Church Staff
Our Pastoral Staff
Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett
Senior Pastor
Rev.LauraRuth@hopecentralchurch.org
Laura Ruth Jarrett is from the south side of Atlanta, but has lived in Boston longer now than she did in the south. Laura Ruth received her M.Div from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990, was ordained UCC in 2008, and received standing from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2009. She received her BSW from the University of Georgia in 1982. Laura Ruth worked at the Social Security Administration, as a library assistant in academic libraries, as a social worker for homeless families, as a woodworker, as a musician, including directing the Batucada Belles, a women's marching percussion band.
Laura Ruth was called to Hope Central as the settled Pastor and Teacher on June 1, 2010. She lives in JP with her wife, Marian (Meck) Groot, and their dog Riley. They have two wonderful grown up Godkids, Maia and Arlo. Laura Ruth reads, sews, and talks to her three sisters every week on Monday
Rev. Benjamin Perkins
Community Minister
Rev. Ash Temin
Community Minister
Rev. Laura Everett
Community Minister
Rev. Terry Steeden
Community Minister
Our Band
Keyboards: Adé-Osaze Warrington
Music Director
awarrington@hopecentralchurch.org
Our new Music Director.
Drummer: Gillian De Lear
Tech Manager
theband@hopecentralchurch.org
Originally from Menlo Park CA, Gillian De Lear began playing drums at age ten, and hasn’t stopped since. She moved to Boston, MA in 2005 and finished a Bachelor degree in Professional Music at Berklee College of Music. Gillian has played and toured with countless bands during her musical career. She has completed several cd’s, including a cd of original free jazz – duets with her favorite musicians in Boston (2009), “Genie in a Bottle”, a cd of original material for the Gillian De Lear Jazz Quintet (2012), and “On the Up & Up”, with the Jazz Barracudas (2013). Aside from playing in Hope Central’s morning service, you’ll find her playing at the HoJo’s on Boylston St. in Boston, every Tuesday with the David Ehle Trio Jazz Jam.
Bass: Neil Helme
Bass Player and Vocals
The story of Neil’s life–long relationship with music is a journey of discovery. Born into a house filled with music, taking piano & violin lessons in grade school, singing in choirs & in garage bands, all the while he was incorporating new musical ideas from as many different sources as possible. In essence, he was forming his personal version of what Gram Parsons would call “American Cosmic Music.”
For the last 35 years, Neil has played lots of music in lots of places with lots of musicians, including the Spring Hill Rounders, and The Demolition String Band.
Drummer: Bobby Hall
Drums and Percussion
Bob Hall, originally from Dorchester, MA, is by day, a High School Special Education teacher, but has fit in his love for drumming since he started playing traps [set drums] at eight years old. Bob earned an Instrumental Performance Degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1975. He has played in the bands Starlight Dance Band, Black Tie, Philip Black Sextet, Brass Lantern and On the Road and has taught percussion at several schools. Since 1990, Bob has added to his repertoire a variety of rhythmic sounds using Congas, Timbales, Djembes, Udo, and Doumbeks. In 2001, Bob joined the newly formed “Holy Ghost Trio” at Hope Central Church and has continued to play with them during the Sunday service.
Our Church Staff
Church Manager: Lisa Pilat
ChurchManager@hopecentralchurch.org
Lisa Pilat has been with the church since 2006 as Building Manager and Church Manager/Bookkeeper. Prior to joining Hope Central she worked for Filene’s Department Stores as Divisional Sales Manager for 13 years. She has three children, Lexi, Lilly, and Maddoc. She currently lives in Dedham with her son Maddoc.
Administrative Assistant: Lisa Stanton
Lisa Stanton joined the staff at Hope Central in November 2021 after she moved to Boston from Beverly MA. Before she came here, she worked as an Administrative Assistant at a mental health clinic for 5 1/2 years on the north shore. She lives with her musical husband, Bobby , two pesky cats, and has one lovely daughter, Lily-Esther.
Sexton: Leonel Cermeño
Originally from Guatemala, Leonel is a father to three girls and a grandfather to six grandchildren. He has lived in the U.S. for over thirty years, twenty-five of them in Massachusetts. He has been at Hope Central Church for over twenty years.