Reverend Angela Utter has been appointed to serve as Pastor of Crossroads United Methodist Church of Waunakee by Bishop Hee Soo Jung.  Pastor Angie has most recently served as the Lead Pastor at the Darlington and Fayette United Methodist Churches.  She has also served the United Methodist Churches of Avoca, Blue River, Merrill: Christ, and Wildwood Chapel.

Pastor Angie has an enthusiasm for a ministry based on sharing God’s love, building relationships, and mission work. She believes in the Holy Spirit’s work and God blessing us as we serve God’s people. She welcomes all, and especially enjoys teaching children about Jesus.

Pastora Laura Feliciano-Esperanza has been appointed half time to Crossroads United Methodist Church to lead Punto de ConeXión, Crossroads’ Hispanic Ministries.  Pastor Laura comes to Crossroads with experience in church planting and leading Hispanic ministries.  Pastor Laura is very passionate about helping people discover a life in Christ and leading Hispanic ministries.  Pastor Laura is honored to be the next leader of our growing Hispanic ministries at Crossroads.

Pastora Laura was born in Chicago, grew up in Puerto Rico and has been in ministry with the United Methodist Church for about 20 years in various roles serving Hispanic communities, including the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship and Hispanic Church plants.  She moved from Puerto Rico to Nashville, TN in 2002.  She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Martin Methodist College and received her Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University.  She left Nashville to pursue an appointment in Grand Rapids, MI in 2018 and served in several congregation in Michigan until moving to Wisconsin in July 2024.

My name is Tressie Gade. I have been worshiping at Crossroads since the tender age of 8. Crossroads United Methodist Church has been part of my family since we joined shortly after moving to town. I was confirmed here, both my parents have held positions in the church, and I have many “church moms” who have looked after me during the years. As the granddaughter of a United Methodist pastor, church and God have always been a big part of my life.

I graduated from Waunakee High School in 2005 and went on to pursue a job as a photographer (which I was not cut out for) quickly followed by a career in childcare.  I gradually worked my way through different age groups until I got to the infant room and found a home there for 5 years.  I earned my Infant/Toddler Credential in 2016 from NWTC online.  In 2015 I married my high school sweetheart, Brian Gade, and we settled down in Waunakee where most of our family is.  We are close to our parents, his grandparents and his sister and her husband.  This closeness to family came in very handy in April 2017 when we welcomed our daughter into the world. She continues to constantly amaze us and is a great addition to the family.

Shortly after our daughter was born, I decided that I wanted to stay home more to focus on being a mother.  The job of PMA opened up at church and I felt called to apply.  Being the church secretary runs in my blood.  My mother successfully held this position for many years, and I consider it an honor to follow in her footsteps.  It allows me to serve my church and contribute to my family as well as spend time at home raising my little girl.

When I am not at church, I am home with my family. My husband and I enjoy spending time relaxing together and watching our daughter grow up. I also enjoy seeing friends and having fun with family.

Cindy Bacon Hammer is a retired NACCC pastor and former music and theatre teacher. She holds degrees from UW Whitewater, University of Illinois and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. As a music and theatre teacher, she taught grades K-12, as well as at three universities, and sang in many concerts, musicals, oratorios and operas. As a pastor, Cindy served churches in Elkader and Burlington, Iowa, as well as Beloit and Madison, Wisconsin. When not directing the music at Crossroads, Cindy loves to read, ride her horse Cloudy, knit, sew, garden and visit with family and friends.

Michael Wu is a first-year master’s student (M.M.) in collaborative piano at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying with Prof. Martha Fischer. A sought-after accompanist, Michael collaborates frequently with singers, instrumentalists, and chamber ensembles in the greater Madison area. He is the current pianist of the Perlman Piano Trio, a prestigious student ensemble in the Mead Witter School of Music and has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Outside of music, Michael enjoys long walks, traveling, reading, and pondering the meaning of life while stuck in traffic.