Pastor & Staff

Welcome, and thank you for visiting our website!

My name is René Perez, and I’ve had the joy of serving as Pastor of John Wesley since July 2022. It’s been a wonderful journey so far. Before coming to John Wesley, I was blessed to serve congregations in Philadelphia and Valley Forge, PA; Lititz, PA; as well as Holden and Springfield, MA.

I’ve been married to Wanda, the love of my life, since 1991. Together, we have three amazing children—Kayla, Isaias, and Ezekiel—who bring us endless joy.

As you explore our website, I hope you get a glimpse of the warmth, energy, and love that define our church. John Wesley is a welcoming and diverse community of faith, committed to living as disciples of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to make a difference through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, and lives that reflect God's love.

Whether you’re looking for a place to belong, to find hope, or to worship, we would love to be that place for you. No matter your background or where you are on your faith journey, there’s a place for you here.

I look forward to meeting you in person soon.

With blessings,
Pastor René

Dr. Michael Francis Smith loves leading people of all ages in singing—especially helping communities lift their voices together in the great story of God. With a doctorate in worship studies, Michael is passionate about helping all people sing the whole story of God and grow in awareness of God’s presence by remembering the mighty acts of God throughout history.

He has written over 100 songs and hymns to support worship across the Christian year and illuminate the scriptures through music.

Michael is a music educator, author, composer, songwriter, and licensed minister, joyfully combining his love of music, teaching, and ministry in service to the church and community. He is also an avid gardener, creating outdoor spaces that invite reflection on the beauty and wonder of God in nature.

Hi! I’m Lyndsey.
I was born and raised in Barnstable, right here on the Cape, and I’m the youngest of four siblings. I’m a big Boston sports fan—especially the Red Sox and the Bruins! I graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2021 and have always loved being near the ocean.

Some of my favorite things include Disney movies, trips to Walt Disney World, listening to music (Taylor Swift is always on my playlist), and spending summer days at the beach. I’ve grown up around animals my whole life—while I’m definitely more of a cat person, I have a soft spot for dogs too.

I’m new to the Methodist Church, but I’ve felt so welcomed and truly love being part of this community. Though I was raised Catholic, some of my family are Methodist, so it feels like a meaningful connection. I’m excited to be here and to get to know everyone!

Elie Harmon, a graduate of Wheaton College and native Cape Codder, has held part time financial positions at several Cape businesses as well as charitable and tax-exempt organizations.

She is the financial administrator at Saint David’s Episcopal Church in South Yarmouth as well as being the new treasurer here at John Wesley.  Elie lives in Sandwich with her family: husband Jamie, sons Drew & Tyler, yellow lab Bronte.

She comes over to JWUMC each Wednesday to carry out responsibilities here.  Elie, who was raised by an Episcopal family in Pocasset, loves hiking, nature walks, gardening, musical theater and classical music, as well as reading or cooking in her spare time.  She is so very happy to be part of the JWUMC Christian community now.

Since 2011, John Loewen has been the dedicated Sexton of John Wesley UMC. Prior to John Wesley, John was the Sexton at the North Falmouth Congregational Church. Before serving the church, John was a Verizon Repairman for over 27 years. John has been happily married for over 42 years and and has two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.

John loves going on long walks, gardening and landscaping, going to the beach and cheering on his favorite sports teams: the Red Sox and Patriots!