Pastor

Pastor Erik came to the Westhope community in 2006 bringing a fresh vision of a contemplative, healing way of being community together. Over the years the congregation has steadily and organically grown and deepened. The community has become an intentionally contemplative, inclusive, and spiritually vibrant ministry that is a place of calm and communion in the heart of the ultra fast-paced Silicon Valley.

Rev. Swanson has become a sought-after teacher, spiritual director, speaker, and retreat leader. He graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity and a concentration in Spiritual Formation. He earned his degree in the art of Spiritual Direction from the Spiritual Life Center in Bloomfield, CT. He also spent a year studying sacred community in the ecumenical Taizé monastery in Taizé, France.

Erik loves fly-fishing, gardening, woodworking, spending time with his family, and most activities that are out in nature.

Office Administrator

Tjitske was born and raised in The Netherlands and came with her spouse to the Bay Area for their job in 2017. She has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Health Sciences and worked in several health related project management jobs in the Netherlands. Since being in the US Tjitske has found different spiritual communities to be a part of professionally and personally. She worked at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church as the Associate Director and temporary Director of Youth Ministry, she is a newly trained Interfaith Spiritual Director and works as the administrator for the Contemplative Center of Silicon Valley.

Tjitske is a program manager and organizer at heart, and loves organizing and attending retreats. She has a four year old that loves making music, seeing giraffes and zebra's, reading books and biking. Most of Tjitske's spare time goes to spirituality, her family, drinking tea, reading, and streaming TV. 

Please feel free to step into the office on Tuesday and Thursdays between 11 and 3pm to drink a cup of tea with her.

Director of Music Ministries

Raiña earned her MM in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. When she’s not busy being a mother to her sons VJ and Joshie, and wife to her husband Jo, she’s either singing or working in engineering. Raiña shares her gifts with the Westhope community in so many ways. In addition to being the music director, Raiña leads the congregation in song on Sundays and serves as an Elder on the worship committee and the leadership team at Westhope.

Worship Accompanist

Martan has a Master’s Degree in Music from San Jose State University and is a long-time jazz player and piano teacher in the Bay Area and Hawaii. He has been pianist for Westhope for almost 7 years (and enjoys every minute).

Martan has authored three books on jazz improvisation and currently produces an online course in jazz piano, JazzSkills for Piano.

President of the Corporation, Steward

Gary and his wife, Janet, have attended Westhope since 2014. He is the chair of the stewardship committee, which oversees the facilities and grounds and manages the church’s finances. He is a California native and a (mostly) retired physician with two adult children and two grandchildren. Gary attends Westhope because it’s working hard at being a place of radical inclusiveness and welcoming, where people can ask the questions their Sunday School teachers told them not to ask when they were growing up. During his time here, he’s experienced spiritual growth and seen others transformed as well. In his spare time, he plays the piano, swims in a Masters program, and enjoys time with family.

Treasurer, Steward

Gary moved from New Jersey to California in 2001 to marry his wife, Susan Brooksbank and become a step-dad to their son Willie. He enjoys a loving family with two brothers, a sister, and a mom who is still going at the age of 94.

He has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business and has worked in the aerospace and medical device industries. He now works in the family Fiduciary business with Susan and Willie. He is also a news junkie, history buff, and avid reader. He loves being outdoors and working on his long list of home (and church) improvement projects.

Gary serves the Westhope community as the Treasurer and member of the Board of Trustees and Session.

Clerk of Session

Born in Arkansas, fortunately my family moved many places. From Kansas, I went to Long Island University on scholarship. Married, I finished the BA in Art at SJSU, and parented two daughters. 

For a third of a century, I taught in private schools then public: all grade levels, and retired from the Mt. Pleasant District. During that span, I got my M.A. in Ed. and I also co-directed the SJSU Writing Project.

Retirement began with intensive caregiving for my mother in my home. Retirement now is projects, being an active elder and clerk of Session at Westhope, growing in faith, exploring spirituality through art, and a bit of travel. 

Head of Personnel

Colleen is a certified personal and professional development coach specializing in leadership, career and personal development.

Colleen’s has extensive professional expertise in performance management, organizational development, change management, emotional intelligence, and team dynamics.

Colleen lives in Saratoga and has three children and two grandchildren. She joined Westhope after her parents, Don and Kay Winner, joined the church when they moved to California from Michigan.

Colleen is head of personnel and serves on Stewardship, as well as Session. She enjoys reading as a member of the Anti-Racist book club and the Page Turners book club.