Our Staff


  • The Reverend Doctor Steve Y. D. Kim - Pastor  circleemail  circlefacebook 

    Reverend Doctor Steve (Young Dong) Kim was born in Seoul, Korea, where he spent his early school years before moving to the United States. Ordained in the United Methodist Church, Steve has dedicated the past 15 years to ministry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Neuroscience from Knox College, IL; a Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School, NJ; a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ; and a Doctor of Ministry from Boston University School of Theology, MA. A member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and the Nu Rho Psi Society, Steve enjoys spending time with his three children—Joseph, Daniel, and Miriel. Together with his wonderful wife, Rose, he enjoys spending quality time playing board games and exploring new adventures. He also has a passion for movies and staying active through sports.

  • Mara Weed - Music Director   circlefacebook 

    Mara McSwain Weed, Music Director, grew up the daughter of a Methodist minister and a music teacher. How could church music not be a part of her life?   Mara says it is a joy to help in the leadership of worship at Cheshire UMC.  "We are so blessed to have such talented people in our choir, but even more blessed to have those people use their gifts to sing to the glory of God."  The choir is open to anyone in the church who wants to join in this expression of praise.  We have a hand-bell choir and a children's chimes choir that are always looking for new members, too.  Join us!  (Link to a choir clip)


    Mara is married to Pete, has three "children", Kaitlin (Justin), Tim and Greg (Dhaybeth) and four grandchildren, Lilah, Luke and Levi, and Gianna.

  • Kaitlin Heuser - Administrative Assistant circleemail

    Kaitlin Weed Heuser has been part of Cheshire UMC since she was five years old. As the daughter of longtime Music Director Mara Weed, she grew up deeply connected to the life of the church and now follows in her mother’s footsteps in the church office—gratefully saying she “learned from the best.”

    CUMC has always felt like home to Kaitlin, and she is proud to be raising her three children—Lilah, Luke, and Levi—within the same loving community. She and her husband, Justin, are active in the life of the church, and their family can often be found at Sunday worship and church events.

    When she’s not supporting the ministries of CUMC, Kaitlin is joyfully on the move, shuttling between sports fields, drama club, and play groups for her children. She brings warmth, dedication, and a lifelong love of this congregation to her work each day.

Our Statement of Purpose

This is a Welcoming, Reconciling congregation.  We embrace diversity and affirm the dignity and worth of every person because we are all created by a loving God.  We seek to live Christ’s call for compassion, justice, healing and wholeness.  Therefore, we welcome into our faith community persons of every race, gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, mental and physical ability, economic and social position, gender identity and expression, level of education and family structure.  We believe we can all love alike, even if we don’t think alike.  We invite all to share in the life, leadership, lay and ordained ministry, worship and sacraments, the covenant of committed love in holy matrimony, fellowship, blessings and joys of our congregation as we seek to grow together in faith and love.