lanette@metc.net
712-210-5548

Pastor Lanette L. Plambeck

Rev. Lanette L. Plambeck has been the pastor at First United Methodist Church since June of 2009. Before coming to Atlantic, Lanette most recently served the United Methodist Church in Manning and at Morningside College in Sioux City as Director of Church Relations/Chaplain/Adjunct Faculty Member.  She entered into ministry in 1997.  Lanette received her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Political Science from Morningside College, her Master of Divinity Studies Degree with a specialization in evangelism from Saint Paul School of Theology and is currently working on her Doctor of Ministry degree with a focus in church leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.
At age 10, Lanette felt God calling her into ministry.  When she talked with her grandfather about her call, she raised her concern as to whether or not women could be pastors.  After a long pause, her grandfather turned to her and said, "On Easter Morning, Jesus could have revealed himself to any of the boys, but he did not.  Instead he chose to reveal himself to Mary Magdalene and he said to her, 'Go and tell.'  If sending a woman was good enough for Jesus on that first Easter morning, it ought to be good enough for the church."  From that moment on, Lanette has been committed to a "go and tell" ministry.
After graduation from college (and as part of her call) she entered the US Army and served as a Russian Linguist for the 312th Military Intelligence Battalion of the First Cavalry Division.  While in the military, Pastor Lanette volunteered to be on a ministry visitation team that worked exclusively with incarcerated soldiers.  It was here that she gained a deep assurance of God's redeeming grace.  While assigned to the First Cavalry Division, Lanette's unit was deployed during Operation Desert Storm; it was then that she came to work more closely with her Company Commander and the Battalion's Command Sergeant Major.  At the end of the deployment, her commanding officer offered her the opportunity to attend "a school of her choice;" she chose to be trained and licensed as a Chemical Abuse Counselor and began her work with Recovery programs.  Her work as a counselor in the military and later in the community served as the foundation for her work with Recovery Ministries. 
Pastor Lanette is best described as a preacher, teacher, and reacher.  She feels a true sense of call to lead the church into a ministry of relevance in the community as we grow in our faith and live into our purpose as a community of faith.

Administrative Assistant - Marci Wallingford

Marci has been the Administrative Assistant at Atlantic First since December 24, 2007. Marci & her husband, Steve, are very active in the church as they believe the community of church involvement will transform your life. Knowing the word of God will allow you to live a life of passion & fulfillment. God is expanding the mission & ministry here at Atlantic First like never before. Join them in worship on Sunday mornings at 8:45 or 11:00.

Director of Discipleship - Jessica Parkison

Jessica came to First UMC in May 2012 from the little town of Riverton Iowa. For the past 8 years she has been a Licensed Veterinary Technician in a few clinics anywhere from Omaha, NE to Nebraska City, NE. As she grew up, and throughout her life, she has been very active in her church; she sang Sundays with her family for special music and helped with dinners and other activities in the community. She also grew up a part of a gospel quartette named Sweet Harmony that spreads the good news through music. But the last year or so she has felt a different kind of calling - a calling to spread God's love in other ways to people outside of her "safe" area of SW Iowa. She started lay speaking and enjoyed that very much. She was very honored to have the chance to meet Pastor Lanette and a few people of First UMC. It was fun to get to know of them and learn of the great things God is doing in this church. She was overjoyed this month to receive an offer to be a part of the staff here so she packed up her 11-year-old mini American Eskimo Cozmo and moved to the big city of Atlantic. She looks forward to many wonderful spirit-filled adventures with her new church family and becoming a part of the Atlantic community.

Parish Nurse/Music Ministry - Sheryl Sunderman

Sheryl has been the Bell Director at First United Methodist Church since 2001. She directs the Praise Bells which gives our youth the opportunity to learn the handbells and praise our God through music, and also the the Joy Ringers which is our adult group. Sheryl also sings on our Praise Teams, is in charge of the Sunday School music and volunteers with our youth fellowship group. Her most recent position is caring for our congregation through her role as Parish Nurse.

Organist - Carolyn DeLay

An Iowa native Carolyn moved to Atlantic after living 8 years in Florida. She retired after 45 years as a Registered Nurse, spending the last 25+ years as a Certified Critical Care Nurse. Not long after arriving in town, she became involved in the musical activities of the community; playing the organ for the Easter portion of the Messiah performed by the community choir and as a substitute choir director at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She has a background as a choir accompanist, choir director, church organist and Music Minister in several denominations. She received a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and Psychology from Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois, a Bachelor's degree with double majors in Church Music, emphasis keyboard and Bible from Grace University, Omaha Nebraska and a Master's degree in Music Education, emphasis organ, from University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska. She has been actively involved in the American Guild of Organists and maintains a national certification in Service Playing through that organization. Carolyn joined the congregation of First United Methodist Church in 2011.

Sound Tech - Dave Auerbach

Dave (or Arch as we love to call him) has been in charge of our sound board here at First United Methodist Church since 2005.

Video Tech - Dale Sunderman

Dale has been in charge of our worship PowerPoint presentations and video here at First United Methodist Church since 2005.

Custodian - Christie Hocamp

Christie has been our custodian here at First United Methodist Church since September 2004. She previously worked as a vetrinarian technician before joining our staff. Christie is married to Paul Hocamp and they have one son, Michael. She stays active with singing on one of our Praise Teams. She also bowls, and has a love of the outdoors, especially boating with friends and family.