STAFF
Music Director & Administrative Assistant: Laurie DiSabatino
Laurie has a Bachelor Degree in Music from Central Michigan University.
After Graduating from CMU, Laurie performed with the Lyric Opera Theater of Philadelphia. Her debut role was “MiMi” in Puccini’s “La Boheme”.
Since returning to the Flint area, she has performed locally as a soloist with the New Century Chorale, CMC Chorale, GBAC- “Messiah”, and “Messiah” at Whiting Auditorium. Most recently, Laurie has worked with talented composer, and organist, Brenda Portman, premiering and recording several of Brenda’s compositions for voice and piano.
She has also been employed with Michigan Opera Theatre Opera Chorus in productions of "Nabucco", "La Boheme","Marriage of Figaro" and “I Pagliacci".
Laurie has served as Accompanist for the choirs at St. John’s Catholic Church in Davison, directed the youth choirs at First Congregational Church in Grand Blanc and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc. Laurie currently serves as Music Director at Kirkridge Presbyterian Church in Grand Blanc, and sings with the Carolyn Mawby Chorale.
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Pastor: Rev. Kate Morrison
Kate was born Laura Kate Morrison, to Roy and Joy of Statesville, North Carolina. From an early age, Kate chose her middle name as her identifier since she was the third Laura in her immediate family, with both her grandmother and aunt sharing the same name.
Born and raised in Statesville, but with family scattered throughout the area, Kate has always considered the Carolinas her home. As a cradle Presbyterian, Kate grew up in the First Presbyterian Church of Statesville, where her father was also born and raised. Church was an incredibly important part of her early life, and she felt a call to the ministry at a young age.
After graduating from South Iredell High School, she moved to Columbia, SC where she attended the University of South Carolina, and for whom she still harbors a great love (Go Gamecocks!). While at USC, Kate studied and received her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Religious Studies. She was also incredibly active in the Presbyterian Student Association (now UKirk SC) and also worked part time for both the USC - Department of Religious Studies, and as a youth director for Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church.
Following her time at Carolina, Kate moved to Decatur, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, where she attended Columbia Theological Seminary. She graduated in 2016 with her Masters of Divinity, and a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with a concentration in Christian Education. Although Kate has always had a passion for social justice, it was at Columbia where she was able to more fully explore, become involved in, and find that she had a heart for issues including racial reconciliation, equal rights and representation for the LGBTQ+ community, and women’s rights.
While serving as an Associate for Youth and Young Adult ministries in Torrington, Wyoming from July 2016 - November 2018, Kate succeeded in establishing a UKirk Campus Ministries program at the local two-year college. Having been involved in such an amazing campus ministries program at South Carolina, Kate feels particularly drawn to connecting with young adults in this stage of their life, and hopes that she can create similar environments for community involvement and participation. She has also been the Pastor of John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Salisbury, NC, serving there from December 2018 - September 2021, and was called to Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Flint where she has served since June of 2022. Kate has a true heart for people, and loves getting to connect and know folks from all walks of life, and is very excited about the new ways that the Holy Spirit is moving and calling Kirkridge and Trinity United to work together.
Kate enjoys the simple things in life, like a good cup of tea, a strong female protagonist, and an afternoon at home with her kittens, Rocky and Janet. However, Kate also finds deep meaning in her friendships and in her work, which has led her to a life of commitment to the church. In a few words, Kate is contagiously joyful, fiercely loyal, a dreamer, an activist, and a grateful Presbyterian. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram at @revkatemorrison.