The Congregational Church of Greens Farms

Pastoral Care Team

Green's Farms Church is a faith community with a Warm Heart. We comfort, counsel and minister to people's spiritual needs. Our new Pastoral Care Team goes beyond traditional reactive crisis management into a ministry that provides a proactive presence on an ongoing basis, in ordinary times as well as those of great joy or challenge. The Team of four professionals (Amy Forté, Dr. Diana Mrotek, Rev. Jeffrey Rider and Rev. John Twiname) works in conjunction with the lay Deacons, and ministers to our entire congregation.

Church Departments - click a link to learn more.

Church Council
Trustees
Personnel Committee
Search Committee Worship & Music
Fellowship
Deacons Education
Outreach
Stewardship
Membership/Community

Green's Farms Church is organized into a Council responsible for various Departments and Committees. A complete list of the Departments/Committees and their members are included here with the missions and ministries of the people who make up these Departments:

Church Council

The Council is composed of the Senior Minister, Associate Minister, Minister of Music, Director of Christian Education, officers of the church, all Department chair people, and members-at-large. The Council functions to oversee the operations of the church, including its varied ministries. The Church Council is responsible to the Congregation, acting for it between congregational meetings, developing long-range objectives, setting policy, and recommending courses of action to the congregation as well as a budget. The Church Council meets eight times a year.

Church Council (Governing Body): Officers, Ministers, Department Chairs, and Members at large: Sandy Atwood, Gary Domenico, Laura Kotter, Carol McKay and Sam Nevin

Trustees

The Trustees are a group of a dozen lay leaders that work closely with the Treasurer. They are responsible for the financial and property affairs of the church. The Trustees develop and manage the church's annual operating budget; approve all maintenance and improvements of the church and its two parsonages; and oversee the investment of the church's funds. Trustees are elected for two-year terms.

Trustees: Mark Kammert, Chair; Lee Backus, Thad Eidman, Maxine Mauricio, Kaye May, Jim Muschett, John Pincavage, Scott Porter, Alan Redmer and Susan Schmidt

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee serves as a communications link between the congregation and the church staff. The committee helps to develop position descriptions and compensation guidelines, serves as mentors to staff, and provides information and support to the search committee on an as-needed basis. This committee is also responsible for the Senior Minister's performance evaluation and for ensuring that annual performance evaluations are completed on all staff.

Personnel: Laura Kottler Chair

Worship& Music

The Worship & Music Department helps provide meaningful services for all ages to worship and serve God in a prayerful, joyful and spiritual manner.

The Department manages various parts of the service requiring volunteers: ushers, liturgists, communion preparers and servers, flower presentation. This department works with our two ordained ministers and our Minister of Music to plan meaningful worship services and encourage the participation of all church members.

For more information on this Department or to volunteer, please contact Marge Allen at 259-6645 or Maureen Barre at 256-8499

Worship & Music Department: Marge Allen & Maureen Barre, Co-Chairs; Walter Eads, Kathryn Gau, Pam Gau, Judy Hlawitschka, Karen Jordan, Marti Kimberly and Allen Raymond

Fellowship

The hospitality ministry of the Fellowship Department provides opportunities for people in the congregation to get to know each other through events such as the social hour after services each Sunday, the Advent Dinner, Homecoming Sunday in the fall, and the All-Church Picnic in the spring. The Fellowship Department is an excellent way for new members to serve the congregation and meet other members.

Fellowship Department: Susie Daut & Sally Judd, Co- Chairs; Margaret Allen, Stacey Berman, Suellyn Durkin, Bobbi Hennelly; Nancy Jackson, Jaclyn Lindsey-Noble, Gareth Lindsey-Noble and Lena Roopnarine

Deacons

The Deacons provide care-giving ministry to those in special need. They visit shut-ins, those who are ill, lonely, or bereaved, take the flowers from our weekly service to people who need a lift, provide memorial service receptions, organize Christmas caroling, and maintain an ongoing Prayer Chain -- among other duties. The Deacons serve with caring and humility as they recognize the needs we each have for help.

Deacons: Kaye May & Carolyn Raymond, Co-Chairs; David Feliciano, Lorraine Feliciano, Cindy McDonald, Renie McCutchen, Katie Pulvino and Lynn Sellon

Education

The Education Department is responsible for providing a comprehensive Christian education program for all ages from infancy through adulthood at Green's Farms Congregational Church. These programs include Sunday School, Confirmation Group, Youth Fellowship and Adult Education.

The role of the Education Department is to oversee these programs, select and/or approve curriculum and to train and recruit staff, teachers and youth advisors. The opportunity for adults to continue their spiritual growth is also provided by this department in the form of educational programs, which may include Biblical material, discussion of social issues, moral questions and matters of global awareness. With hectic schedules in mind, many of these programs are planned around Sunday worship services and are called "expanded hours". These programs offer a variety of subjects to explore including Music. The Church Library in our newly renovated parlor is maintained by the Education Department as well.

This department is keenly aware of the many different stages of life our members represent and strives to continue to offer programs that meet the Christian education needs of each. A new family ministries program fosters intergenerational fellowship and community building with events such as Harvest Home in October, Advent Celebration in December and an Ice Cream Social in June.

Working with the extremely dedicated and creative staff with established programs in place, becoming a member of this department, a youth advisor, a Sunday School teacher or a department volunteer could be a wonderful way to share your time and talent.

Education Department: Diane Hillhouse, Chair; Karen Atkins, Steven Bean, Carlos Garcia, Wendy Muschett, Maura Mula, Chip Register, Cathy Rotondo, Bill Rubidge, Valerie Smith-Malin and Jan Topercer-Messier

Outreach

The Outreach Department is charged with overseeing the disbursement of funds to non-profit agencies and organizations deserving of support. This group evaluates the organizations and determines the level of monetary support that we can give annually. A significant portion of their budget goes to Our Church's Wider Mission, the outreach arm of the UCC. Additionally, the Outreach Department provides hands-on volunteer opportunities, such as the monthly collections of food and clothing for local agencies, cooking dinner twice a month at the Gillespie Center, and semi-annual work with Habitat for Humanity.

If you have any interest in learning more about the Outreach efforts of Green's Farms Church, please visit the Outreach/Mission web page on this site.

Outreach: Vince D'Agostino & Mary Towers, Co-Chairs; Jack Aldrich, Ted Aldrich, Grace Chiang, Roy Dickinson, Claire England, Ben Gerig, Cindy Hamm, Bill McCutchen and Peter Standhart

Stewardship

The Stewardship Department is charged with conducting the annual pledge campaign among the congregation, and with staffing the other departments and selecting officers of the church. For the past three years, our church has conducted a "Leap of Faith" campaign, asking people to give as they are moved to give. This campaign culminates in Consecration Sunday, when the congregation hands in their pledge cards and their gifts are blessed. Then, in combination with the Fellowship Department, the Stewardship Department celebrates by serving a brunch to the entire congregation.

Stewardship Department: Brad Cosgrove & Kristin Wait, '08 Campaign Chairs; Bob & Karen Atkins, '09 Campaign Chairs; Alex Anvari and Natasha Bowens

Membership & Community

The Membership and Community department conducts programs for the purpose of inviting, welcoming and integrating all members-new and current-in the life of the Church. While much of our activity centers around the potential new members, we also focus on assisting current members in finding their comfortable level of participation in existing and potential activities within our faith community.

Our department arranges for greeters at every 10:30 worship service during the year. We also sponsor three prospective new member information series (Sept./Oct., Jan./Feb., April/May) to provide potential new members an opportunity to explore the meaning of membership at the Church and to learn about opportunities to be involved within the Church community. We identify sponsors for new members as they are received into membership and oversee a sponsorship program. In addition, our department works to address the inactive membership of the Church.

The Membership and Community Department also provides a conduit and support for Adult fellowship organizations such as the GFC Seniors and the Singles Group and existing or emerging small group ministries. For more information, please contact Diane Parrish & Amy Randich, Co-Chairs

Membership and Community Department: Diane Parrish & Amy Randich, Co-Chairs, Martha Eidman, Andy Hilton, Jonathan Mathias, Ellen McNees and Maggie Parkhurst

Staff Biographies

The Rev. Jeffrey P. Rider -- Senior Minister

Jeff came to Green's Farms Church from The Community Church in Vero Beach, Florida, where he was the Acting Senior Minister. The Community Church is the second largest church in the entire United Church of Christ denomination. He was originally called there in 1999 as an associate minister focusing on family life ministry. He assumed the acting senior minister responsibility for this 2200 member church last year following the untimely death of the previous senior minister. In his short time in that senior leadership, Jeff has helped grow their congregation by 150 members.

Prior to Vero Beach, Jeff was the senior minister for seven years at First Grace Church, a 750 member UCC church in Akron, Ohio. In his first Call, he was the Associate Minister at The Congregational Church of New Canaan, CT from 1988 to 1993.

Jeff was raised in Stamford, CT. His undergraduate degree is from the College of Wooster in Ohio. He holds a Masters of Divinity degree from the Yale Divinity School. He is beginning part time doctoral studies at the Hartford Seminary. His wife, Lynn, is from the Boston area and also attended the Yale Divinity School. She has a Masters in Social Work. They have three children, Abby (11), Cal (10) and Jack (6).

The Rev. John D. Twiname -- Pastoral Associate

Before assuming the position of Acting Senior Minister in January, 2001, John had been Pastoral Associate at Green’s Farms for five years, while working with his wife, Carolyn, in developing a unique, health-related, multifaith, pastoral care and education center (The HealthCare Chaplaincy, Inc.) in the New York Metropolitan area.

John was ordained to the ministry in 1983 after serving in executive positions in private industry, the federal government and in the voluntary sector. After graduating as a Baker Scholar at the Harvard Business School in 1957, he worked for 12 years with American Hospital Supply Corporation, becoming Vice President of Marketing.

In 1969, he was appointed to head the federal government’s welfare and social service programs, and later the restructuring of hospital reimbursement methodology. From 1974-78 he was president of a human services consulting firm before being recruited to New York City to manage the American Health Foundation, a research and education center for preventive medicine.

John enrolled in Union Theological Seminary in 1981 and, after graduation, joined with his wife in developing The HealthCare Chaplaincy, now the nation’s largest clinical training center for pastoral care, and using over 40 major healthcare sites as a campus for training clergy, seminary students and gifted lay people in the art and skill of providing spiritual support. John and Carolyn continue as active Life Trustees of The Chaplaincy.

Eileen Hunt, Ph.D. -- Minister of Music

Eileen Hunt has been Minister of Music since 1986, directing three vocal choirs (including children and youth) and one handbell choir. She alternates in playing the organ, the piano and the harpsichord for worship services, and engages and directs other musicians for special services and concerts during the year. She gives particular attention to young musicians in the church and encourages them to participate as contributors to worship services.

Eileen maintains an active career as a performer and teacher in addition to her music ministry at the church. She is especially noted as a performer of new music, and has premiered organ works of composers Ned Rorem, James Woodman, John Crotty and Richard Konzen. Her performances have included recitals for the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society, and she has been a guest recitalist at churches and concert halls throughout the United Stated and in Europe.

Dr. Hunt holds degrees in organ and musicology from Boston University, and she has studied in Paris with Andre Isoir and Jean Langlais. A native of Massachusetts, Eileen enjoys walking, reading and cheering for the Boston Red Sox when she is not pursuing musical activities.

Diana Mrotek, Ph.D. - Pastoral Care Team
Diana ministers to those who are in need of spiritual care. Her interests in prayer and spirituality, combined with her background in adult education and counseling, make her a natural leader for the Women's Ministry and as staff liaison for Prayer Ministry.

Diana has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Northwestern University and has completed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Bridgeport Hospital. She is currently enrolled at Hartford Seminary where she is studying to become certified as a chaplain. She and her husband, David, have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Amy Forté, M.Div. - Youth Ministry Team and Pastoral Care Team

Amy has been an active member of Green's Farms Church since 1995, working with youth and serving as a member of the Deacons. Amy began her professional career as a special education teacher. She took time to be home with her daughters, Eliza and Anna, while they were young and then decided to return to school to obtain a nursing degree and a masters degree in Counseling Psychology. She has worked at Yale New Haven Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse and also here in Westport as a school nurse. Amy lives in Westport with her husband, Dwight Meyer, and her two daughters.

Robin (Bob) Custer Sr. - Sexton

Bob Custer joined the Green’s Farms staff in 1987 and been an integral part of the growth of the church and the improvement of its facilities ever since. His contribution has particularly significant in the recently completed project to expand and renovate the church building over the past seven years.

Bob attended J. M. Technical School, graduating with a degree in Drafting. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Army, seeing combat duty in Vietnam. Obtaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5). he served as staff for the Training Battalion Commander at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington.

Upon leaving the service in 1969, Bob went into the building trade, doing remodeling and maintenance work throughout Fairfield and Westchester County in a family-owned business.

Bob has been active in youth sports, local clubs, organizations and veterans’ groups. He is currently active as a band parent with his son’s high school. When time allows, both can be found fishing a trout stream, frozen lake or Long Island Sound.

JoAnne LaBella -- Office Manager

JoAnne joined the church staff in the spring of 2001 and has quickly become a key figure in making the church run smoothly. She produces the church’s documents and publications, including the Steeple newsletter and various reports. She is responsible for the church’s computer network, including maintenance of the membership records and the scheduling of events and meetings. Most importantly, she facilitates communication among the community, the church staff and lay leaders.

JoAnne is a graduate of Rider University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration, accounting minor. She left her role in the business world for the more important work of wife and mother of five children. JoAnne was involved in many community and educational organizations in Fairfield while her children attended school. After they were successfully raised, JoAnne returned to the business world as a financial assistant and office manager, the position from which she was recruited to serve Green’s Farms Church.

Top of Page

Green's Farms Church · 71 Hillandale Road · Westport, CT 06880
Web: www.greensfarmschurch.org · Email: office@greensfarmschurch.org
Phone: (203) 227-2728 · Fax: (203) 227-8705
Website developed by: Brandstrom Consulting