Rev. Meredith Lovell Keseley, Senior Pastor
I have the wonderful opportunity of serving as the Senior Pastor of Abiding Presence. I first felt called to be a pastor while in middle school, so I am lucky enough to have my dream job. I consider it a great privilege to be able to walk with people throughout their lives as they grow in faith and in their relationship with God. I especially enjoy preaching, teaching and counseling. Abiding Presence is an energetic congregation where no day is ever the same as the previous day, which keeps me learning and doing new things.
I grew up in the D.C. suburbs on the Maryland side, so Northern Virginia is not too far from home. I have degrees from Susquehanna University and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Before coming to Abiding Presence in February of 2010, I served as the Associate Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C.
Probably the only thing I love more than being a pastor is being a mom. My husband, Ben, and I have two daughters who are the light of our lives. I am grateful that my girls get to grow up being part of such a supportive faith family. My girls love playing on the church playground, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and children's choir. As a family, we enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants and all things D.C. Ben and I are novice wine collectors who like to explore Virginia's wine country.
I look forward to getting to know you whether you are new to the area in search of a church home or haven't ever really been to church and are just searching. If there are ways that I can help support you or if you have questions about God, faith or this congregation, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
Rev. Kelsey Kresse, Associate Pastor
pastorkresse@abidingpresence.net
Kelsey Kresse is the Associate Pastor at Abiding Presence focusing primarily on youth and college age ministries. She is a 2021 graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Pastor Kelsey is originally from Erie PA and has a BA in Art History from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a Young Adults in Global Mission Alumna, having served with the Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar from 2014-2015. After feeling called to ministry in Madagascar, she served with Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Maryland before going to seminary. In her ministry, she is passionate about building affirming and intentional faith spaces for children, youth, and young adults as they make decisions about what they want the world to look like. Kelsey is mom to Kayak, the cockapoo, and enjoys textile crafts, show tunes, and Downton Abbey.
Visit the Staff page to meet the rest of our team.