Reverend Peggy Allen
Many of you know Rev. Peggy Allen already. She has been a part of our pastoral team on and off over the last year. Peggy has worked in parish ministry since 1988, including fourteen years in North Guilford and ten years in the Milton section of Litchfield. She has also taken interim calls or provided sabbatical coverage in Cheshire, Plantsville, Manchester, Naugatuck, Monroe and here in Glastonbury. Some of you may know Peggy already since she regularly provides some pastoral care coverage when our own settled clergy are away. Along with her commitment to local church ministry, Peggy also serves her Association and the Conference in various ways, including Committees on Church and Ministry. Peggy’s pastoral ministry has been a gift to the First Church community, and we are grateful that she continues to be part of our team!
Reverend Dr. Laurie Andersen
Rev. Dr. Laurie J. Andersen was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1996 and has experience in both parish ministry and palliative care chaplaincy. She received her M. Div. at Union Theological Seminary, NYC, followed by a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling at Hebrew Union College. Laurie is a Board Certified Chaplain currently serving part-time at Yale New Haven Hospital since her move a year ago from NYC. In New York she held a variety of positions, including most recently as a Palliative Care Chaplain at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. Laurie is drawn towards team ministry in a church, caring for a congregation at all stages of life, and in various roles as needed. Her story of discovering First Church is too long for this introduction – ask her about it! The United Church of Christ and the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) have enjoyed a Formula of Agreement, including clergy-sharing, since 1997, due to a “deeply shared theological and liturgical heritage.” We are looking forward to having Laurie join our First Church community during this season of our life.
Tim Hughes
Tim Hughes has been a member of UCC churches his whole life and has served them in various roles – youth minister, worship musician, choir member, gospel choir member, retreat leader, original biblical musical co-creator with church members and youth, videographer, technician, Deacon, search committee member – to name just a few! Tim has also been involved in UCC Outdoor Ministry (church camp) since the 1970s, including being the Executive Co-Director of our beloved Silver Lake with his wife, Anne, for 13 years, and most recently serving as the Executive Director at Horton Center, the UCC Outdoor Ministry site in New Hampshire. Tim loves working with people, playing guitar, cycling, hiking, watching movies and getting together with friends. Tim is looking forward to joining the First Church community, and we are excited to work with Tim!