Leadership & Organization

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.

DAVID FELTON
Interim Pastor

Rev. David K. Felton is First Church’s interim minister. David comes to us from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he was the conference minister and became close friends with his successor, the Rev. Gordon Rankin, who is now the NHUCC Conference minister.

David has served as minister to congregations in Rutland, VT; Henderson, CO; Anthony, KS; and Indianapolis, IN. He has been a chaplain in Houston’s Texas Medical Center, and has taught world religions and the history of religion at the college level for eight years. David has been a conference minister for more than 30 years in UCC state and regional conference headquarters based in St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo, NY; and Sioux Falls, SD. David is now a member of Bridger UCC on the Lakota Nation’s Cheyenne River Reservation in Bridger, SD. His education includes a BA from Kansas State University, a BD from the Oberlin Graduate School of Theology, Advanced CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) from Houston’s Institute of Religion and Human Development, and a D.Min. (Doctorate in Ministry) degree from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis.
Contact David
GENE FAXON
Minister of Music

Gene brings his experience with teaching music and his expertise on the organ, piano, and harpsichord. He leads the choir as well as organizes special musical worship and other church events. Gene is also an accomplished recorder player.

Contact Gene
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.

Contact Judy

LAY LEADERSHIP

The lay leadership of First Church are its elected officers:

  • Moderator: Carol Hess
  • Clerk: Sylvia Hamilton
  • Treasurer: Janet Grant

and the organization of circles (similar to committees) that do the work of the church.

ORGANIZATION
First Church is developing a governance model that is built on an interlocking system of self governing circles (similar to committees) that do the work of the church. Some circles function like standing committees in that the work is ongoing and need ongoing support. Some circles are periodic and some will be for a single event or purpose.

EXECUTIVE CIRCLE

The Executive Circle coordinates ongoing life of the church, providing guidance, counsel, and direction to all officers and Circles. All the core circle chairs are also members of the Executive Circle. It meets monthly.

TRUSTEES CIRCLE

The Trustees Circle is responsible for church’s financial stability and operations. Members are elected at the annual meeting. The Trustees maintain the buildings and grounds, contracting out the work as necessary. They prepare the annual church budget. The Trustees Circle meets monthly.

WORSHIP CIRCLE

The Worship Circle partners with Minister, Minister of Music and the Church Community to help create meaningful worship and other resources and opportunities that help deepen faith and enrich lives. Membership in the Worship Circle is open to all. Some specific tasks of the Worship Circle include: Recruiting and training volunteers for tasks that support the Sunday worship service (greeters, ushers, communion prep, readers, flowers, service prep) and maintenance of church library. The Worship Circle meets every other month.

BENEVOLENCES CIRCLE

Membership in Benevolences Circle is open to all. This circle selects and funds worthy programs that benefit local, regional and broader communities. It selects recipients for scholarship awards. It oversees allocation of Fair income and the 5 for 5 UCC offerings. The Benevolences Circle meets three or four times a year.

COMMUNICATIONS CIRCLE

Membership in Communications Circle is open to all. This circle coordinates information flow to our church community and reaches out to the Monadnock Region through advertisements/articles in local newspapers, our website, Facebook and the Weathervane newsletter. This circle handles outreach, as well as publicity for church-sponsored events as needed. The Communications Circle meets at least every other month to ensure preparation of the newsletter.

FAIR CIRCLE

Membership in the Fair Circle is open to all. First Church holds its annual summer Fair the first Wednesday in August. This circle organizes a community-wide effort to hold the Fair, which raises funds to support a wide range of service efforts within Jaffrey and the Monadnock Region. The Fair Circle meets monthly starting in the spring and going through the summer to prepare for the Fair and learn from the experience.

FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE

Membership in the Fellowship Circle is open to all. This circle coordinates opportunities for the community to be together, sharing tidbits and more substantial meals at Coffee Hour, post-Memorial Service receptions, pot lunch luncheons and other celebrations. The Fellowship Circle meets as needed.

PASTORAL RELATIONS CIRCLE

Membership in the Pastoral Relations Circle (PRC) consists of the pastor and three individuals elected by the congregation. This circle provides a setting for sharing and mutual guidance in order to promote a healthy relationship between the minister and the congregation. The PRC meets at least monthly.

PRAYER GROUP

The Prayer Group offers daily prayers as needed for members of The First Church or their families and for friends and neighbors of First Church. This circle meets once a year and then maintains contact throughout the year via phone or email. This circle also arranges for the creation and distribution of prayer shawls. Requests for prayers should be made through the minister or to a Prayer Group member.

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