OUR STAFF

Charlaine Apsel is the Executive Director of PRC - Practical Resources for Churches (Parish Resource Center) located in Patchogue and in West Islip and, in that capacity, supports faith communities in their ministry and mission all across the New York City area. She has worked for or volunteered at not-for-profit organizations, beginning at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as Director of Finance and Marketing for the Publishing House over thirty years ago. Charlaine handles the print and internet marketing for the PRC and is a workshop leader on church governance, stewardship, websites, and finances. She was a QuickBooks trainer for CompUSA and continues as a QuickBooks advisor to church treasurers. PRC serves as the Resource Center for the Presbytery of Long Island and in that capacity Charlaine works with the Communication Team to produce a bimonthly e-newsletter and administer the FB page; she also redesigned the presbytery website.  She also has led both the Treasurer or Deacon Annual Leadership training sessions for the last three years. Charlaine is a member of the United Church of Christ and has served at the New York Conference level on the Conference Minister Search Committee and the Nominating Committee; she presently serves as the Chair of the Stewardship Committee and on the Personnel Committee. In her UCC Association she serves on the Committee on Church and Ministry and assisted the Association in rewriting their Constitution and Bylaws in 2016. In her own church she is a church treasurer and on the Executive Council.
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Elizabeth Christie has been working in the field of children’s and family ministries for over two decades. She has served in a variety of ministry settings as both staff and consultant, finding great joy in helping make lifelong faith formation transformational for all. Her particular passion is making ministries inclusive for all of God’s children. Elizabeth has presented at children’s ministries conferences, written resources on special needs ministries, led webinars on a wide variety of topics in children’s and family ministries, and learned on her feet as she worked through the pandemic, helping a congregation grow their children’s and family ministries over 300 percent. She is currently serving at The Cathedral of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth has been married to Tom, a college librarian, for almost 23 years, sharing their lives with their seven amazing children.
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Debbie Kolacki is the Senior Consultant and Online Resource Center Administrator for PRC. She is a Certified Christian Educator and Certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church. She was also an online instructor for BeADisciple.com. Debbie has a BA in English from Wagner College and completed the courses for her certification as a Christian Educator through Columbia College in South Carolina. She has taught children, youth, and adults and served in many areas in her local church for over twenty years. Debbie loves doing research and working with people in all areas of ministry.
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Rev. Mary Larson graduated from The New York School of Ministry (Ministry of New York Conference of United Church of Christ- Word and Sacrament Program) and was ordained by the UCC. She works as a Staff Chaplain in a local hospital and is working toward her board certification. She continues to take classes, webinars and more to continue to learn. Her experience includes: Staff Chaplain, Pulpit (Guest) Supply Preaching, working with groups regarding grief, worked with youth groups, and spiritual work with those struggling with addictions.
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Mary Porter is the development consultant for PRC. A freelance grant writer, previously she worked for non-profit agencies and healthcare entities and in market research for technology firms. She has a BA from Oberlin College in fine art. She is a member of Old First Presbyterian Church, Huntington, NY, where she sings in the choir and has served in various leadership roles.
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Karen Smith, a long-time resident of Rocky Point, has degrees in both Early Childhood Education and Secretarial Science from Suffolk County Community College. Having been a preschool teacher for over 22 years, she has held positions in all aspects of preschool education. She has worked at SeaPort Preschool in Port Jefferson for 17 years, Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Aquebogue for 11 years, and at Trinity Lutheran Preschool in Rocky Point for two years. Karen has been a member of Setauket Methodist Church in Setauket, where she taught Sunday school for several years, started a fifth and sixth grade youth group, and for a short time was editor of the church newsletter. In 1995 she returned to her Lutheran roots becoming a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Rocky Point. Currently, she has been teaching fourth grade Sunday school. Karen’s other activities have included  being a camp counselor at Camp Quinipet on Shelter Island, leading various summer programs for elementary and preschool groups , serving as a member of the Altar Guild at Trinity, and is co-leader of the Stamp ‘n Pray Card Ministry at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. She has taught Vacation Bible School and assisted with Summer Sunday School. Karen was also a Girl Scout Leader for 12 years.
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Rev. Karen Ware Jackson is the Webinar Cordinator for PRC. She and her husband Rob are the senior co-pastors of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, North Carolina. They also parent two children who keep them honest, ask fabulous questions, and bless them beyond words. Karen is passionate about creating interactive worship and inter-generational community, and is the co-editor of When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-filled Responses for Tough Topics. You can find more of her work at www.karenwarejackson.com
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OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF

Cathy Applewhite received her Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology and a Master of Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary. She worked as a Presbyterian (USA) Church Educator in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. She was a Chaplain Resident at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. These clinical skills led her to a career as a mental health professional working with children and adults with developmental and mental disabilities. When she moved to Long Island, she worked as a consultant at the PRC Commack office. She volunteered as a Chaplain at Mather Hospital, Gurwin Nursing Home, and as a Spiritual Care Companion at Maryhaven. Her most recent role is as a Pastor’s wife, coordinating recreation for VBS, teaching worship readiness for Sunday School children, and planning a Pet Blessing event.