Our Staff

Rev. Maucere is a native of California and a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. His last name is Sicilian and is pronounced (Ma-CHAIR-a). He interned in Oakland California, then served as settled minister at First Church Philadelphia, then as interim minister for a congregation near Houston, in Iowa City, White Plains New York, and Gainesville Florida. "In spite of differences in cultures and climates, the UU’s I’ve known are united in the quest for love and justice, for meaning and connection." As Facilities Manager for a 50+ year old building that is over 45,000 sq. ft., has more than a dozen acres of grounds, and 17 units for the zoned HVAC system; Jay’s hands are full. Jay also manages the church calendar and facility rentals. Deb Markum has been with Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church since 2005. While her education is in music, she has worked in churches since 1984, serving in business and membership administration, as well as music direction. She is a member of the Association of Unitarian Universalist Administrators. When not at SMUUCh, Deb follows her passion and love for music as a piano teacher. She is the busy mom of three daughters, Grace, Sarah, and Emily with her partner Shelby. Kim Enyart is our church bookkeeper and has served at SMUUCh since 2007. She has a degree in accounting from University of Missouri, Kansas City and is also a licensed residential and commercial real estate agent.

Religious Education Staff

A Magna cum Laude graduate of Emporia State University, Rachel gained valuable education and volunteer management experience while at The Eisenhower Library and Museum in their experiential learning program, Five Star Leaders. Prior to this, she coordinated and scheduled all educational events for the Lyon County Historical Society in Emporia. The mother of three children – Max, Natalie, and Ruby - Rachel is married to Adam Wathen, the Collection Development Manager for the Johnson County Libraries. After mentoring three girls through the Coming of Age program and her years of coaching gymnastics, HeatherAnne realized how much she enjoyed helping youth navigate all the travails of growing up. When the call went out this summer that we were in search of a new Youth Group Advisor, HeatherAnne eagerly applied for the position. Our newest RE staff addition, HeatherAnne, lives with her husband, Jason, and their two children, Jasper and Risa, whom she homeschools. HeatherAnne also coaches girls gymnastics and volunteers for downtown Lee's Summit Main Street, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. HeatherAnne is a graduate of the University of South Alabama where she earned BAs in Political Science and Business. She also received her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Cindy is a certified Montessori teacher and joined the staff providing nursery and toddler care in 2004. She has over 35 years experience in child care. Emily grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended the University of Tulsa and obtained degrees in Sociology and Spanish. Prior to coming to Kansas City, Emily worked with a mental health organization housed in low-income elementary and middle schools. Emily moved to Kansas City to work on her master's degree in Occupational Therapy at Rockhurst University. Following graduation, she would like to continue to work with children in a school setting. Emily has a passion for working with the Latino immigrant population and for international travel. Emily and her husband, Matt Saucier, a high school special education teacher at Liberty North High School enjoy exploring Kansas City and taking their dog, Arnold, for lots of walks and runs.

Music

Dave began attending SMUUCh in 1996 and shortly thereafter became the volunteer choir director, a position he held until becoming the Music Director in 2002. Musical groups he directs include the SMUUCh Choraliers, the Cherub Choir, One Hour Choir, and the Chalice Choir (co-director). Dave is a 1984 graduate of the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a minor in voice. This is his 30th year in public education. In addition to his duties as music director at SMUUCh he teaches half-time Pre-K music at Heartland, Harmony and Rolling Ridge schools in the Olathe School District. He also teaches Pre-K music in the Child Development Center at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park where he works with 2, 3, and 4 year olds. Dave also maintains a private piano and voice studio at the Village Music Academy in Prairie Village and performs professionally. Marci has been a part of the SMUUCh family since 2009. In addition to singing soprano in the Choraliers she, along with Dave Simmons, volunteered to form, and co-direct the new children's choir in 2009. In 2015 the children's choir expanded to include a youth choir with Marci as the principal director. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas with a double major in Psychology and Human Biology, and a Masters in Human Development. She taught middle school and high school science in the public school system for 7 years. She grew up in Lawrence, Kansas where she studied piano with concert pianist Elaine De San Miguel. Her vocal music experience comes from singing in choirs in the Lawrence Public Schools, performing in musicals in Lawrence's Youth Theatre and Community Theatre as well performing at Shawnee Mission's Theatre in the Park. At KU she studied voice and participated in several choral ensembles. Currently, Marci teaches piano in her home studio.

Behind the Sceens

Robert joined the SMUUCh staff shortly after we moved into our Pflumm location. As the former custodian for the Bonjour Elementary School, Robert brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role at SMUUCh and we are so thankful he agreed to "come home" and help maintain our building. Pepe Lopez has served as a sexton at SMUUCh since 2010. An experienced and expert handy man, Pepe keeps our church facilities in working order, sets up for events and performs routine maintenance.

History of UU

The first organized Unitarian movement began in the 17th century in a province of Hungary as a protest against the doctrine of the Trinity. Early Unitarians affirmed a belief in the oneness of God. They believed that people should interpret the Bible in the light of human reason. Universalism began in England one century later as part of a movement linking the search for religious truth with progress toward social justice and equality. Universalists believed in universal salvation, that a loving God would not choose to save some people and condemn others to hell just because they didn't all believe the same thing. Both groups were persecuted by Christians for their beliefs and eventually came to America where they developed a proud history throughout the 1700s and 1800s. Women's suffragist Susan B. Anthony and American Red Cross founder Clara Barton were Unitarians. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a Unitarian minister for a short time and Thomas Jefferson also strongly supported the movement. The Unitarians and the Universalists merged in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association, with headquarters in Boston. In 1965, when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. asked the nation's clergy to march with him during the civil rights struggle, 20 percent of Unitarian Universalist ministers went. One, Rev. James Reeb, was killed on the streets of Selma, Alabama. The Unitarian faith has been a part of Kansas City since the 1860s. Our church, Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church, was organized in 1967.