Leadership

Mayflower fulfills its mission and ministry through the support and dedication of the staff and many church volunteers.

To contact a specific staff member, click on their email. To contact a specific committee, please contact the church office at 616-459-6255. A committee list is provided below.

Council and Committees

Our Staff

Dr. Julia Brown
Director of Music and Organist
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Julia Brown joined the staff at Mayflower in August, 2018, moving from Eugene, Oregon. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Julia studied piano, harpsichord, and organ in her native Brazil before receiving her Masters of Music in Church Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance from Northwestern University.

Julia is passionate about music-making with volunteers and professionals of all ages. She believes that music is a powerful means of outreach, faith formation, and spiritual growth.

In addition to church work, Julia teaches, performs, and records. Her Naxos recordings of W. F. Bach, J. S. Bach, Buxtehude, and Scheidemann have gained high critical acclaim, and are readily available on Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube.

Julia has three children, Howell, Gabriela, and Alex Petty.

Scott Bosscher
Director of Chancel Choir
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Scott Bosscher is a choir trainer, voice teacher and worship liturgy planner who began his musical career as a Bass Section Leader at Mayflower.

A Grand Rapids native, Scott received his Bachelor of Music from Calvin College, then a Masters of Music from Oklahoma City University. While living in Chicago he sang with the St. Luke’s Choir of Men and Boys in Evanston, where he met his wife Jane. They moved to Somerset, UK, where Scott was a Choral and Chorister Voice Trainer and on the Music Faculty at Wells Cathedral (ranked #1 choir in the world).

Scott was the Choir Director at Thornapple Covenant Church for 11 years, and has been the Director of Music for the Grand Rapids Choir of Men & Boys since 2001. He teaches voice and music at Grand Rapids Community College and Calvin College.

Abby Brooks
Children's & Youth Choir Director
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Abby Brooks completed her Master’s Degree in Music Education from Michigan State University where she focused on early childhood and elementary music education and holds a Bachelors of Music in Education and Bachelors of Arts in Dance Education degrees from Hope College. She fulfilled her student teaching requirements at Chicago Public Schools and subsequently taught General Music at Park Elementary in Hudsonville from 2006-2015. Since 2009, Abby has been the assistant director of the Hudsonville High School musicals.

Abby has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and was in the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2010. Abby directed the Children’s Choir at Epworth Heights in Ludington, MI from 2000 to 2007. Abby also teaches Music Together at Joyful Sounds Music Studio in Grand Rapids, a class for parents or caregivers and children that focuses on a child’s musical development.

Abby has been a member of our Chancel Choir since 2017 and has been working with Mayflower children’s choirs since 2018. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband, Andy, and their three children, Julia, Henry, and Luke.

Rachael Cooley
Interim Executive Administrator
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Rachael Cooley oversees programming and staffing for the Nursery on Sundays and Wednesdays. She leads Outreach efforts and organizes events to engage our congregation and community.

She directs Mayflower’s Midweek program which includes choir and youth groups for grade school-aged children as well as fellowship for families. She is also the Coordinator of Mayflower’s Family Promise/IHN ministry for homeless families in Grand Rapids.

Rachael has a background in non-profit, having worked with at-risk youth at Boys Town for 10 years and was the Executive Director of Youth Unlimited.

Rachael and her husband Andy have two children, Jackson and Harper.

Andy Ely
Business Manager
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Andrew Ely (Andy) is retired after spending 30 years in corporate finance most recently as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for a local defense firm in Grand Rapids.

Andy holds a BA in Accounting from Michigan State University and an MBA from Grand Valley State University Seidman School of Business. Throughout his career, he has worked for familiar companies like General Motors, Magna International, and Amway Corporation.

Andy and his wife love spending time with their 2 boys and extended family. For fun, Andy enjoys playing and coaching tennis.

Amy Dunham
Amy Dunham
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Amy joined the staff in May 2023 as the Office Manager.

Amy has a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Recreation and Facility Management from Central Michigan University and comes to us with more than 25 years of experience in the field of hospitality and event planning.

She and her husband Brian have a yellow lab, Tucker.  They enjoy going to the dog park, spending time with family, playing card games, and going to the lake.

Murry Idema
Director of Congregational Care
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Murry Idema is a long-standing member of Mayflower, having also served as Director of Mayflower Pre-School for 33 years.

Her current responsibilities include chairing the Congregational Care Committee, which is instrumental in scheduling volunteers as greeters on Sundays and in sending handcrafted cards to persons on the prayer list and also to members who are celebrating milestone birthdays. The committee is also responsible for facilitating coffee receptions before and after the Sunday services.

In addition, she directs the Friendly Visitors who participate in visiting the homebound or elderly and arrange for meals to be delivered to them as needed.

Murry also arranges the “69UP” social gatherings for Mayflower members and guests.

Murry attended Colby Junior College and received her B.A. degree and teaching certification from Michigan State University. She and her husband Phil have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Jana Deshane
Custodial Services
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Jana joins us to oversee the custodial service needs of the church. She has been a longtime member of Mayflower, participating as a section leader within the Chancel Choir, oversees the Music library and rings with the Adult Bell Choir.

Kristen Van Stee
Communications Coordinator
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Kristen Van Stee serves as the Communications Coordinator.

Kristen has a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Calvin University and comes to us with more than 25 years of experience in the field of graphic design and promotions.

She and her husband have three children and enjoy spending time in northern Michigan.

Jon Lang
Facility Manager
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