Elders

I am a mother, wife, daughter and sister. Aristeo and I have been married since 2007 and we have Mathew (13) and Nicolas (8). I am Senior Project Manager Analyst for JPMorgan Chase. I grew up in Sunset Presbyterian Church, which dissolved when I was a teenager. Our letters were transferred to Oak Cliff Presbyterian. After having our first child, God led us directly to FPCA. We have been with FPCA for 12 years and are so grateful to call it our church home! I have also served as a deacon and currently serve on the Prayer Ministry Team. My great grandmother was one of the very first female deacons and session members for the Presbytery, and it is an honor to serve in this role. It has truly been a blessing being part of the FPCA Congregation.

I have been a member of FPCA for 10 years along with my wife Shannon. We have a son Wyatt. I have been active in my brief stint here, joining the Chancel Choir almost 10 years ago. I have served as a Deacon (2011-13), served as a substitute teacher for the Foundations Sunday School Class, and served as an elder previously (2015-17). I am honored to answer the call to serve our Lord and his people.

I was born and raised in New Iberia, Louisiana, the oldest of seven children. I attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. While in college I met and married Shawn Dennen. We lived in Lafayette, then Southern California before moving to Arlington. Our daughter Emily was then in second grade. She graduated from Martin High School and University of North Texas and is currently teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. I retired as a Senior Facilities Engineer in 2023. I support the FPCA’s HOPE Tutoring program as site manager, Tuesday evenings. When I am not keeping up with house and yard duties, I spend as much time as possible sailing at Lake Arlington and Lake Worth.

Susan Malone is a lifelong member of FPCA and is the daughter of former members Doye and Jeanne Malone. She is overjoyed to follow her dad’s footsteps and serve as an Elder. Her FPCA involvement as an adult includes serving on the Worship Team, numerous search committees for Directors of Music, the Chapel Organ Selection Committee, and the Bequest and Planned Giving Team. For many years she served as a Children’s choir director and on the Women’s Ministry Team. In 2017 she retired from Arlington ISD after serving 37 years as an Elementary Music Teacher, teaching 5 years at Blanton Elementary and 32 years at Corey Elementary and Fine Arts/Dual Language Academy. She works as a part-time receptionist/switchboard operator at National Life Insurance Company in Fort Worth.

I became a member of First Presbyterian Church or Arlington back in April 2011.  Prior to that I was a member for thirty years at First Presbyterian Church of San Leandro, CA where I was the Clerk of Session for twelve years, served as elder a few terms and oversaw Stewardship and Finance for several years.  While here at First Presbyterian Arlington, I have been an Elder before, a regular member of the Facilities Team and have been the Clerk of Session since 2015.  For the past fourteen years this church has been my home, and I have made several close friends that are a part of my life.  FPCA is a warm safe place for worshiping God, growing in your faith and being around wonderful people.

I joined FPCA in 1974. In 1975, I married Jim, who joined in 1975.  Together we served in many areas of the church until his passing in 2023.

I have served as a Deacon and an Elder, am a member of Family Living Sunday School Class, served on the Prayer Ministry Team, and am involved in the revived Saints Alive group.

As an Elder Cass of 2027 I will continue serving on the Worship Team in charge of recruiting and training Elders and Deacons to serve communion.

In the community, I am a former ISD English teacher, have been actively involved in Bible Study Fellowship for 22 years, and am a member of the Arlington Women’s Club.

I am honored and excited to again serve as a ruling Eder as I continue serving the fellowship of believers.

My faith defines me.  God has been and is so gracious to me:  forgiving my sins, loving me when I’m a mess and loving me when I’m not.

My career was with non-profit organizations raising much needed dollars, working with boards, and in the last decade of my career as a national consultant.

I grew up in The Salvation Army:  my grandparents were commissioned as Salvation Officers in 1885!

My joys in life are my dear husband, Jim (aka The Rev), our children Matt (living in Dallas, married and father of two) and Mary (living in South Carolina, married and mother of two.)

I am privileged to work with the Prayer Ministry at FPCA.

Originally from Dallas, I have been an Arlington resident since 1988. While living in Dallas I attended Oak Cliff Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and was an active participant in the youth programs. During that time, I was baptized and made my profession of faith.First Presbyterian Church has been my church home since 2008.

I am a member of the Bible Study Sunday School class where we study his word by reading and focusing on one chapter a week. I have previously served as an Elder and participated on the Administration, Finance, and Bequest & Planned Giving teams.

I am thankful the Lord led me to First Presbyterian Church, a community of thoughtful, caring individuals that continually put their faith in to action. I am excited to grow in my relationship with the Lord and I look forward to seeing where He is leading FPCA in the future.

My name is Clara Formusoh.  My husband and daughters have called FPCA our home church for about 17 years. Over the years, I have had the privilege to serve occasionally in the children, youth ministries and hospitality team.

My family have definitely seen God’s love and mercy  shine upon us through the members and leaders of FPCA. Years back I was given the opportunity to serve as a deacon and as an elder. It an honor that I am once more called to serve, and pray that God will use this time to continue to mold and equip me to serve Him through this church and community as I continue to grow in His mercy and love to whom I should be in Him.

It was the beautiful sanctuary, the uplifting music and the friendliness and diversity of the people that attracted my wife, Sandy, and me to this church in 1999.  Since becoming a church member I have served as an usher, a deacon and was also a member of the pastoral search committee that selected the Rev. Rob McClelland to be the church’s pastor.

I moved to Arlington, Texas from Arlington, Virginia having lived in the Washington, D.C. area for nearly 30 years. During that time I worked for two of the three branches of government.  I was a press secretary to a Member of Congress and was also a  public affairs officer at three Cabinet Departments, the last one being the Department of Veterans Affairs.

My life journey began in Texas City.  I was born there in 1947, two months before the Texas City explosion, considered the largest industrial disaster in the country. It killed more than 500 people including my father and injured thousands including my sister and brother. My widowed Mom
moved us to the South Texas town of McAllen to be near family.  It was there that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized in the Baptist church.

Later I received my journalism degree from North Texas State University prior to being drafted into the U. S. Army and assigned to the Military District of Washington.  It was there that I saw my first Major League game. The team I saw play were the WashingtonSenators who would later become the Texas Rangers. I now write for the Texas Rangers Magazine and other publications.  I also am a substitute teacher for the Arlington Independent School District in addition to being a Tarrant County poll worker.

I was raised in this church, with my earliest years spent at the downtown location prior to the church’s move to this location on Collins St. I was baptized in this church, and I joined the church on the 18th of April 1965. I have many wonderful memories of special events in my life that are tied to First Presbyterian Church, Arlington. Both of my daughters, Laura and Lesley were raised at this church, and they have joined me on Women’s Retreats and Belize Mission Trips, along with their children going to Belize with me to do mission work.

In 1989, I married Mike Northup in our FPCA Chapel, and we joined our two families, a second marriage for each of us.

I have taught 2-year-olds, helped with the youth and lead the youth activities for a short time before we were fortunate to hire Kyle Terwilliger. I was blessed to be the one to interview Kyle and recommend we hire him to Rob McClelland. I have served on Pastor Nominating Committees, and I have served as an Elder, Trustee and on the Congregational Nominating Team. I joined the Bible Study Sunday School Class when it started and have loved being a member of it, my first adult Sunday School Class.

I am honored to be able to serve my church again as an Elder.