Countryside Church (CCUU) is a not for profit corporation owned and run democratically by its members. The congregation calls Minister(s), establishes an annual budget, and delegates much of the strategic responsibilities to a Board of Trustees and supporting committees. The Board hires staff and empowers committees to see to much of the operational work of the church through the Ministry Council.
Rev. Dr. Emma K. Farrell
Minister
The Rev. Dr. Emma Farrell, joined us on August 1, 2026.
Dr. Mary Lamb Shelden
Director of Religious Exploration
Dr. Mary Lamb Shelden (she/her) began as our part-time DRE June 1, 2026, having previously served here for four years (2019-2023). She is a lifelong, second-generation Unitarian Universalist; a credentialed religious educator (CRE-A, 2020); and a credentialed and commissioned spiritual director (Meadville Lombard, 2025). She has attended eight UU congregations over the course of her life: two as a young person, four as a lay leader, and two serving as a religious professional. She has taught college writing and the freshman seminar at Virginia Commonwealth University (2007-2017) and Aurora University (2023-2026), and has a longtime scholarly interest in the Transcendentalist circle. She and Margie, her beloved longtime partner, and their rescue pup, Penny, live across the road from Lake in the Hills Fen, a 400+-acre preserve of restored prairie. Mary’s website includes her blog and information about her private practice in spiritual direction.
Rev. Dr. C. Scot Giles
Community Minister
Dr. C. Scot Giles is our Community-Based Minister. Scot in his role gives sermons to the congregation a few times a year and is available for counseling ministry. In addition to being a Unitarian Universalist Community Minister, he is a Board Certified Chaplain and a Board Certified Hypnotist. He holds officer status with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the oldest and largest hypnosis organization in the world. Dr. Giles specializes in working with cancer patients and directs the first medically approved, hospital-based program in America for the hypnotic treatment of cancer. He has received numerous awards for his hypnotic work, including the highest award offered by the National Guild of Hypnotists, and has authored many articles and curricula on medical hypnotism.
Laurie Lantz
Congregational Administrator
Laurie joined the staff as half-time Office Manager in November 2002, and her position has evolved to full-time Congregational Administrator. In this role, her areas of responsibility include church office management (including oversight of the church calendar); financial administration and support; communications; property management and building usage; and administrative support for the ministers and staff, Board, and Ministry Council.
Alison Vernon
Director of Music
We were excited to have Alison Vernon join CCUU as our Director of Music in July 2015. Alison is a highly qualified director, who comes to us with a strong background and experience. Her past experience includes teaching kindergarten through college in schools and directing children, youth, adult, handbell, and recorder choirs in churches. She not only has experience and training in choral and instrumental conducting, but also has had careers as a singer/performer and teacher. She maintains a small private voice studio. Alison has been involved with many different denominations of churches and also for ten years, she served as a cantorial soloist in a local temple. She has experience with many different styles of music, from early music to jazz, pop, and show tunes. Alison particularly loves music that touches our spirit and believes that the highest form of music often combines words and music. Alison is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to make music with all of us.
Dr. Janice L. Razaq
Staff Pianist
Janice Larson Razaq returned as our staff pianist in July 2016. She had previously been our pianist from 1993-2002, moved to Texas, and then served as a frequent substitute pianist until the position was open again. Janice holds a DMA from Texas Tech University (William Westney), and other degrees from The Eastman School of Music (Cécile Genhart) and the University of Illinois (Stanley Fletcher). She has the Licentiate Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music (Hilda Dederich). She had additional study with Frank Mannheimer. During three years as a Fulbright scholar in London she performed at Wigmore Hall. She was an award winner in the Canals International Competition in Barcelona. Dr. Razaq is heard on WFMT and Minnesota Public Radio and plays concertos with area orchestras. She has done performances or presentations for the American Matthay Association for Piano at The Eastman School of Music, at Arizona State University, and in Tennessee at Union University. She presented a talk on Matthay Technique for the Canadian Federation of MTA in Nova Scotia and was also featured at the MTNA National Conference in 2020. Professional offices held include Past-President of ISMTA and Past ECD Director of MTNA. She is currently Director of Keyboard Studies at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, where she teaches applied piano and piano ensemble. In 2022, she was named “Teacher of the Year” by Illinois State Music Teachers Association.
Luis Diaz
Technology Coordinator
Luis joined the staff the end of September 2022 as our 1/4-time Tech Coordinator. He manages the technical side of our multi-platform worship services, staffing the audio-visual table and helping with live-streaming of the worship services.