WHO WE ARE

Megan Cochran

Pastor

Rev. Megan Cochran comes from the land of hotdish and snow piles much taller than her commonly known as Minnesota. After graduating from Macalester College with a joint degree in Psychology and Religious Studies, she spent a year in Cameroon, Africa doing counseling with people living with HIV/AIDS. When she returned from Cameroon, she loaded up her car and drove to Chicago to begin the Master of Divinity program at McCormick Theological Seminary.

After graduating from seminary, Megan began working at Lake View Presbyterian Church in Chicago. While there Megan led the Christian Nurture areas of the church: Sunday School and Bible studies for all ages, youth groups, young adult groups, and managed a daily senior citizen lunch program. She also taught art to preschoolers, co-founded Creation Lab (an art studio where art and faith intersect), led worship weekly and participated in whatever other exciting stuff came up during the week. Social justice, creativity, finding God in the midst of this wild world, and building community are a few of her deepest passions.

When Megan isn’t dreaming up artistic new ways to be the church she is spending time with her curious daughter, Clarus and her wise husband, Alex (who also happens to be a pastor). Some of their family hobbies are reading books, having dance parties and exploring the world together. Once Clarus is asleep, you can usually find Megan knitting scarves, sewing stuff, or watching movies. Megan and her family are beyond thrilled to begin this journey with Westminster Presbyterian Church and can’t wait to see the amazing things that God will do in this place!

Lesi Mei

Music Leader

Lesi Mei has been involved in many fields—such as bioengineering and kinesiology—but piano and classical music have molded her into the person she is. In front of the keys, her background and personality manifest in dazzling virtuosity and stunning musicality.

She was the first call pianist for Beijing International Orchestra before traveling the U.S. from coast to coast, performing in such festivals as the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City, and Olympiad Piano Festival in Colorado Springs, where she was a semifinalist in the concerto competition. Lesi has also been invited by the Composers Concordance to New York City to premiere works by Gene Pritsker, Seth Boustead, Peter Jarvis, etcs. As an in-demand collaborator, Lesi has performed with ensembles such as American Modern Orchestra, La Jolla Symphony, the Hausmann Quartet, to name a few. Her performance diploma hails from the European Music Institute in Vienna, under the tutelage of the esteemed Professor Martin Hughes. Currently Lesi is faculty member of School of Music and Dance at SDSU, and of San Diego Piano Academy.

Lesi holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from San Diego State University, a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Biological Engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology.

Our congregation is a wonderful mix of all types of people, from artists to scientists, from just born to over 100 years old, from single to partnered, all across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. All colors and all orientations hang out and worship together at Westminster Pres.

WHAT WE
BELIEVE

We are seekers creating a just and joyful community where all have a place at God’s table.

We are a PCUSA (Presbyterian Church USA) congregation that was founded in the 1950s.

We are open, affirming, and inviting to the LGBTQ+ community…the first one in our presbytery! We call it being a More Light church.

We are a Matthew 25 church which means that we are committed to:
- dismantling structural racism
- building congregational vitality
- eradicating systemic poverty

Yes, we have a park, a playground, a community garden, an urban forest, a theater, and a preschool here… It’s totally amazing.

Yet who are we as a community?

We are question askers, seekers, learners.

We value openness, honesty, and conversation.

We are people who grew up in the church right alongside people who are just discovering church.

We believe that we are called to be co-creators with God. Our work is to bring more love and creativity into the world.

The church property was originally a dumping grounds that was given to the church to reimagine. Yep, a dump. And now it is this incredible place! We love living into the idea that we are resurrecting this place into a gift of sacred space for our whole community.

You are welcome here…really…truly…just as you are.

NEW HERE? READ THIS...

Message from Pastor Megan:

We’re so glad that you’re interested in coming to Westminster.

Each Sunday is a set aside time for our whole church community, our littlest ones to our eldest, to join together in being present with each other and with God. Our worship service is filled with a variety of music, prayer, sharing, art, and more!

When people react to our worship experience, they often describe it as:

thoughtful
engaging
interactive
meaningful
honest

We have 1 service at 10:00am each Sunday. Parking is available (the driveway to the parking lot is by the small preschool sign off of Talbot).

Children

Our Sunday services include the children, with pastor Megan sitting with them and sharing stories and lessons. We also have childcare for 5 and under available during the main service. All ages welcome!

Dress code?

We don’t have one. Come as you are. Some people like to dress up for the fun of it, but most of us are pretty casual.

Make new friends

After the service, join us for coffee hour to enjoy some snacks and conversation. Then, feel free to spend time in our park and playground or check out our community garden and nature retreat.

We can’t wait to meet you! If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to be in touch with Pastor Megan at pastor@westminstersd.org