Meet Our Summer Interns: Meredith Pugh and Olivia Golden
We thrilled to announce that we’ve got two interns working with us this summer! Meredith Pugh will work with Meg as our Women’s Ministry Intern, and Olivia Golden will serve with Jim and Jennifer as our Children’s Ministry Intern—both will begin their internships in June. In an effort to help you all get to know them a little better, we asked them each to answer a few questions about themselves. We hope you’ll take a minute to read through these—and make sure to say hello to Meredith and Olivia the next time you see them at worship!
Meredith Pugh: Women’s Ministry Intern
How did you end up in Richmond, and how long have you been at City Church? I moved to Richmond following my college graduation in the fall of 2016 and I’ve been a member of City Church since the summer of 2017.
What do you do, and what does a typical week look like for you? I am a graduate student at William and Mary and I am studying school psychology. A typical week for me usually includes attending class, studying with peers, working at the professional development center at William and Mary, and spending time with friends in Richmond when I can.
What is your favorite thing to do in the summer in Richmond? My favorite summer activity in Richmond is going to the Famer’s Market on Saturday mornings for a Mrs. Yoder’s doughnut.
Who/what have been some of the biggest influences in your life (in any respect–intellectually, spiritually, personality-wise, etc)? Some of the biggest influences in my life have been Brene Brown, Shauna Niequist, Jeff and Alyssa Bethke, and Greg Thompson.
Why were you interested in the summer internship? I was interested in the summer internship because I have more freedom in how I spend my time this summer and want to take advantage of this opportunity by spending more time involved in City Church. I specifically want to be more involved in Women’s Ministry at City Church and through this internship be challenged out of my comfort zone.
What are you most looking forward to during your time as a City Church intern? I am most looking forward to Summer Vespers, growing relationships with people I know and people I have not yet met, and learning more about relational ministry from the staff at City Church.
Olivia Golden: Children’s Ministry Intern
How did you end up in Richmond, and how long have you been at City Church? I came to Richmond in 2015 from Baltimore to go to VCU. I've been coming to City Church regularly for about a year now.
What do you do, and what does a typical week look like for you? I'm finishing up my final semester at VCU this month, so being a full-time student is all I've ever known! My typical week has involved taking a lot of Psychology classes, working at VCU's Global Education Office, interning at a Psychology lab focused on meditation and mindfulness, attending RUF, and making time to see friends.
What is your favorite thing to do in the summer in Richmond? A perfect summer day in Richmond would have to involve going to the river, but I also love going to Gelati Celesti and seeing a movie at The Byrd.
Who/what have been some of the biggest influences in your life (in any respect–intellectually, spiritually, personality-wise, etc)? I love this question, and I am overwhelmed with answers! The people who have shaped me most are my twin sister, Sophie, and our group of best friends from Baltimore. Some other influences in no particular order: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Harry Potter, Zora Neale Hurston, Coldplay, the state of Michigan, and traveling to Rwanda when I was 15.
Why were you interested in the summer internship? I was interested in the internship because I knew it would be a great way to get more invested in City Church and its people, and to be engaged in meaningful work this summer as I figure out what's next after college.
What are you most looking forward to about the internship? I am super excited to learn more about the needs in the Children's/Youth ministries and to work collaboratively with parents and staff at City Church. Mostly, I'm looking forward to getting to know people in the community and being of service to them.
Meredith and Olivia are in the process of raising support for their internships. If you’re interested in offering a financial contribution to their work at City Church, you can do so via check or through our online giving platform.