The Staff of First Church
The Reverend Emilia Halstead, Pastor
Pastor Emilia is delighted to be serving as the 14th settled senior minister of First Congregational Church! Having grown-up a preacher's kid, she is no stranger to the rich traditions of the historic church. However, being a self professed Millennial she is also acutely aware of the winds of change that the Holy Spirit is bringing to the wider church. In addition to her passion for creating and leading worship, pastoral visitations, and networking with the wider church, Pastor Emilia is adamant about the need for all churches to be connected to social media in some form. Emilia is an avid reader and movie-goer as well as a lover of music. She grew up in Chicago via Cleveland and Philadelphia, graduated from Arcadia University in 2004 and Andover Newton Theological School in 2010.
Pastor Emilia is delighted to be serving as the 14th settled senior minister of First Congregational Church! Having grown-up a preacher's kid, she is no stranger to the rich traditions of the historic church. However, being a self professed Millennial she is also acutely aware of the winds of change that the Holy Spirit is bringing to the wider church. In addition to her passion for creating and leading worship, pastoral visitations, and networking with the wider church, Pastor Emilia is adamant about the need for all churches to be connected to social media in some form. Emilia is an avid reader and movie-goer as well as a lover of music. She grew up in Chicago via Cleveland and Philadelphia, graduated from Arcadia University in 2004 and Andover Newton Theological School in 2010.
Kathy Akerman, Church Administrator
Kathy is the Church Administrator for The First Congregational Church and she enjoys doing office work and taking care of business. She is enthusiastic and has a natural zest for life, people, and animals. She enjoys quilting, crocheting, and many other crafts. She retired from Blue Cross after 28 years of service where she worked in the computer room and did other various office procedures. Family is very important to her and she loves her family and grandchildren. She loves working at First Church. She invites folks to stop by and say “Hello”!
Kathy is the Church Administrator for The First Congregational Church and she enjoys doing office work and taking care of business. She is enthusiastic and has a natural zest for life, people, and animals. She enjoys quilting, crocheting, and many other crafts. She retired from Blue Cross after 28 years of service where she worked in the computer room and did other various office procedures. Family is very important to her and she loves her family and grandchildren. She loves working at First Church. She invites folks to stop by and say “Hello”!
Brandie Lyons, Financial Secretary
Brandie became a member of First Congregational Church, Concord, and was also baptized, on Easter Sunday, 2016. She has two Associates Degrees--one in Social Work and one in Liberal Studies focusing in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Brandie has a very close family with one sister, three nieces and one great-niece. She enjoys spending her free time with them, reading, and doing crafts.
Brandie became a member of First Congregational Church, Concord, and was also baptized, on Easter Sunday, 2016. She has two Associates Degrees--one in Social Work and one in Liberal Studies focusing in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Brandie has a very close family with one sister, three nieces and one great-niece. She enjoys spending her free time with them, reading, and doing crafts.
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Jock Irvine, Technology Integrator
Jock grew up in Concord and his parents were longtime members of South Congregational Church, UCC. His father, Frank, was a UCC minister and pastoral counselor in the Concord area for many years.
Jock studied music in college and went on to spend four years as a member of the United States Air Force Band. After completing his military service, he served as a teacher and director of information technology for a local school district. He designed and implemented numerous technology initiatives for the district, from the very first uses of the Internet & email for staff members, to helping teachers integrate technology in their teaching, to teaching 3-D modeling and printing to his students. After more than twenty years in this role, he retired from teaching and spent the next several years working as a contractor for the U.S. Social Security Administration. Jock continues to work as a musician, as he has done continuously since the age of fifteen. He lives in Concord with his wife, Dee, and their two children, Frank and Jillian. He also has two grown sons, Sam and Walt. |