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				Rev. Nathan A. Miller, Senior Minister Nathan Miller is a native of Ohio and grew up in the United Church of Christ. His undergraduate degree (B.A.) was from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He completed his graduate work (M. Div.) at the United Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. He and his family came to First Congregational of San Jose in December 2001. Rev. Dawn Grace Peters, Associate Minister 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. She has a beagle named Suzie Q, a rat terrier named Holly, and a kitty named Lyndi. 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 of Children, Youth, and Families Rev. Jack Michael has been called as our new 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 will begin his ministry with us in January of 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 young children, Evan and Nicole, who are both lively participants in the children's sermons. 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 Patrick Campbell while on an exchange progam to Germany her junior year in college (he was there from UC Irvine), and moved back to Germany with him after college to escape the recession at home (in 1991). After four years in Munich (and a wedding), they moved to San Francisco, then seven years 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 stay-at-home mom and a grad student at the San José State School of Library and Information Science. 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.