More About Our Staff

Rev. Sitterley (who goes by “Bill”) is a native of Bethlehem, PA. He received his BA from Columbia University with a major in Religion, and then received his MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. While there he did college ministry at The Hollywood Presbyterian Church under the oversight of Lloyd Ogilvie – who had previously been his childhood pastor in Bethlehem. After later serving in a church in suburban Cincinnati, he entered a phase of his life that he refers to as “the great parenthesis,” where he was in secular employment for a number of years. (That’s another story!)

Things got interesting when he started working with Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific. He did rural development work in Papua New Guinea for a few years, and then relocated to New Zealand to be their first Pacific Regional Director. Later he moved again to Thailand to help expand the work throughout Asia and The Pacific. He traveled extensively in those years, and showed his true commitment to being a global citizen by marrying a Thai woman (Dr. Itchaya “Noi” Sitterley) who was a professor at Payap University in Chiang Mai – a school founded by Presbyterians. Their son Nathan is in the U.S. Army, and will soon be promoted to Major.

After nearly ten years with Habitat he felt called to return to the US, and to parish ministry. For over thirteen years he served as pastor of a church in suburban Baltimore. He then felt attracted to intentional interim ministry, and has served as an Interim Pastor in Maryland, West Virginia, and Florida. He loves the excitement of shepherding congregations through seasons of change.

Bill is committed to lifelong learning, and being on a spiritual path where one is continually being stretched. He is drawn deeply to the realm of contemplative spirituality, which does not imply being detached from the world. In fact, he chairs the leadership team of Misión Peniel in Immokalee, FL. He is open-minded, and supports every effort that would expand the circle of God’s grace and welcome.

Bill looks forward to getting to know us personally, and being a resource to the leadership of this church. He understands that his call is but “for a season,” and hopes to have a vital hand in preparing us to more fully live into our unique sense of ministry. He believes he is an especially good fit for Pine Shores Presbyterian Church.

Rick has been Director of Music at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church since June of 2002.  He leads an extensive Music Ministry that includes the adult Chancel Choir, and two adult handbell choirs  and also coordinates the church’s concert series.  Rick is the founding director of the “Ring Sarasota” Community Handbell Ensemble. He has arranged a complete handbell transcription of ‘Jupiter from the Planets’ which was published by From the Top Music.  Rick is an active member of the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Handbell Musicians of America, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and the Fellowship of Methodist Musicians.  In addition to his musical duties, Rick is the church’s Audio Visual coordinator, coordinating and training the church’s sound and video technicians; and local computer ‘geek’ maintaining and monitoring all of the church’s computer equipment and network.

Before coming to Pine Shores, Rick served as a musician in the U.S. Navy, performing, managing, and directing Navy Bands worldwide for 30 years. During his time in the Navy, he was a volunteer Youth Choir Director in Memphis, TN; Orlando, FL; and Dale City, VA.  He also served as a part-time Director of Music at churches in Orlando, FL; Memphis, TN; and Virginia Beach, VA. Rick and wife Cher have three grown children and five grandchildren.  In his spare time, Rick can be found working with his ‘O’-gauge model train layout.

Wayne was born May 3, 1953 in E. St. Louis, IL, and raised in Granite City Il.  He earned a BM degree (major in Piano/Organ) from Southern Illinois University/Edwardsville, in 1975, and a MA degree from Ball State University in IN in 1981 and many hours of post graduate work at the University of Akron.  I have two sons, Todd-40 and Greg-43 and their families, including 5 grandchildren

I was a public school music teacher for 38 years in Richmond, IN and Alliance, OH, retiring in 2013.  I have been involved in church music from age 10 on including playing for almost every denomination and currently serve as organist/pianist here at Pineshores in Sarasota.

Besides church music, I am an active performer, playing and recording for many soloists and groups and currently play 4 times weekly at the Crab and Finn Restaurant on St. Armands Key.  My playing interests have included Theatre, The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, Electronic Music and have published over 200 pieces which are available on JWPepper.com. under my name.

My hobbies include model trains, being an avid baseball fan, including going to concerts, collecting St. Louis Cardinals baseballs, jigsaw puzzles, baking, shooting fireworks shows, playing backgammon and writing music.

I was a choir Director in public schools in Indiana and Ohio for 38 years, have been the director and asst. director for church choirs for many denominations. Effective June 3, I will become the interim choir director at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church along with accompanying,  and look forward to continuing the long and rich music program here.

Debby Wendell is the Joy Company and  Adventure Camp Coordinator at Pine Shores. She grew up as the daughter of a military/pastor.  She attended college in Canada and finished her graduate work at Columbia and Princeton.  She has a true passion for children and demonstrates that through teaching, coordinating camps, and representing them in court as a Guardian Ad Litem.  She is thankful for the time and space that Pine Shores allows for the children to have a safe, fun, enriching place to be when school is not in session.