Our Staff

Joey Hargrove, Children & Youth Director

I was raised in a Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Both my parents were involved in the church and my dad has taught an adult Sunday School class there for the last 25+ years. I was extremely active in the youth group (UMYF) throughout middle school and high school. There were so many events, from mission trips to church camps, that were integral in shaping who I am today. During college at the University of Oklahoma, I began to work at my home church part-time, helping with the youth group and organzing summer children programs. When I moved to Los Angeles, in 1999 I began working part-time as a youth director the Hawthorne Methodist Church and then came the Palisades Methodist Church in 2003. I have been on a church staff my entire adult life!

God loves us all and thinks we are incredibly special! And that’s how I want every youth to feel when they participate in our youth programs. I believe a church youth group can have such a positive impact on a young person’s life. To find a place where you can belong and feel accepted for exactly who you are is such a rare gift during those emotional, anxiety-ridden teenage years.

I feel very blessed that God has called me to this church and has allowed me the opportunity to spend so much time with this amazing group of youth, it is such an honor to watch them grow up and become such loving, respectful, Christ-centered young adults.

Phil Azelton, Music Director

After receiving a degree in composition from the University of Arizona, I moved to California where I completed my Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern California. At UCLA I sang with the Gregg Smith Singers and toured with diverse groups such as the Young Americans, The Kids Next Door and the Norman Luboff Choir. My choral arrangements were first performed at an ACDA convention in Hawaii and consequently published by Hal Leonard and Jenson. Before heading the choral music department at Van Nuys High School in California, I spent many years “behind the scenes” in film music production in all the major studios in Hollywood. Now semi-retired, I sings regularly with a madrigal group, a vocal jazz sextet, a nine-voice swing choir (which I direct), a large concert choir, and I serve as the Music Director of Community United Methodist Church in Pacific Palisades.

Lori Frangipane, Office Administrator & Sunday School Teacher

I was so happy when we moved from Nashville, Tennessee to Pacific Palisades and found a Methodist preschool for my oldest son Bret. I immediately enrolled him, and eventually my two other sons, Evan and Cole also became graduates of our wonderful preschool. I was raised a Methodist, and my parents and oldest sister were married in Maynard Methodist Church in Culver City. My father, Caryll, always helping around church, was instrumental in building the Culver-Palms Church in Culver City, where I attended UMYF (United Methodist Youth Foundation) for all my Jr. and High School years. We had many wonderful and meaningful retreats and camps, where I made my closest lifelong friends. After High School, I traveled with our church to Israel for 10 days, and experienced the Holy Land Tour. It was an amazing time, and again it helped shape who I am today, being able to touch and feel the real places of the Bible.

I met Chris and Nancy Fracchiolla when our children were just in Methodist Preschool. Chris and I started the mid-week program, Treasure Island, 10 years ago starting with just our five kids. We have grown the program to include preschool to 5th grade, and now average about 70 children a week. It’s been a profound experience for me to be a part of Palisades Methodist, working with the Treasure Island groups and Captain’s Club, teaching Sunday School and helping with all our various activities this church offers. The community of friends I have here have touched my life in ways that I could have never imagined! God is Good, all the time!

Jennifer Ayres, Communications

I am a friend, a wife, a mother of two, a creative being. A missionary, an adventurer, a former ice hockey defenseman, a college grad. A forgiven and redeemed soul, confident that the Almighty has a big picture plan for this life—for me, for you, and for this world.

From the Detroit burbs, to mission adventures which dotted the globe, my life is mostly in halves. I graduated high school half of a year early, earned a Bachelor’s in 3 1/2 years, then I flew to Vietnam as a missionary and taught Economics and Business English at the Hanoi Foreign Trade University for a year and a half. After circling the planet I returned stateside and worked as an advertising writer. I transitioned into the marketing world, then briefly into corporate sales before returning to my first passion: writing.

Ever since I was little, I felt compelled to tell people about God’s love and saving grace. As a writer with propensity to design stuff I am excited to blend my passions now as a part of Palisades Methodist. I pour out my creative juices part-time while my kids are in school. My mission is to use the gifts God has given me to impact this community so more souls realize Him as their personal Lord and Savior. My life verse is Acts 20:24. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Rebecca Dove Sieling, Christian Education Assistant & Office Administrator

I am a native of North Dakota who moved to LA in 1989. I was introduced to Pete Sieling the same year by mutual friends; we were married in 1991, shortly after Pete accepted a position at UCLA. We have felt blessed to live in the Palisades for twelve years with our two children, Laura and Roben. I have put my education degree to good use teaching in the classroom, co-founding two schools, (one for our daughter and her classmates) and teaching/assisting with many church related youth programs. It’s very rewarding working with the children because of their energy, innocent perspective and pure spirits. Our family has attended CUMC since early 2002 when the church bells “summoned” us during a transitional time in our lives. I enjoy being an active member of the church’s praise band where I sing and play guitar. Our family enjoys traveling, especially road trips, and attending the children’s soft/baseball games. Our two dogs, Scottie and Charlie, keep me in shape when we run together in the mornings.

I was raised as a T.O. (Theological Offspring) and always shared a close relationship with my parents. My dad and I frequently had spiritual discussions as I explored the personal meaning of “Heavenly Father” and “Jesus.” In my perspective the two deepest truths I carry and apply to my daily “walk” are these: 1) Jesus’ message was one of Love and Forgiveness so remember those guidelines in your relationship with others. This helps me to minimize my judgment of others and encourages me to be patient and to look for the positive. 2) Never put God into a box because human minds can never create a box big enough. His Love, His ways, His plans will always be beyond our understanding. Have Faith and Trust in His Love. It is my goal to live and share these truths to the best of my ability knowing I can be an example to those around me, especially the children. One of my all-time favorite verses is “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Luisa Donati, Methodist Preschool Director

Methodist Preschool Director

Hello! I grew up in Milan, Italy and then in New York City. My first career was in the television and film business, initially in distribution and then as Supervising Producer of animated series. I left the TV and film business so that I could raise my two young daughters. I first fell in love with the field of Early Childhood Education when my oldest daughter started attending preschool. I went to pick her up one day and she was covered head to toe in shaving cream … and my life was forever changed! I first came to Methodist Preschool as a parent in 2001, was on the parent board, and in 2004 began teaching here. I became Director in 2007. MPS has been a joy and a passion and has become my second home, full of little and big friends.

José Alfaro, Facilities Manager & Custodian