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WELCOME reverend DR. SUSAN TAYLOR

This summer, we will welcome Susan Taylor and her husband, Larry, to our congregation as our new Associate Pastor.  Both Susan and Larry are both native Atlantans and have a blended family—Larry has three daughters:  Sandra married to Clint Tokash 17 years and their home is in Norcross; Angela, single, lives in North Port, Florida; Laura, single, lives in Senoia, Georgia.  Susan has one daughter, Lisa married to Seth van der Maas and they live in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and a son, Jason Smith married to Maggie and they live in Athens.  No grandchildren, yet, and several “grand pets”—a standard poodle and cat that belong to Sandra and Clint, a golden retriever that belongs to Lisa and Seth, and a schnoodle that belongs to Jason and Maggie.   Larry and Susan will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this June.

Prior to coming to Simpsonwood, Susan has served churches in Buford, Demorest, and Duluth and most recently was the pastor-in-charge at Hopewell UMC in Gainesville, GA.  Susan holds and undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii, an MBA from the University of West Florida, a Doctorate in Occupational Studies from the University of Georgia and her Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.  Before receiving her call to ministry full-time, Susan worked at several universities and colleges, including Piedmont College, Brenau University, the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia.

We took the opportunity to ask Susan a few questions to get to know her better.  We ask that you be in prayer for Susan, her family, and Simpsonwood during this time of transition.  Please join us in welcoming Susan to our Simpsonwood family on June 29.

14 Questions with Rev. Dr. Susan Taylor

If I were not working here I would be…traveling the world seeing and experiencing God’s creation along with sharing the love of Christ through meeting people and learning the ways all God’s people live—their hopes, their joys, their despair, their suffering—to make a difference in their lives and in the world.        

People would be surprised to know that…I am a certified SCUBA diver, I have hiked over 150 miles on the Appalachian Trail and I have done Australian repelling.

My favorite person in the Bible is…Deborah.

The person I most admire is…Georgia Harkness.

My favorite toy growing up was…card games with my family and friends—Rook, Hearts, Rummy, Crazy Eights, War, and board games—Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry,Parcheesi, Chutes and Ladders, Clue and working on large jigsaw puzzles with my family.

My favorite food is…Dark chocolate—quality dark chocolate in small amounts—good for the heart and good for the soul.

If I could talk to any living person, it would be…Barbara Brown Taylor—I have talked with her so I know I would enjoy talking with her again.

If I could change one thing about me, it would be…to be more mindful and contemplative of God’s creation and mysteries that surround us each day.

If I were an animal, I would be…a Maine Coon cat.

My favorite verse in the Bible is…Philippians 4:4-9.

My favorite cartoon character is/was…the Road Runner—“beep beep.”

My favorite cable channel is…the Food Network.

Ten people I want to talk to in heaven…all my great grandparents especially David Martin a French Huguenot who started the very first Baptist church in Toulouse, France and was “ran out of France” by Louis XVI to Utrecht, Holland where the church he led still stands today and where French Huguenot worship services are still held—I have visited this church.

 My favorite parable is…the Prodigal Son—best renamed, the Happy Father.

For more information on Reverend Dr. Susan Taylor, please contact the church office.

©2008 Simpsonwood United Methodist Church • 4500 Jones Bridge Circle • 770.441.2181 • Fax: 770.446.3393