Rev. Keri Olsen Paget
Deacon Associate
Rev. Keri Olsen Paget grew up in the Inland Empire of Southern California, and made her way to the Los Angeles area to pursue ministry within a hospital context. Keri is an Ordained Deacon in the UMC. Her primary ministry appointment is at PIH Health Downey Hospital as a Clinical Pastoral Education Certified Educator. Monday through Friday she trains clergy and lay people in spiritual care skills and the profession of chaplaincy. Keri also functions as an interfaith chaplain to the patients, their visitors and the staff at PIH Health Downey Hospital. Keri’s ministry in the local church takes place within the community of First UMC Santa Monica. She assists with worship, occasionally preaching, and supports special ministry opportunities through teaching and spiritual reflection.
In her ministries, Keri seeks to deepen others’ awareness of themselves, their community, and the divine in ways that make them more dynamic, empathetic, and theologically rooted spiritual people and caregivers. Keri and her husband, Josh, have a daughter named Elizabeth. Keri enjoys riding bikes with her family, especially if they are exploring a new part of the city and /or finding interesting trees and flowers to photograph. To nourish her soul, Keri likes to create – whether that be through cooking, dancing, painting, or hatching up new spiritual/reflective practices with Josh.