Staff & Officers

traditional worship              progressive theology              welcoming community

LEADERSHIP
First Church in Jaffrey is blessed with a wide variety of spiritual heritages, experiences, and expertise and we are blessed to have leadership that bring a broad diversity of theology, practice and gifts.

Gene Faxon
Minister of Music
More Information

Rev. Steve Miller

Officers

First Church Officers Elected in January 2025

Moderator: Sam Greene

Clerk: Nancy Elder-Wilfrid

Treasurer: Ben Wheeler

Board of Trustees: Jim Rothnie, Chair, Janet Grant, Co-chair

Pam Hill, Roy Lake, Dan Wilfred, Dan Isaacs, Marc O’Brien, Joyce Petkovich, Susan Peterson

Karen Brown, Administrator

Rev. Steve Miller was called to be the pastor of First Church in Jaffrey in October 2021, in the midst of the Covid pandemic. He moved to New Hampshire from South Dakota in early 2022 with his wife Jill Tyler, leading his first worship service in late January. With his boundless enthusiasm and conviction, he not only brought new members to First Church, but also served as a “community pastor” who proved services and funerals for people who didn’t have a regular pastor. Steve began a popular Faith Studies program, invited the Scouts to meet at the church and use its spaces, blessed the animals at the Cathedral of the Pines, and held services in the historic Meetinghouse. After almost four years in Jaffrey, he decided to retire from the ministry (he was ordained in 1987). Steve left First Church in November 2025, moving to Des Moines, Iowa and looking forward to having time for travel, family gatherings, meditation, reading, and playing music.

Dr. Karen J. Brown joined the church as Administrator in January 2025 after retiring from Franklin Pierce University where her roles were Associate Dean followed by Executive Director of Institutional Research.  Prior to her career in higher education when her  daughters were young, she worked as Parish Administrator at the United Church of Jaffrey.  

Karen is central to communications at First Church, making sure that weekly eblasts on Tuesdays and Friday keep all informed of worship services, events, and volunteer needs. She is the hub that handles phone calls and emails, records management, and support for the minister and other staff/church officers.

Karen plays steel drum and has performed for the congregation on various occasions, alongside Ilona Kwiecien on accordion. A resident of Jaffrey, she enjoys spending time with her dog, a Golden Retriever/Labrador mix named Ruby.

Rev. Steve Miller

The Rev. Steve G. Miller started his ministry at The First Church in Jaffrey in January 2022, after a unanimous vote of approval by the congregation in October 2021 when he visited and conducted worship. Prior to moving to New Hampshire, Miller was the senior pastor at the United Church of Christ-Congregational in Vermillion SD for 26 years.
Steve Miller graduated from Springfield College in 1981. He began studying at Yale Divinity School and transferred to the Pacific School of Religion, where he received his Master of Divinity degree in 1987. He served churches in Bethlehem, CT and Gilman, IA before going to Vermillion in 1995.

During his long tenure in Vermillion, Steve studied the Lakota spirit, language and music and invited the Lakota community to hold sacred ceremonies at the UCC church. He was also involved in community theater productions and the Vermillion Youth Baseball Association for players. The title of teacher also belongs in Steve’s repertoire, as demonstrated by his popular “World Religions” course at the University of SD

Starting Anew at First Church
Steve came to First Church during the pandemic and brought new energy and ideas to First Church as the congregation emerged from the isolation imposed by COVID. Working with the Minister of Music Gene Faxon and a growing list of volunteers, worship life not only fills the congregation with spirit but offers vision for the future. Late summer and fall showed a distinct increase in attendance, culminating with a full house on Christmas Eve 2023.

Steve has applied his teaching skills to an ongoing faith study series (usually 4-5 weeks) that has become a hub of learning and fellowship for members, neighbors and new friends. Topics explored in these sessions have included the character of faith, a mini course on world religions, a history of church music, and an examination of Christmas carols.

Steve offers pastoral care to members, neighbors, and friends in homes and care facilities. He’s committed to youth work for the New Hampshire Conference UCC – especially camping at the Horton Center in the White Mountains; serves on the board of Jaffrey’s Shelter from the Storm; and supports Jaffrey Adult Day Care by leading monthly singing events. Other community relationships include worship leadership at Cathedral of the Pines and serving as chaplain of the Scout Troup 33, who now call First Church home. Rev. Miller has also been involved with Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality in Oak Park, IL for more 30 years through retreats, conferences, and classes.

Steve’s wife, Dr. Jill Tyler, joined him in Jaffrey the First Church after she retired in May 2022 as professor and chair of the University of South Dakota (USD) Communications Department. They have five children and three grandchildren.
Gene Faxon Minster of Music

On Sunday, February 2, First Church will celebrate 20 amazing years with its Minister of Music, Gene Faxon. After graduating from Brockton High school (MA), Gene went to Boston University where he earned BA in Music and MA in Education. At BU, Gene studied conducting, voice, piano, and organ while finding time to be president of the Student Council – activities that guided his path forward.

Conducting choral music, teaching, and performing are all hallmarks of Gene’s remarkable career, beginning at Western New Mexico University. Living in Silver City, NM, Gene co-founded The Broken Oak Center for Music and the Arts, which became a focus of community activity, offering opportunities for people of all ages to participate in music, art, theatre, dance and poetry.

Returning to New England in the early 2000s, Gene became Director of Education and a faculty member at Manchester Community Music School in New Hampshire. He also taught music at the Pine Hill Waldorf School in Wilton, NH and worked as a substitute organist for several churches. An active member of the NH American Guild of Organists, Gene served as Dean of the Monadnock Chapter of the AGO. Wherever he was teaching and conducting, Gene introduced Wassail choruses, reflecting a longtime interest and training in Early Music.

As Minister of Music for First Church since 2005, Gene has brought his skills and creativity to all worship services, a concert series, Taizé events, community celebrations of St. Lucia and a Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, Easter and Christmas services featuring instrumental quartets and soloists. Under his leadership, Gene introduced Celtic, gospel, folk, Shaker and Broadway music into the life of First Church. A few times a year, he organizes a special service that combines music and readings into a unique communal experience.

Among the instruments that Gene plays with great skill are the organ, piano, harpsicord, recorder, and accordion. Naturally, he is a piano tuner and, recently retired from teaching, he’s delving into learning how to repair pipe organs. Among his awards are grants from New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. A longtime resident of Temple, NH, Gene now lives in Keene.

Finally, Gene has worked harmoniously with more than 10 ministers during his 20 years at First Church – a major accomplishment and a tribute to his talent for collaboration!

Judy Lessard
Administrative Assistant

Judy brings her corporate experience. Working with our pastor and music minister, she creates the worship bulletins, sends out e-blasts, and monitors phone calls and church email. Working with our treasurer, she maintains the QuickBooks database and generates financial reports. Working with the communications team, she creates, prints, and distributes the church newsletter.

Officers
In late January 2022, First Church heartily welcomed (bottom row)  Roy Lake, Pam Hill,  David Bliss and Janet Grant as new Trustees.  Nancy Elder-Wilfrid is the new Clerk and in the top row is Ann St. Cyr Gordon (Treasurer) and Sam Greene Moderator. Officers: Sam Greene, Moderator Ann Gordon, Treasurer Nancy Elder-Wilfrid, Clerk   Trustees: David Bliss Janet Grant Pam Hill Roy Lake Tom Warren Dan Wilfrid