Our Pastor
Gwyneth Arrison serves as the pastor at the Thornton Heights UMC and began this appointment in September 2022. As of July 2025, she became the coordinating pastor of the newly formed Lighthouse Cooperative Parish as well as the pastor at Peoples UMC also in South Portland. She preaches each Sunday morning at Peoples UMC at 9am and here at Thornton Heights UMC at 11am. She believes that the heart of the Church is helping each other grow closer to God in a vital relationship with Jesus Christ through worshipping together, learning together, having fun together, serving in the community together, and caring for one another as God’s family.
Gwyneth and her husband live in South Portland at the Peoples UMC parsonage. Gwyneth is passionate about following Jesus and living life to the fullness that God intends for us. She plays bassoon in a number of local groups including Midcoast Symphony, Casco Bay Wind Symphony, Portland Community Orchestra and the Windswept Quintet. She makes her own cards from paintings she's done, enjoys photography, hiking, cross-country skiing, sailing and kayaking.
Gwyneth feels blessed to serve as our pastor and prays, “that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19)
Gwyneth is frequently at one of the church buildings but recommends scheduling an appointment before coming in. You can email Gwyneth or reach her on her cell at 449-5010.
Lay Leadership
Lay Leader - Teena Zimmerman is our Thornton Heights United Methodist Church Lay Leader. The lay leader is the primary representative and role model of Christian discipleship and faith lived out in the church and in daily life. The lay leader works with the pastor to fulfill the mission and vision of the congregation.
Leadership Team - Tom Eschner is the chair of our leadership team which consists of the chairs of various committees and teams as well as some other leaders. Other UMCs often call this team the Church Council. These leadership meetings are hybrid and open to any to attend but only members have vote.
SPRC Chair - Pat Binns serves as our Staff Parish Relations Committee chair.
Certified Lay Minister - Rich Hughen is appointed to Thornton Heights as a Certified Lay Minister. Rich's primary calling is to pastoral care and visitation. He supports a lot of the church administration and also fills in for preachers on vacation around the Many Water District. You can reach Rich by contacting the church office.
Church Treasurer currently serving is Barbara Lambach, and our Financial Secretary currently serving is George Merrill. The Finance Committee is chaired by Tom Eschner.
Membership Secretary currently serving is Jill Silke.
Our Staff
Admin Assistant - Sandy Farrar has served as our Admin Assistant since June 26, 2026. You can reach her at the church office at 774-0487 or by Email.
Music & Choir Director - Ida Santos has served as our music minister since Fall 2022. Ida is a graduate from the University of Southern Maine and has been a tremendous gift to our congregation. Ida is now serving as the music director at our Peoples UMC as well, leading worship music at their 9am service, then choir rehearsal at Thornton Heights followed by our 11am service!
Audio-Visual Tech - Logan Levesque serves as our AV tech and is a senior at South Portland High School. Say hello to him during worship online!
Custodian - Brooke Stewart serves as our custodian, and always with a smile!