About Our Pastor

 

Rev. Dr. Kathleen (Katie) Kelly Hopper

Vocation: Ordained Minister of the Word and Sacrament – Presbyterian Church (USA)

Date of Ordination: June 16, 1984 – First Presbyterian, Throckmorton, TX in Palo Duro Presbytery

Vocation Mission Statement:  My mission is to love, equip, inspire, and resource people that they might live the ordination of their baptism and enjoy God forever.

Personal Goal on Sunday mornings: It is always my hope and prayer that when people leave worship, they feel hugged, forgiven, and loved by God.

Work History: I have served as a pastor for 39 years. Chaplain, Summer of 1982, at Baptist Medical, Oklahoma City, OK (CPE). I have served Haskell/Rule/Throckmorton, TX (Yoked); Pinetop, AZ; Denison, TX; Rogers, AR; Danville, IL; Cedar Rapids, IA; Monticello, IL; and Philipsburg, PA.

Vocational Activities which I Enjoy the Most and Make Best Use of My Gifts and Skills: Preaching; Singing; Planning Worship; Teaching and Directing Stephen Ministry; Teaching Confirmation; youth and children’s ministries; mission and ministries of the church and fellowship events; Communication and Devotional Writing; Community Involvement; Short-term Crisis Counseling; Pastoral Care with all ages; Pastoral Visitation and Home Communions; baptisms.

Interesting trivia:  I have a French birth certificate and US Citizenship Papers.  I skipped my senior year of high school. I took my high ACT score and was offered early admittance to college at 16, I graduated from LSU at 20 and seminary at 23.

Formal Education: Louisiana State University – B.A. (1981) History and English; Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Austin, TX) - Master of Divinity (1984); McCormick Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL) – Doctor of Ministry (1995) – “Pastoral Care Track”

Faith and Denominational Background: Life-long mainline Presbyterian; baptized December 16, 1960, by Presbyterian Air Force Chaplain Si Scott at the base chapel in Evreux, France. Grandmothers grew up in Third Presbyterian in New Orleans. My parents joined a Presbyterian church shortly after each Air Force move.  Our family belonged  churches in Columbus, OH; Lompoc ,Calif.; Topeka, KS – where I was in my first choir at 8; Belleville, IL – where I went on my first youth retreat; Ocean Springs, MS – where I was confirmed at the Christmas Eve Service in 1973; served as a youth on the Nominating Committee and was taken to the Montreat Youth Conference where God called me into the ministry; and University Pres. in Baton Rouge, LA where I was a Candidate for the Ministry and in the Choir.  My parents also kept in contact with Col. Si Scott and brought him to serve on my ordination commission.

Discerned Call to Ministry: At Montreat Youth Conference 1976 after a powerful communion service, as I sang through the Hymnbook alone on the balcony of Assembly Inn, I felt called. I was 15. 

Family: Spouse – Rev. Dr. Jimmy Hopper, Hon. Ret.; married December 17, 1983, at University Pres. (Baton Rouge, LA); Children – son, Kelly, 38, Golf course superintendent Ocean Reef Key Largo, FL; and daughter, JoyAnna, 34, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Scranton

Pets:  Cats – “Frankie, Mickey, and Lizzie.” 

Favorite Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 23; Psalm 100; Psalm 137; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Micah 5:8; John 14; Romans 8; Philippians 4; and Revelation 22.

Favorite Quotes: Eric Liddel in Chariots of Fire “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”  I feel God’s pleasure when I preach and when I sing.

Favorite Hymns and Other Songs of Faith:  Singing is how I worship! Some favorites would be:  Holy, Holy, Holy; Abide with Me; Praise My Soul the King of Heaven; The Church’s One Foundation; In Christ Alone; Hark the Herald Angels Sing; Here I Am, Lord.  As a soloist, my favorites are The Holy City, There Is a Redeemer, Jesu Bambino, Dawn in the Garden, and many arias from major works.

Hobbies and Favorite Activities: Singing in community choruses and musicals when time allows; serving in the community on boards and ministries; swimming; reading everything from biographies to romance; decorating my home – especially for all the seasons; watching old movies; and shopping for pretties.

 

 

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