MEET OUR TEAM.
Rev. Ben A. David Hensley, OSL
Pastor
ben@lumc.net
Ben is so stoked that you are here with us, either online or joining us in person! He is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church with two bachelors degrees in both Music and Theatre from High Point University and a Masters Degree in Sacred Music from Southern Methodist University. Ben thinks the church is a place where compassion and justice combine: where we help people while also speaking up in advocacy for our neighbor who is struggling. Aside from being Pastor of Lakewood United Methodist Church, Ben loves to home-brew beer and vint hard cider, have a craft beer in one of the many great breweries in the Denver metro area, play video games, ride his bike, hike in these beautiful mountains on the front range, ski, cook, and be with his family: his wife Becky, his daughter Zoë, and his cat Leo. Ben is passionate about justice for the LGBTQ+ community, housing for people experiencing homelessness, relief for people struggling to make a living in poverty, and recovery for people mired in addiction, and welcome for those who are seeking a deeper relationship with Christ. You can contact him on Facebook, or by email at ben@lumc.net.
Ashleigh Haase-Bryson
Director of Music and Worship
ashleigh@lumc.net
Ashleigh Haase-Bryson is both thrilled and grateful to serve as Director of Worship and Arts, where she leads the choir and helps guide the congregation in worship through music. A professional flutist and lifelong musician, she also teaches elementary school music, inspiring young students to discover the joy of communicating through creativity.
Outside of work, Ashleigh treasures time with her adult children, loves rock climbing, and finds peace and renewal in the mountains. She brings her passion for music, teaching, and community into her role, helping create a welcoming and uplifting worship experience.
Cindy Clement
Director of Family and Community Engagement
cindy@lumc.net
Cindy Clement serves as the Director of Family and Community Engagement. As a lifelong United Methodist, Deacon’s daughter, and Iliff School of Theology graduate, Cindy loves community and connection rooted in social justice and care for our neighbors.
Dr. Valerie Fassbender, PhD
Associate Director of Music
valerie@lumc.net
Valerie has been a church organist since the age of 15 and has served Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches in New Jersey, South Carolina, New Mexico, and New York. Valerie holds a BA in Biology and Chemistry from Boston University and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of South Carolina. While in graduate school she began serious organ study at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. After moving to New Mexico Valerie began a 31 year music ministry as the parish organist at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church in Los Alamos. In 2021 Valerie had the opportunity to attend Union Theological Seminary in New York City where her concentration was in Worship, Theology and the Arts. She is delighted to be serving Lakewood UMC where she hopes to sneak in some preaching from the organ bench.
Metzli Aragón
Office Manager and Facility Coordinator
metzli@lumc.net
Metzli is a community driven, and community made leader. She is a xicana, mother, artisan, teacher, azteca/mexika dancer & leader. She is a dance & art teacher at“Hecho en Westwood” a non profit organization in the Westwood neigborhood of SW Denver CO, providing after-school danza mexika classes and cultural art programs.
She leads a Kalpulli or mexicayotl dance community called “Yohualli Ehecatl Mitotiliztli” in Denver CO. She is also Co-host with her Dualidad/partner Anthony Zapata on ALL NATIONS RISE an indigenous music platform on 89.3 KUVO Jazz every Sunday morning from 7-8am. She enjoys spending time in nature with her family & bunny, Tecciztecatl.
I am very grateful to be part of Lakewood UMC team and serve this great community!
Keith Singer
Worship Technician
keith@lumc.net
Keith comes to LUMC as part of the Great Resignation, exploring different jobs after a 20+ year career in social services. He has a Bachelor of Arts in both General Music and Religion from Saint Olaf College (the one with the choir, not the town where Betty White's Rose character called home in Golden Girls), which he continues to utilize in the arts, usually singing and poetry. He went back to school for a Master's degree in Social Work after volunteering for a shelter for families who were unhoused and working within churches to find housing and jobs for ex-offenders. This led to his longest job, in which he was responsible for a 30-person census housing program in Englewood within the Family Tree agency. He spends time playing and watching sports and video games with his twin teenagers, and reading about and discussing social justice through fiction and both professional and comedic reporting with his partner, also a social worker. If you don't see them on the protest trail for women's rights and political activism, then find him in the balcony on Sundays.
VISIT US
1390 Brentwood St
Lakewood, CO 80226
Hours
Monday–Thursday
9am–1pm
Phone
303-237-7768