On July 1, 2021, St. Matthews By-The-Sea UMC welcomed it’s new pastor, Rev. Jake Macklin.  Rev Jake is a native of Sussex County.  He is a 2004 graduate of Sussex Central High School; he received his degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University in 2009, and earned a Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary in 2016. Jake is an Ordained Elder in the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He served Kenton UMC in Kenton, DE from 2013-2017 and Gethsemane UMC in Seaford, DE from 2017-2021. Some of his passions include intentional faith development and serving in the community while developing relationships with others.