You may email Pastor Molly at [email protected]

Pastor Molly Ramsey grew up in the Presbyterian church, the youngest daughter of a Presbyterian pastor. Her journey and call to ministry is lifelong! She grew up in Kansas, Texas, and Missouri, nurtured by congregations and growing in faith in each of the places she had the privilege of calling home. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University and earned a graduate degree from Washington State University, all before returning to Kansas City to work as a geologist/hydrogeologist for an engineering firm.

During her time working in Kansas City, she became very involved in the Young Adult Ministry program at Village Presbyterian Church. She then served as a Ministry Assistant at Village’s Antioch campus, before journeying to New Jersey to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. While in seminary, she served as the Pastoral Intern for two years at Morrisville Presbyterian Church (PA), where she preached, led worship, provided pastoral care, served as Pastor at the Food Center, and taught education courses for youth and adults alike. Her deep sense of call to pastoral care was nurtured during her time there, as well as while serving as a Palliative Care Chaplain at Penn Medicine Princeton Health. In May 2021, she graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with an M.Div. Throughout her life and ministry, Molly has come to know that at the core, the church is about relationships: relationship with God and relationship with one another. She is thrilled to meet everyone. It is her great joy and true honor to join the Point Pleasant Beach community in the good work that God is doing here.

Molly loves to spend time with her friends, she is an avid reader, and rarely passes up the opportunity to be outside in nature, marveling at creation. She loves swimming, seafood, a really good cup of coffee, exploring places near and far, and an occasional game of golf. Molly has a quirky, energetic, and beloved 8-year old rescue dog, Addie.

Michele Russo serves as Church Secretary.  This is the first person many visitors to the church encounter during the week. Michele handles the complex support services for all the ministries of the church. She directs members and visitors to where they may have their spiritual needs met and realize their own gifts for ministry.

Donna Ferry  grew up in the church, is our Financial Secretary.  Donna very ably keeps records of contributions, issues giving statements and works with our Church Treasurer and Finance Team to manage the church’s funds.

Sara B. Hoey is our organist. She is a retired Spanish teacher from Point Pleasant Boro High School, and is not only active in the American Guild of Organists, but, is Dean of the Ocean County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Sara brings a standard of excellence to her musical accompaniment that is appreciated by all.

Thirty six years ago, in 1982, a woman named Muriel Smith approached me and asked if I would be interested in becoming the choir director at Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church. Since I had not heard of the church, I asked to hear the choir prior to my making a decision. Under the expert leadership of the retiring director, Loren Donley, the choir sang well and I accepted the position.

At one point during my tenure, we seriously discussed expanding the choir loft as there were 45 members in the group! For several years members of the choir sang in the annual Ocean Grove Choir Festival. In 1994 the choir sang in various venues during a tour of England, Scotland and Wales. In 1997 the choir sang again during a European tour of Germany, Austria and Northern Italy. In the course of the liturgical year the choir has not only sung for worship services but has learned and presented major inspirational works such as the Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Faure’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Saint-Saen’s Christmas Oratorio, Rutter’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.

During my 35 year tenure at PPPC the bell choir had several different conductors and in 1999 I took over the leadership of that group as well. In addition to the bell choir playing during worship, the group also participated for many years in the annual Toms River Bell Festival.

Although I had not officially become a member of any church since my confirmation in St. John’s German Lutheran Church in Reading, PA, I felt that my church family at PPPC had become such an integral part of my life that I wanted to become an official member. So in 1994 I became an active member of the PPPC congregation as well as its employee.

The Chancel Choir and the Choral Bells have not been simply music work; each and every member past and present became social friends as well as singing friends. One choir member, in particular, became such a close friend, that I married her! On January 3, 2018 Pat and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary.

And then, there’s Sara. We were hired as a team…she to play the organ and I to conduct. I affectionately call her my “church wife”. She has done double duty so often when I have had surgery or become ill and I am so very grateful. As the choir moves forward under new leadership, Sara will be the link that holds the past and the present together.

Finally, to the church leaders, Pastors Chittick, Twigg, Wilton, Lostetter and Chase and especially to the congregation, I extend my thanks for your 35 years of support. Your acknowledgment of the music program, your financial support and your prayers have upheld me and the choirs. I am thankful and blessed.

William R. Shoppell, Jr.