John C. Hall has been the Minister at First Church since 1990. John grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton College in 1970 and his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1979. Before coming to First Church, he served as the Senior Minister of Zion United Church of Christ in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and Associate Minister of the Federated Church of Hyannis, Massachusetts. John is the primary initiator of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, an exciting non-profit environmental organization established in 2004. He also initiated the annual ceremonies to recognize the psychiatric patients buried in numbered graves between 1878 and 1957 on the grounds of Connecticut Valley Hospital. 

The Rev. Susan Latourette grew up in Old Lyme, received her bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut in Wildlife and Forestry Management, and completed her seminary education at Andover Newton Theological School in 1997. Prior to coming to First Church, Sue was the Associate Pastor for the Congregational Church of Brookfield. Whenever possible, she has been involved in local and global Habitat for Humanity projects, recently serving on the Housatonic Habitat Board of Directors in Danbury. In her down-time, she enjoys rowing, playing guitar, walking & hiking, and her 2 cats (Amos and Jake)

Shari Lucas is the Minister of Music at First Church. She directs the Senior Choir, Heart in Hand Bell Choir, Charlie’s Angels Bell Choir, and the Celebration Singers. Ms. Lucas received her Bachelor of Music at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, and her Master of Music Degree at the Yale University School of Music. Her major teachers have included Edward Nawyn, Walter Schroeder, Warren Berryman, Doris Ornstein, Dr. Robert Baker, and Bruce Simonds. Shari has been organist and choir director at the Spring Glen Church in Hamden, CT, the North Haven Congregational Church, and the First Congregational Church in Madison, CT. In addition to her church work, Ms. Lucas enjoys playing accompaniments to early silent movies. She is very active in the New Haven Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and is one of the founding members of "Musical Dreams for Human Harmonies", a foundation designed to raise money through musical events to help people in need.

Lorel Czajka, our Office Manager, manages our database, printing operations, building rentals, and many other duties with skill, calm, and a smile. Lorel is a member of First Church, having grown up in our congregation, and she joined the church staff in November, 2006.

Becky A. Truszkowski is the staff leader of the Initiation to Adulthood Program. She grew up in Middletown, graduated from Middletown High School in 1994, and went on to receive an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies from Berkeley College in White Plains, New York; and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Central Connecticut State University. Becky became a member of First Church in 2001. She has served on the Christian Outreach Committee and on the Board of Deacons. Becky married Thomas Truszkowski at a ceremony held at First Church in August, 2003. In October, 2004, Becky and Tom had a beautiful baby girl, whom they named Samantha Lynn.

The mission of First Church is to engage and support people in worship, learning, fellowship, and service, so that all may find in our community the Spirit of the living Christ.  We are an Open and Affirming Church: All are welcome into the full life of our community regardless of their race, age, gender, nationality, marital status, economic situation, mental or physical ability, or sexual orientation.