Who we are

The First Church of Christ is very old and very young by its nature.

We have been in Woodbridge since 1738 -- the town was even named after one of our first pastors. Our congregation and the town have grown up together, and our meetinghouse is a part of the Woodbridge landscape. (It is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.)

But churches are living creatures, and ours is as young as our current world. We are a community of people, learning in faith, and growing in God’s love. We do many different things in life. Our common thread is the church that supports us in our moments of grief; challenges us in our times of growth; and celebrates with us our milestones and achievements.

We are covenantal members of the New Haven Association of the Connecticut Conference, and of the United Church of Christ.

Our Church Staff

Sara’s own words best express her commitment to ministry amongst us. "As pastor and teacher, I have been charged specifically with helping all members identify and develop their gifts for ministry – including gifts of leadership."

"Worship delights me – when all of God’s people gather together to give God praise. I especially appreciate how many people share their creative gifts in worship planning and leadership here at First Church, from the people in involved in music and the deacons’ preparations, to the children who come forward for the children’s message."

"I feel especially privileged to be invited to share important marker points on people’s faith journeys – their baptisms, confirmation, weddings or civil unions, times of illness, death and mourning or other life crises."

"My great joys include working with Boards, Fellowship Groups, and Study Groups to discern God’s purposes for us as individuals and as a church. As we talk together about matters of faith and study our foundational scripture, we nourish each other along on our spiritual journeys."

Sara Penn-Strah holds a AB in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a

M. Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Ph.D. in Religious Studies from University of Pittsburgh where she focused on ritual studies.

Before coming to First Church of Christ, Woodbridge (UCC), she taught worship at Harvard Divinity School, served as turn-around minister in a church in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and served as co-pastor for an open-and-affirming new church start in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to returning to graduate school, Sara worked as an elementary school teacher and in the children’s room of a public library.

Sara loves both vegetable gardening and working in the flowerbeds around the parsonage. She enjoys hikes and walks in the conservation land that adjoins the church campus. She loves music, likes to cook, swims laps regularly, and delights in her blended family. Her husband Mike is the South Central Regional Minister for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. Together they have four children: Mike’s son, David and his partner Barry, live in New York City and have two children, Zev and Summer. Mike’s daughter, Annie, and her spouse, Jonathan live in Olive Bridge, New York and have a daughter, Ruby. Sara’s son, Andrew, and his wife, Jessie, live in Somerville Massachusetts, and her younger son, Philip is in Washington D.C. Philip recently announced his engagement to Kathryn Neal.

Reverend Penn-Strah has been "thrilled to discover how gifted the people of this church are and how open they are to the world around them."

"Come and discover for yourself this bold and imaginative

part of the church of Jesus Christ."

 

 

Joellyn Jason, Director of Christian Education

Jo is pictured here with 6 of the 10 members of our 2008 Confirmation Class. The others were still making subs for their Super Bowl Sunday fundraiser, a great success all around. The confirmands have been learning about God’s love and are sharing that love through many missions this year.

Jo has much to do during her part-time hours. She researches curriculum and organizes Sunday school for K-8^th grade, runs Confirmation, the youth groups, coordinates the nursery program and assists with adult education as well.

Joellyn served the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, CT as teacher, coordinator and youth advisor for 26 years before receiving her ACE and coming to First Church. In addition to being an Associate in Christian Education, she is a Stephen Minister; The Stephen Ministry is a confidential, lay-caring ministry grounded in Jesus' command to love one another.

Jo lives in Cheshire with her husband, Bill and three sons, Mitchell, Spencer and Connor. She likes all creative endeavors, especially sewing and painting, and enjoys hiking and camping and animals, as well. She is very interested in labyrinths and helped establish the Lenten and Advent labyrinth that continues each year at Cheshire UCC.

Jo says, "As a Christian Educator, I can relate well to the needs of our teachers. It is important to listen to what they express to help the church school grow positively. This year we are using Rotation Model Classrooms. Since everyone learns in different ways, we have the children experience each Bible story in different styles over a three-week period; they experience the story through a craft/cooking class, through a storytelling/acting class, and through game activities. This has been exciting for teachers and students alike."

Dean, who has been playing the organ and piano at First Church since 1997, began directing the Senior Choir in 2006. Previously, he was organist and Choir Director of the United Church of Westville and a vocal music instructor in the town of Monroe.

He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and continued graduate studies in Music Education at the University of Bridgeport.

Dean is a Consumer Information database administrator at AT&T where he has worked for 30 years, but his first love is music. He says,

The bells have been ringing ever more beautifully since Faye joined our staff in 2004. Beside choosing repertoires, arranging music and conducting, Faye recruits our ringers, books engagements outside the church, catalogues and files new music, keeps accurate financial records and continually inspires the handbell choir to new heights.

Faye received her BA in piano performance from Shih-Chien University in Taiwan. She continued her studies in California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island before arriving in Woodbridge with her husband, Eaton, and three children, all equally talented. Faye has involved herself in church musical services all along her journey and has taught at Yamaha School of Music.

She enjoys gardening, tennis, reading, traveling, cooking and playing Mah Jonng. Faye says,

Hat’s off to Carole who is approaching her 25^th anniversary working for the church, the last ten years as full-time office manager. Carole tends to all administrative matters for the church and keeps the financial records. She is always ready to assist church members and friends when help is needed.

She has a B.S. in Business Education, worked as a teacher for 15 years and as a dental office Manager for 6 years prior to joining our church staff.

Carole demonstrates her commitment to us each day as she travels all the way from Higganum, CT where she lives with her husband, Richard. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Carole loves to travel and read, but most people do not know that she loves to tap dance!

Carole provides an important ministry to our church. She says,

Charles Crews, Sexton

Charles has been taking good care of our buildings since 1986. Besides the general cleaning and maintenance of the buildings and furnaces, he also assists the pastor at weddings and funerals.

Charles has never shied away from work. In fact, for 48 years of his adult life, he worked two jobs, one as a machine operator and the other as an apartment building superintendent. Early in his career, he worked at Pond Lily where our own Elsie Ford worked as a manager for many years. It was a great reunion when they discovered each other at First Church.

Charles has been married to his beloved wife, Mary, for 63 years. They have 3 children, 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Charles is admired and revered by all of us at First Church of Christ.

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Church Office: (203) 389-2119