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				Rev. Stephen Hinerman, Interim Senior Minister Reverend Stephen is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He received a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in 1986. Additionally, he holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Ohio State University. Most recently, he was Interim Senior Pastor at Lafayette Christian Church, leading them through their successful search process. He has also taught Communication Studies at San Jose State University and Religious Studies at Las Positas College in Livermore. He lives in Pleasanton. Rev. Dawn Grace Peters, Associate Minister for Congregational Life Dawn Peters was raised in southern Oregon in the Independent Christian Church tradition and received her ordination from that denomination in 1983. In 2002, she received standing in the United Church of Christ and has been serving full time at First Congregational Church of San Jose since August of 2002. Dawn received a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Christian Education from Puget Sound Christian College and an M.A. in Pastoral Counseling/Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. Dawn plays 2nd base on the church softball team and can be seen riding her bicycle in the foothills of San Jose on her days off. Rev. Jack Michael, Associate Minister for Children, Youth, and Families Rev. Jack Michael is our Associate Minister for Children, Youth, and Families. Rev. Michael was ordained by the Eastern Ohio Association of the Ohio Conference of United Church of Christ. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse (B.S. in Sociology, 2003) and Eden Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity, 2007) in St. Louis. Rev. Jack began his ministry with us in January 2008. Kristin Turner Link, Director of Music Kristin grew up singing in the First Congregational UCC in Janesville, Wisconsin. After receiving degrees in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan, she taught for a number of years in Quincy, Illinois. Kristin then moved to California and joined First Congregational Church of San Jose in 1998. She has been the Director of Music since the fall of 2005 and conducts the Chancel Choir, the Handbell Choirs, and the Blessings Choir. Kristin and her husband Brian are blessed with two children who are both lively participants in the children's sermons. Cindy Eckhardt, Church Office Manager Cindy has attended First Congregational Church of San Jose Since 1986 and became a member in 1995. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Sunnyvale. She has an A.A. degree in Fashion Merchandising from West Valley College and a B.S. in Health Science from San Jose State University. She enjoys sewing, knitting, boating and being in the Bell Choir. Rich Fodor, Property Manager Rich Fodor grew up in Chicago and landed his first computer industry job in the Boston Area following graduation from DeVry Technical Institute with a degree in Electronic Engineering. Rich is now semi-retired after having worked in sales, management, and marketing positions for several Silicon Valley companies in the semiconductor industry. Rich and his wife Nancy relocated to California in 1968—and have never looked back! They cherish every opportunity to spend time with their four grandchildren (!) and share interests in renaissance and religious history, international travel, tennis, and growing heirloom tomatoes. Rich makes a mean minestrone... A. William Ferguson, Organist A native of Washington, D.C., Bill was appointed organist and choirmaster of his Episcopal church at age 16. He attended American University in D.C. and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT. His teachers have included Richard Dirksen (Washington Cathedral), John Wright Harvey (National City Christian Church in D.C.), and Frederick Swann (Riverside Church in New York City). Bill has done recitals in Maryland, Massachusetts, Colorado, and California, and became organist of First Congregational Church of San Jose in July, 2001. Laurel Eby, Webmaster Laurel Eby grew up in Chico and studied German at UC Davis. She met her husband as an exchange student in Germany her junior year in college (he was there from UC Irvine), and moved back to Germany with him after college. After four years in Munich (and a wedding), they moved to San Francisco, then seven years and two daughters later to San Jose, where they were extremely fortunate to find the First Congregational Church of San Jose. In addition to maintaining the church's Web site, Laurel is a part-time reference librarian at Foothill College. Mindy Flatow-Dickens, Director, Joyful Noise! Originally from New York, Mindy Flatow-Dickens has sung at Carnegie Hall with the New York Oratorio Society and as soloist for the UN Choir. Currently she sings with Union Interdenominational Church Choir in Cupertino and with the Continental Harmony Singers and directs her own group—Mindy Music—which performs at local restaurants and parties. She graduated with High Honors from Binghamton University in New York, where she studied music theory and conducting as well as voice and violin performance. In addition, she has directed musical theatre productions and has experience teaching children with private voice and violin lessons. Susan Kreider, Nursery Attendant Susan Kreider is a San Jose native who attended First Congregational Church of San Jose as a child. She has been the nursery attendant since March 1995, and also works full-time for the Department of Justice. She is the proud aunt of three nieces, including Daisy, who lives with her, and also shares her home with four cats.

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