) Grief Support Groups, Young Grieving Spouse Grief Support Groups, Caregivers Support Programs, Annual Spring Grief Retreat, Annual Patient and Caregivers’ Retreat, multiple education days for local chaplains and spiritual caregivers, two Annual Patient Remembrance Services, Summer Staff Remembrance Service, 15-Week Spiritual Care Volunteer Visitors Training Program, and spearheads the Interfaith ENRG Committee while also participating in a variety of other interprofessional committees within the center. Dr. Melody works closely with area pastors to ensure that there is adequate representation from the many faith traditions available to patients, their caregivers and Roswell Park staff members. Additionally, she connects with many community organizations to assist in areas of spiritual care, grief, and / or community building concerns.

Since 1992, Melody has served in various capacities, including host of a live Christian radio broadcast and as Interim Lead Pastor in Clarence, NY and Associate Pastor in Cheektowaga, NY. In the church setting, she designed and led programs within women’s ministry, children’s ministry, Sunday School, executive office administration, community faith liaison, praise and worship leader, and even drama and arts director. Dr. Rutherford provides supply preaching and conference facilitation across the region and beyond on numerous ministerial and professional topics.

With certification through the Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc. (BCCI) a division of the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), Melody graduated from SUNY Empire State College with an undergraduate degree in Business (concentration in Organizational Communications). She earned a Master of Divinity degree (concentration in Transformational Leadership) from Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, NY, and a Master of Science degree in Management (concentration in Leadership) from Excelsior College. Her completed Doctor of Ministry Degree in the Leadership Cognate was completed at Liberty University.

Currently, Dr. Melody Rutherford serves on the Board of Trustees for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) and as Chair for the BPO’s Diversity Council. In addition, she is a Board Member for the Buffalo City Mission and The Baptist Manor and several other committees. Previously, Melody served as Trustee Member for the Buffalo Bible Society before its closing.

A resident of Amherst, NY, Melody resides with her husband of 35-years, Rev. Rodney Rutherford. Together, they are the proud parents of three adult children, Rodney (Krystal), Chloe (Shaquille), and Joy; and loving grandparents of nine.

Thank you so much Rev. Dr. Melody Rutherford!

August 24th 2025 - Service - Rev. Richard Neal

Rev. Richard W. Neal, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1080 Main St., Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Richard Neal to join us at this week’s Sunday Service.

The Rev. Richard W. Neal serves as intentional interim pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Buffalo, New York. He has more than forty years of experience as a pastor in Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and United Methodist congregations in Southern Illinois, New Jersey, Vermont, and New York, including eight terms as an intentional interim pastor. Rich believes every change is an opportunity to enrich life. “Change happens all the time,” he says, “and we don’t have a choice about it. But we can choose whether to resist change or embrace it as an opportunity for discovery and growth. When you embrace change creatively, a richer life is possible.”

Rich came to parish ministry after a career in scholarly publishing as a book designer and production director. In addition to nurturing individual and congregational growth through creative change, he particularly enjoys the ministries of preaching, spiritual guidance, and adult education. He lives in Snyder, New York, with his wife Sheryl.

Thank you so much Rev. Richard Neal!

August 31st 2025 - SERVICE - Rev. Dr. Todd Leach

Rev. Dr. Todd E. Leach,

Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Rev. Dr. Todd Leach to join us at this week's Sunday Service.

Rev. Dr. Todd E. Leach currently serves as Senior Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church • Buffalo, NY.

Rev. Leach was ordained in 2007, and previously served as Associate Pastor for Missions at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh.

During his thirteen-year tenure, he successfully built and implemented their mission program with a focus on sending members into the community where, in his words, “God’s kingdom is actively breaking into the world.”

Previously, he taught science in the Columbus Public Schools (Ohio), served as Executive Director of the Delaware County Housing Coalition (Pennsylvania), and was Director of Mission and Deacon Ministries at Media Presbyterian Church (suburban Philadelphia).

He has also led numerous rural, urban, national, and international mission initiatives.

Rev. Leach brings a wealth of diverse educational and career experiences to Westminster. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Public Theology from Drew Theological School, a Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Ohio University.

Rev. Leach, his wife, Linda, and their teenage daughters, Nadia, Jean and Vinodhini Grace (Dhini), are excited to be a part of the Western New York community..

Thank you so much Rev. Todd Leach!