
First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak
529 Hendrie Blvd., Royal Oak MI 48067 • 248-541-0108 • fpcro@fpcro.org
Pastoral Staff

Rev. Emma Nickel, Pastor / Head of Staff
Emma was born and raised a Presbyterian in southwest Virginia. She graduated from the College of Wooster and received her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She has served as pastor of churches in Warren, Michigan, Greensburg, Kentucky, and Louisville, Kentucky. Emma and her husband, Matt, are both ordained Presbyterian ministers, which makes their two young daughters double “PK’s,” or Pastors’ Kids.

NAME
Rev. Neeta Nichols, Parish Associate
Neeta has lived in Detroit Presbytery since 1993 serving nine different congregations as Interim Pastor, and also served briefly as the Presbytery’s Acting Head of Staff. She holds an undergraduate degree in Religion and Philosophy from The Defiance College in Ohio and a Masters of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in 1973 to serve First Presbyterian Church, Adrian, Michigan. For over 35 years, her ministry has been in transitional (interim) settings where she has developed skills in quickly assessing a situation, helping the congregation understand its situation, and offering appropriate options for resolution. Neeta actively serves our Presbytery including six terms on the Committee on Ministry, in addition to many other roles. On January 1, 2020, Neeta retired from parish ministry. In her newly found free time, she is a Volunteer at the Detroit Zoo, and enjoys travel having visited Egypt, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus in recent years. Music plays a part in her free time, as does the challenge of Sudoku. A diehard coffee fan, Neeta enjoys a daily latte from Starbucks and spending time with family.
Christian Education Staff

Joelle Jarrait / Director of Christian Education

Beth Heitchue, Preschool Teacher

Sarah Gibson, Preschool Director /Teacher

Jessica Gibbs, S.T.A.G.E. Youth
Ministry Director
Music Ministry Staff

Joseph Jackson / Director of Music Ministries and Organist


Audrey Frieberg / Sunburst Singers Director
Choir Soloists

Brady DelVecchio / Tenor

Olivia Donnel / Soprano

Audrey Frieberg / Soprano

Bryan Clinthorne / Baritone
Administrative Staff

Todd Crawford / Evening Reception & Security

Alan Glasel / Facility Manager

Kari Peruski / Church Administrator
%3B%20CHARLIE%20(NP.jpg)
Sally Gilreath / Administrative Assistant

Ginny O’Brien / Wedding Coordinator

Julia Carrol / Nursery Care Worker