Hope United Methodist Church

Reverend Michelle Grube has been in ministry for 30 years, having served churches in Maine and Massachusetts. Before that, she served various student appointments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She has a passion for teaching, preaching, and counseling. She enjoys visiting and although she does not have a passion for working with children and youth she has been told she is really good with them.

Michelle, as she prefers to be called, grew up in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology and Religion. She received her Masters of Divinity degree from the Theological School at Drew University. In 2007, she received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Maine. In the process of completing her Social Work degree, she became very active in domestic violence issues and issues pertaining to the equal rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals. Michelle believes that a Christian’s call is to end violence in whatever form it may take.

Michelle also believes that we are the hands and feet of Jesus. She believes that the Church must reach out beyond the four walls of its building. Michelle has travelled to the former Soviet Union, Africa, South Korea, and Israel. Each of those trips has been life-changing and transformed her outlook on the cultural values of our society. She has a vision to help people slow down in their busy lives so that they can hear the music of life and learn to find joy in every day.

While serving churches in Maine, Michelle served as an on-call chaplain to the mental health unit at the local hospital. She was chair of the District Committee on Ministry, a committee that works with those people just starting out in ministry and supervises local pastors. Michelle also served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, interviewing and working with those persons who are seeking ordination. Michelle now serves on the District Committee on Buildings and Locations, like district trustees. She is chairperson of the Conference Administrative Review Committee that deals with process matters when clergy have committed an offense. She is also a mentor to those starting out in ministry

For fun, Michelle likes to be a big kid at heart and simply enjoy all the pleasures in life that God has provided. She enjoys the theater and special musical events. And she loves to simply read a good mystery novel or theological treatise