Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:00am-Noon
859-987-2770
Email Us Anytime:
fpcparisky@gmail.com
Address: 517 Pleasant St.
Paris, KY 40361
STAFF
Pastor
Rev. Jose Luis Casal
Jose Luis retired as Director of Presbyterian World Missions of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A, a position that has enabled him to represent our denomination around the world. He received his education in Cuba at the University of Havana, the Ecumenical Theological Seminary of Matanzas, and the Higher Institute for Foreign Languages in Granma, before completing post-graduate work at the International Seminary of Theological Studies in Mexico City.
Jose Luis has had a long career serving Presbyterian congregations in Texas, Chicago, and Miami here in USA as well as Cuba and Ecuador. In addition to his ministerial background, he is also a poet and a writer, and has composed more than 60 hymns. He is married to Nancy Cecilia Casal and has three sons and three grandchildren.
Music, Programs and Outreach
Darnaby Kerns
After growing up in a fundamentalist Christian tradition, the church wasn’t for me. I stopped attending close to the end of high school and didn’t plan on going back once I started college. However, my voice teacher at the time invited me to sing in her choir at First Presbyterian in Richmond, so I decided to give it a shot. The congregation there fostered my love for the Presbyterians and I’ve worked in a Presbyterian church ever since.
As the choir and programs coordinator at First Presbyterian of Paris, I help lead our congregation in creating relationships with the community. I want to share what drew me to Presbyterianism (and to this congregation in particular) with anyone who will listen. I feel invested in Paris’ future – I grew up here and feel connected to the people.
I love music. I lead the choir, the worship singing, and try to facilitate a variety of musical opportunities for Paris. Before I started working here full time, I was a music teacher at an elementary school. Teaching is at the heart of what I do, whether it’s working with kids on their handchime skills, or leading a choral workshop for adults. Teaching allows me to empower people and in turn empowers me.
Accompanist
Connie Hutson
I am the accompanist for Sunday services, choir, and the Paris Bourbon Community Choir. Besides serving as a worship leader, where I play keyboard, drums, and sing, I have been playing for and directing the musical productions for Bourbon County High School the last 20 years.
I am a retired teacher/principal for Bourbon County Schools (30 years) and will always be an educator at heart as I love to help people learn new things.
My husband, Perry, and I live on Down to Earth Farm on the North Middletown Road. We raise wheat and soybeans and a healthy size veggie garden. We love to travel – take long walks on the beach – and have two dogs – a beagle, Sally Martin, the neighbors dalmation – Peyton and a fabulous cat, Scooter P.
I love listening to music, planning musical events with Darnaby, crafting, gardening, reading – especially John Grisham, watching Doc Martin, and sometimes cooking, which Perry appreciates.
I feel so blessed to be part of this church and their community outreach. It is vital that churches today reach out to their surrounding community. We must do so to continue God’s work of bringing people to his Kingdom. I am looking forward to what is going to happen in the next several months. I love working with Darnaby, the church members and their vision!
Administrative Assistant
Jessica Featherston
Session Members
Rogers Barde – Clerk of Session
Ted Kuster, Daphne Darkomensah, Debbie Warns, Candi Lane, Sarah Auvenshine
First Presbyterian Church of Paris
is a member of the Transylvania Presbytery
and a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA)