Frequently Asked Questions about Rev Nicole Reilley

Tell us a bit about your faith journey and call.

I grew up in the Roman Catholic faith; my family attended worship each Sunday.  When I was in junior high I began to have a lot of questions about my faith and that led me to explore various religions and traditions.  I attended and/or explored conservative evangelical Christianity, new thought/new age churches & Zen Buddhism (among others).  I found a home in the United Methodist Church after my Father sent me an article on the UMC.  He thought that that the UMC sounded a lot like me and he was right. That next week I went to Belmont Heights UMC in Long Beach. 

I also explored my faith as I changed my college majors (I was originally a music major) and became a Religious Studies major at Long Beach State.  It was during my time at Long Beach while I attended Belmont Height that I heard a call to ministry. I served in children’s ministry and youth ministry before being ordained in 1991.

Are you a native Californian?  Tell us a bit about your family.

I am originally from New Jersey.  My dad was in sales and we moved around until 1970 when we settled in Westlake Village, California. I am the oldest of 4 children, 3 of whom are living.  My brother John lives in Burbank and my sister Meg (along with her husband and daughter) lives in Oak Park.  My parents are divorced and my mom is remarried and lives in Rancho Mirage, while my dad lives in Sherman Oaks.

I have been married for 25 years to Dr. Jeffrey Luther.  We met in college when we both attended UC San Diego and a friend set us up to play music together (I sing, Jeff plays the piano among other things). Between school, training and working, we have lived in Long Beach, San Pedro, Sierra Madre and Ventura.

Jeff is the Residency Director at the Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, where he has worked for 18 years. He was born and raised in Manhattan Beach and his sister & brother-in-law, Chris & Dave Larson, live in Torrance and attend Rolling Hills UMC.  His parents, who are now deceased, were long time Redondo Beach residents.

We have a son, Jacob Reilley-Luther, who is 17 years old and a senior at Palos Verdes High School.  He likes music (plays guitar & sings) and is on the Cross Country Team. 

We reside in Rolling Hills Estates and, except for a two-year stay in Orange County, we have lived here for 12 years. We have two dogs, Olive (a Jack Russell Terrier) and Rooney (a Jack Russell & Rat Terrier mix).

What did you do before you became a pastor? Where did you go to school?

I worked in advertising and communications before going back to college in my mid-20s. I attended several colleges but graduated from Long Beach State with a degree in Religious Studies.  I then attended the School of Theology at Claremont and was graduated in 1992.  

What churches have you served? What are your strengths as a pastor? I have served 2 churches in the 19 years I have served in the local church.  I served at Hope UMC in Torrance for 14 years and Santa Margarita UMC in Rancho Santa Margarita for 5 years. Currently I serve The House Church Network, an organization that helps United Methodist laity plant house churches.  I have been doing this part-time as I have also been coaching local churches and pastors, chairing the Skill Builders on the Conference New Ministries Team, and serving on the leadership team for the Larga Vista House Church. 

I find the center of my call in preaching and discipling people.  I love to train and raise new leadership for the church.  I enjoy mentoring young staff and leaders. I love to help the church catch a vision of who God is calling it to become.

What do you like to do for fun?  I like to do a variety of things including singing, crafts, collage, writing, meditation, photography, gardening, hanging with friends (at coffee and on Facebook), reading, traveling with my husband and son, walking and sitting on the swing in my garden.

Are you our new pastor? What is an interim?

I am appointed to be your pastor from Jan 1 to June 30, 2012.  This is an interim appointment, meaning I am finishing out part of the appointed year which begins July 1 and ends June 30.

I am appointed three-quarters time, which means I will be less than full time at Redondo Beach 1st.  I am doing this because I am also appointed to The House Church Network (www.umchousechurches.com) where I resource and train laity to be house church leaders. My time with Redondo Beach 1^st will be focused on administration, leadership, teaching and Sunday worship (I will be preaching all Sundays). We will have another pastor appointed one-quarter time to address pastoral care (hospital visits, crisis, etc.).

In the United Methodist Church pastors are appointed a year at a time, and our appointment year goes from July 1 to June 30.  As your interim, I will finish out this appointment year and you will receive your appointed pastor starting July 1, 2012. 

What plans do you have for the church?

I plan to listen, to love, to disciple, and to preach.  I plan to focus especially on prayer so that we might hear God as we discern the church’s strengths and its sense of vision for the future. 

I plan to publish my sermons series and what classes I will teach once I know more about where the church is currently and what would be most helpful.