SEPTEMBER DISCIPLE OF THE MONTH:
Rick Coble
How long have you been a member of Saint John’s? What brought you here? What is your church background?
I have been a member since the early 2000’s. I was a member at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in NYC and when we moved to Maplewood in July 2000, we looked for a church in the area and found Saint John’s. I grew up attending a United Church of Christ in North Carolina.
What is your favorite thing(s) about Saint John’s? What about Saint John’s inspires or excites you?
My favorite things are the sense of community and the music program. Music is an integral part of the worship experience and it is exciting to see and hear how the music program has evolved and flourished over the years.
Tell us something about your hobbies, work, family, pets, secret talent.
I retired from Ferrero, the Italian candy company, at the end of 2025 after working there for 22 years. Alana and I are “empty nesters” – daughter Julia lives and works in Philadelphia after graduating from Temple two years ago. My primary hobbies are exercise (walking, running, etc.), music (play acoustic and classical guitar) and cooking. The closest thing to a secret talent is a pretty good ability to find things that others have misplaced or lost around the house.
What ministries are you involved in?
I’m currently a member of the Luther Ringers which is a lot of fun.
What is your favorite Bible verse, hymn, or church season?
My favorite hymn is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Of course, Christmas and Easter are anticipated seasons with all the music and pageantry.