Staff & Lay Leadership
We are so blessed at Providence Presbyterian to have an engaged leadership team that exemplifies our values and works hard every day to make our church what it is!
Our Leadership Staff
Rev. Dr. Dave Pettit
Pastor
I grew up in western NY, working with my hands, a son to a cabinet maker. I felt the call to youth ministry at a young age and began working with Young Life. When I was the area director, I met my wife Holly, who worked as an Office Manager at a camp in the Adirondacks. We married in Lake Placid and then moved to the Hudson Valley to continue our work with Young Life. There came the point, however, when I felt the call to ordained ministry and continued study. After ten years of youth ministry, and a couple of years of finishing seminary and ordination, I was ordained to a call at the Kiskatom Reformed Church in Catskill, NY. I left that call in 2012 to pursue a Ph.D. which landed us in Colorado in 2013 where I have been a Ph.D. student at Iliff School of Theology and DU. My wife, Holly, continues to work with YL in the Springs. During these years, I pastored Calvary Presbyterian church until the end of 2020. I began my call at Providence Presbyterian church in January 2021 and received my Ph.D. in May of 2021 in Biblical Studies of the Hebrew Bible.
I am drawn to poetry, that of the scriptures and otherwise, which expresses truths and emotions that are hard to name straightforwardly. I am also drawn to the narratives of scripture, which express the challenges of discerning and following God’s voice and leading amid life’s muddiness. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, soccer, fly fishing and taking my kids skiing. I look forward to journeying together in this muddy world, rooted in God’s grace, and seeking to be a faithful manifestation and expression of God’s forgiveness, grace, love, and community.
Sherri Dudley
Office Administrator
I am a native of Colorado, growing up in the beautiful mountain town of Buena Vista. I have lived in the Denver Metro area for all of my adult life after receiving a Business Admin/Psych degree from Western Colorado University. I spent my career in Finance/Mortgage Banking until recently retiring after almost 30 years.
In my free time, I enjoy my 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. I moved to a horse property in Parker 12 years ago. My husband and I enjoy taking care of our small farm of miniature donkeys, goats, chickens and ducks! I enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling, reading, and attending as many sporting events for my grand kids as I can.
Cassie Bennett
Christian Education Director
Cassie is a life-long member of Providence Presbyterian Church. She has served as a deacon at Providence and still sings in the choir on occasion. She took on the role of Director of Christian Education in 2018. She is mostly in charge of Providence’s Children and Youth ministries but also assists with the adult education ministries as needed. When she isn’t at church Cassie enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Sami Copeland
Choir Accompanist
Sami is a recent graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, holding a degree in Music Composition with minors in Film Scoring and Illustration. She is also new to Colorado, having relocated recently for work. Church music has always been an important and influential part of her life, having been involved all throughout middle school and high school at her home congregation in Florida, where she’s from. Music is a passion that she’s thrilled she now gets to share with the congregation at Providence Presbyterian Church. Piano is her primary instrument, but also sings and has been in choirs most of her life. While music takes the most precedence in her free time, Sami is also passionate about art, both traditional and digital, and makes time to stay involved with it.
Amy Thorne
Choir Director
Having attended the University of Northern Colorado, I am a long time Colorado resident and a church musician. At church is where I had my early music experiences; I currently play the piano and previously played the trumpet. I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been singing in a choir! I also had the pleasure of singing with the Opera Colorado chorus for eight seasons.
In my previous ministry position of nine years, I was the choir director and worship coordinator; where I enjoyed working with the worship team and small ensemble. I love working with our Providence Church choir and look forward to many meaningful rehearsals and Sunday services.
In my free time, I enjoy pottery and painting; the arts are very important to me. My Mother has been an inspiration to me, since she’s painted and created crafts for over 60 years. My musical influences also came from my Mother and Grandmothers who all played the piano and sang in choir. I feel blessed to have such talented women in my life.
Of note: I teach private piano lessons and group piano classes through the library and Cultural Services for the city of Aurora, if you or someone you know may be interested.
2023 Members of Session
Rev. Dave Pettit, Moderator
Cassie Bennett, Clerk of Session
Admin Team Elders:
Chris Hudson
Jim Bennett
Gary Scott
Dee Wright
Cassie Bennett
Church Life & Mission Elders:
Bonnie Thompson
Neal Witherell
2023 Deacons
- Moderator: Steve Heald – Fish Deacon Group
- Steve Boulter – Eagle Deacon Group
- Laurie Schmidt – Penguin Deacon Group
- Jennie McCown – Dolphin Deacon Group
- Amy Thorne – Owl Deacon Group