Janita Krayniak

Hello, neighbors! My name is Janita Krayniak. I am originally from Perry, Georgia, but have lived all over the world, including Germany, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia (Washington, D.C. area), Kansas, Colorado Springs and Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, and now I am adding Wyoming to my list!   

I received my undergraduate degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, (a loooong time ago, now) with a bachelor of sacred music with a major in voice and a minor in organ. I graduated from Iliff School of Theology with a master of divinity and that was followed by Local Pastor Licensing School for the Mountain Sky Conference for the United Methodist Church, which is a long way of saying that I am currently serving the Powell and Lovell communities as a local licensed pastor.

On a personal note, I rarely have time for hobbies, but when I do make the time, I enjoy reading, being outdoors in nature, singing and most of all, spending time with my family.   

Andrew Krayniak is my husband and we have a blended family of five children: Caleb, who lives in Colorado Springs and just graduated from Pikes Peak Community College; Sydney, who just graduated high school from Fountain Fort Carson High School and is remaining in Colorado for college; Spencer, who completed high school and is currently working in Colorado Springs while waiting to attend WyoTech in the spring of 2021; and Rachel, a freshman in high school, and Aaron, who is beginning his seventh grade year, both live here in Powell. Our fur babies include a rescued dog named Loki, two rescued cats named AJ and Mazzy and two very energetic puppies named Kenai and Koda round out our menagerie!

I have had many jobs throughout my life, but the one which changed my life forever was being the director of children’s ministries for First United Methodist in Colorado Springs. That is where I answered the call into full-time ministry and what eventually led me here to the “banana belt” area of Wyoming. 

I have been very blessed to be able to meet many of you despite these COVID times, and I look forward to getting to know more of you as time marches onward. My servant’s heart is deeply committed to kingdom building and also to building community. It is my prayer that together, we can reach out into our beloved community and share the light and the love of Christ with all our neighbors.

The doors of the United Methodist Church are opening wider and wider each day, as we strive to live into the commandment from Christ to love our neighbor. Even during COVID, when our buildings were physically closed, we have continued to try to live into our United Methodist motto: “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.”   

Church has never been about the building, rather it has always been about the people who choose to follow in the example of Christ, and that happens every time we choose love. Regardless of where the worship services happen, you, our neighbor, are invited to open your hearts, minds and doors as together we choose love. 

Currently, our Powell worship services are held outside in God’s cathedral (the bandshell of Washington Park) on Sundays at 11 a.m. (bring a lawn chair to snag a shady spot) and if you are in the Lovell area, worship is at 9 a.m. in the Lovell sanctuary, with COVID precautionary measures in place (be sure to bring a mask). Plans are in place to hopefully relaunch services in the Powell sanctuary on Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.

If you are in the area, please do drop by to say hello or consider joining us for worship! So hello, neighbors, so good to meet you ALL!    

(Janita Krayniak is the pastor of First United Methodist Churches in Powell and Lovell.)