The Rev. Dr. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza, Interim Minister
Rev. Brenda (whose last name is pronounced “Peltz-Fasha”) is in her 32nd year of ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. Trained and experienced as an intentional interim pastor, she has served twelve churches in Connecticut in an interim capacity, most recently the Spring Glen Church in Hamden, and also as the settled pastor for nine years at the First Church of Christ in Suffield, CT. The early years of her ministry also included three years of chaplaincy at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She has been active in UCC Association and Conference roles in Connecticut throughout her years of ministry.

Rev. Brenda received the A.B. degree (Religion & English) from Smith College, the M. Div. degree magna cum laude from Yale Divinity School, and the Doctor of Ministry degree, in preaching, from Chicago Theological Seminary.

Her family’s home is in Windsor, with a secondary residence in Washington, DC, where her husband, Jeff Faszcza, is a principal with Catalyst Partners, a business/government affairs consulting firm. They have two daughters, Tara, a 2008 graduate of the University of Connecticut, and Nina, class of 2012 at Smith College.

Reading, writing, decorating, the beach, and following certain sports teams are among Rev. Brenda’s favorite activities outside of her work.  

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, Church Administrator, 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.

Susan Springer, Church School Coordinator