Rev. Dr. Jack Cabaness, Pastor
Pastor Jack is excited to serve Covenant Presbyterian Church as a co-pastor with the Rev. Dr. Margaret Boles. Upon her retirement in October, he will become Covenant’s solo pastor. He is looking forward to getting to know all of Covenant’s members, “common law members,” and friends in the coming year.
Pastor Jack strives to craft sermons that resonate with both head and heart, and he works with the congregational leadership to facilitate opportunities for serving, learning, and fellowshipping together.
Jack has a B.A. in History from Dartmouth College; a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from McCormick Theological Seminary.
He enjoys reading, hiking, and daily honing his skills at Wordle. He and his wife Emma have two children, ages 7 and 8, and one corgi, age 8. You might find all five of them on the hiking trails!
Donald E. Dillard, Director of Music
DONALD E. DILLARD was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received his early music training at the Settlement Music School with concert pianist, Charles Engel.
He was awarded a full scholarship to West Chester University, West Chester, PA, where he was a piano and voice major. His graduate studies were done at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, NJ
where he served as teaching assistant in the Theory Department.
Mr. Dillard is an active composer of over 150 works for orchestra, chorus, instruments, piano, organ and voice, including three fully scored cantatas and two oratorios for soloists, chorus and orchestra, as well as concertos for violin and orchestra, cello and orchestra, and organ and orchestra, three song cycles for solo voice and orchestra,
three symphonic poems, and other orchestral works.
His music has been performed throughout the United States, South America, Japan,
and in Europe. His piano solo works have been performed internationally by the late concert pianist Richard Fields. Orchestral works have been performed by the Detroit Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Delaware County Symphony and the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia.
Sandy Gifford, Office Manager
Sandy was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.
She started her professional career as a high school English teacher but soon became an office manager at a county court house in Missouri, continuing later as an administrative manager for law firms in Washington, D.C., and most recently in San Francisco and Mountain View. Her favorite activities are yoga, reading, walking, and enjoying music and live theater. She and her husband,
John, live in the old Wagon Wheel neighborhood of Mountain View.