Rev. Bart Thompson
Pastor Bart joined Spruce Street UMC in July of 2021. He has served in the WV Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1994. He is an ordained Elder and full member of the Conference. He has served churches in the following counties: Cabell, Wayne, Mineral, Ohio, and Monongalia. He has served on many community, conference, and district agencies, boards, and teams.
He is a graduate of Marshall University, Marshall Graduate School, and United Theological Seminary.
He likes to leads pilgrims on discovery trips to Methodist, Christian, Civil & Human Rights – spiritual or historical places in WV, MD, DC, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. He has preached in OH, KY, FL, NC, WV, VA, MD, TX, England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.
He likes to read, walk, travel, follow the teams in Pittsburgh that wear black and gold, and drink tea. The best movie ever made is the God Father. The best movie and TV saga is Star Wars. The best books and movies are Tolkien.
His wife, Martha Ognibene, serves as pastor at Wesley UMC, in Morgantown, WV. Their grown children and their families (two daughters, one son) live in New Orleans and Virginia.
Eldon Callen – Certified Lay Minister
Cathy Calkins – Administrative Assistant
Cathy joined us in April of 2023.
Judy Kennell – Finance Secretary
Marguerite Bostonia – Director of Music
Marguerite became Music Director at SSUMC in early 2017 and has been active in church music all her life. Originally from Wellsburg, WV, she obtained music degrees from West Liberty University and WVU. Marguerite retired from the faculty of West Virginia Wesleyan College but still teaches private lessons. Her recent activities include affiliation with the Vox Principals Choral Association, and doctoral research and travel related to the music of composer Arvo Par whom she hopes to visit again at his music center in Estonia.
Ashley Lewis – Choir Director
Ashley is originally from Chelsea, Alabama, where she was raised in a deeply musical household. Her great love is piano and holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Alabama and a Master of Music from Bowling Green State University. She has been involved with church choir since the age of five, and has worked in and out of Methodist churches for the past six years serving as both staff pianist and co-director of music.
Currently, she is earning a Doctor of Music Arts at WVU where she also teaches Music Theory and Aural Skills. Ashley provides piano lessons and does various gigs around the Morgantown area. She looks forward to putting her gifts and training to work in furthering the musical ministry of Spruce Street. Please feel free to come say hello if you see Ashley around, and she would love to talk to you about joining the choir!
Bonnie Johnson – Building Supervisor
Bonnie grew up in Morgantown and started attending SSUMC when she was only 7 years old. She met and married Robert and joined the Brethern Church until returning to Spruce Street where she became a faithful member, joining the choir and playing the handbells. Bonnie was hired by Dr. Roger Smith as the Building Supervisor, where she has continued to open thousands of doors and make millions of cups of coffee. She loves being involved with the WVU Community Choir and acting in plays at the MAC. She has traveled extensively, visiting National Parks and state capitals, missing only Maine and Hawaii. Bonnie has a great passion for smiles, hugs, and being helpful in any way she can. God continues to bless her with an abundant grace-filled life.