Pastor & Staff
The Rev. Scott Opsahl, Interim Minister
Rev. Scott Opsahl truly loves creating and leading worship services, engaging children with the stories of scripture, working with committees to raise our vision of what the church can do, providing pastoral care during times of crisis, listening to people's life-stories, and sharing our questions as we struggle to make meaning out of life. Rev. Opsahl is a native of Washington and a graduate of the University of Washington. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary with further study at Columbia Theological Seminary with Dr. Walter Brueggemann. In addition to serving churches in Washington, he has also served churches in Alabama, New Jersey and Colorado.
Julia Tai, Music Director
Born and raised in Taiwan, Julia came to Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Arts, magna cum laude in 2002. She then received a Master of Music in Choral Music in 2004 and is currently pursuing her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Washington. Prior to coming to Magnolia, she was Music Director for First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, Westwood United Methodist Church Glory Choir, and Santa Monica Taiwanese Prebyterian Church, all in California.
Dr. Myrna Capp, Organist and Pianist
Dr. Myrna Capp is Assistant Professor of Music at Seattle Pacific University where she teaches piano, piano pedagogy, class piano, and movement and improvisation in Musicianship. She holds both a Master's and a Doctorate in music from the University of Washington. She is active as a collaborative pianist and adjudicator. She has lectured and performed in Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. Myrna has been church organist/pianist at MUCC for 25 years. Her interest in improvisation and jazz has led to her improvising on spirituals and hymn melodies regularly for worship services. Myrna and her husband, Grayson, are members of MUCC and find it to be a friendly and stimulating church home.
Maria Lopez, Nursery Attendant
Armando Cortez, Custodian