United Church of Christ
First Congregational Church of San Jose
Adult Education Music Children's Ministry Youth Ministry Health Ministry Newsletter Mission Partners Our Spire

 

Rev. Nate Miller
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. Nancy Peters Rev. Nancy C. Peters, Associate Minister
Nancy 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. Nancy 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 and her partner Donna have a beagle named Suzie Q, a rat terrier named Holly, and a kitty named Lyndi. Nancy 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 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 Link 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.



Susan Walsh Susan Walsh, Church Secratary

Susan spent her youth in the East Foothills of San Jose. She has a diverse background in banking and event planning, and joined the staff at FCCSJ in February 2005. She uses her many talents as part of the Office Administration team, and publishes the church's monthly newsletter, The Spire. Susan and her husband Larry have five wonderful, high-energy kids. When she's not attending a school or sports function, Susan enjoys relaxing with a good book, playing board games, and doing jigsaw puzzles. Her favorite place of all is Maui, Hawaii, and she loves traveling there as often as possible.



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.


Jamie Schweizer, Faith Community Nurse
Jamie Schweizer received her Bachelor's degree, with a major in Life Sciences and a minor in Gerontology, from Kansas State University and her degree in Nursing from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. She has worked in many different settings, including long-term care administration and intensive care in both the United States and Germany. She and her husband moved to the Bay Area from Germany in 1999 and are blessed with two children.


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.