St. John's Presbyterian Church of Berkeley
Staff & Leaders

  • Todd Jolly

    Todd Jolly
    Director of Music

    Todd earned his B.A. in music education at Trenton State College in New Jersey. A percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, teacher, and vocalist, he is comfortable in many styles including early music, classical, jazz, and rock. Noted teachers include Tony DeNicola (Harry James Orchestra), Hy Frank (Vaudeville), Cloyd Duff (Cleveland Symphony), Lloyd Pfautsch (Southern Methodist University), and Alice Parker (Robert Shaw Chorale). Currently, he teaches third through eighth grade music at Stuart Hall for Boys in San Francisco, where he has also been the choirmaster since 1997. In 2005 he became the first music director of San Francisco Renaissance Voices, a professional ensemble dedicated to the singing of a cappella works of the Renaissance, particularly those seldom performed. Concurrently, since 2007, Todd directs the music program at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. As composer-in-residence for the vocal program at San Francisco School of the Arts, Todd was commissioned in 2004 to write two pieces: To Be Read at a Funeral and The Oath. He has served on the directing staff of the San Francisco Boys Chorus, and has accompanied its various groups on timpani and percussion at concerts and on recordings. In addition, Mr. Jolly has been the tenor section leader of the San Francisco Choral Society, is a published composer, and a freelance percussionist. Todd is also an ordained Presbyterian minister, having received his M. Div. from San Francisco Theological Seminary. A member in good standing of the Presbytery of San Francisco, he is a parish associate at Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he has served as Director of Liturgical Music, and a Presbytery Associate serving on the Project Team. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and of Early Music America.

  • Max Lynn

    Max Lynn
    Pastor

    I am so pleased you are checking out St. John’s. We are a vibrant, healthy congregation blessed by God, cleansed by the grace of Christ, and empowered by the Spirit to love and work for peace and justice in the world. I joined St. John’s as their Pastor in 2003 and have enjoyed the opportunity to serve in Berkeley, a unique and exciting place on the edge of the Pacific. I was born in Claremont California, way back in '63. I was four when Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and it came on the news. I had never seen my mother cry at the TV, but she did that day. My father told me that King was a Christian Preacher, and they played a clip from King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. I was inspired as never before. Later, I went to a Lutheran High school and spent a good deal of time harassing the religion class instructors. After high school, I attended San Diego State with a scholarship for Pole Vaulting on the track team. It was in San Diego that I fell in love with surfing and was inspired by a couple of professors to join the Peace Corps. I was assigned to be a Community Health Volunteer down on the Rio Dulce in Guatemala, where I taught Health and Hygiene and helped put in a few wells and latrines. While working at an orphanage, I fell in love with Feliciana, a fellow employee who had a captivating smile and a deeply warm spirit. Feliciana and I were married and then we moved to San Anselmo, CA so that I could attend San Francisco Theological Seminary. After our first son, Nicholas, was born (’93), and after receiving my MDiv in 1994, I took a job as Pastor at a bilingual, multicultural church in Houston, San Pablo Trinity. There I learned how to preach in both English and Spanish at the same time. I spent some time serving on the Racial Ethnic Committee for New Covenant Presbytery. Kevin, our second son, was born in ’95. In 1998, I took a job as Associate Pastor for Christian Ed and Contemporary Worship at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Salinas, California. We had a great time raising our little boys there in the Church and in and around the gorgeous Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay. It was a joy to unite with St. John’s which has such a rich tradition of social Justice and just a gorgeous sanctuary in which to worship God. I hope you come join us, to discern and experience the Spirit move through your life and let us become a part of your biography. May God bless and Keep you, – Pastor Max Lynn