Learn about our minister

Marlene Metz Hartzler, Music Director

Marlene Metz Hartzler began her career as Music Director at North Unitarian Universalist Congregation in 2003.  She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music degree in flute performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Marlene’s distinguished music training has also developed her impressive artistry on guitar and voice.  Notably, throughout Marlene’s career, she has taught private flute lessons as well as music and movement classes for young children.  Currently, she is well-known throughout the greater Columbus area as a performer of music for kids at venues that include recreation centers and community festivals.

Marlene’s deep passion and commitment to music inspire the NUUC Adult Choir every Sunday with their electric performances.  She strives to create a meaningful atmosphere for worship with outstanding and exciting music.

Marlene is also the mother to two beautiful children, Prescott and Rosemary.  She and her husband Bryan live in Galena and enjoy hobbies including pottery, organic gardening, telemark skiing, and cooking with tofu.

Jacquie Zarley Intern Minister and Interim Director of Religious Education

Effective April 1, 2022, Jacquie Zarley will be serving our congregation as both Intern Minister and Interim Director of Religious Education for a nine month period. Jacquie is a recent graduate of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, an aspirant for Unitarian Universalist ministry, and she has extensive experience in early childhood education. Her welcome letter is below.

Greetings beloved NUUC Congregation,

I am so excited to begin a 9-month internship with you. It is a dream come true for me to have the opportunity to fulfill this next step in my ministerial formation with the brilliant and highly respected Rev. Dr. Susan Ritchie. I am also blessed to begin this adventure in a strong, healthy, loving congregation that will grow and nurture me in amazing and wonderful ways. Honestly, there’s something truly miraculous about all of this for me. I don’t mean supernatural, manna falling from heaven or water turning to wine kind of miraculous but rather a flower growing through a concrete sidewalk, or a tree growing from a fallen branch kind of miraculous. Life just has a way of twisting and turning itself in order to find a way.
I happen to have a very strong Early Childhood Education background and have always loved working with children. My dream for my own future ministry is to create an integrated spiritual space for both children and adults. Low and behold, here I am, just when Jen is needing to step away from the RE position. NUUC finds itself not quite ready to hire another RE Director, but rather needing some time to dream and play and discover what we want for our future children’s exploration space. How is that not a miracle? Is it Divine intervention? Is it written in the stars? No, I don’t think so. I think it’s just the miracle of life twisting and turning to find the sun. Life just happens.

I have many big, audacious ideas. Some will work really well, some will flop spectacularly; either way I expect it will be messy. It will also be fun, creative, imaginative and above all else, a great, grand adventure. Thank you for allowing me this miraculous opportunity to learn and grow with you and come one step closer to the minister I am meant to be. I am eternally grateful to you all.

Respectfully and with warmest regards,
Jacquie Zarley       jacquie@nuuc.org