ryan@springglenchurch.org
Office Phone: 1-475-241-3743
Ryan Lindsay Arrendell
Acting Senior Pastor (she/her) – Pastor Ryan answered her call to ministry in May 2019, in the midst of a budding journalism career. She enjoys preaching, praying & engaging conversations that spark new thoughts about God & our relationships with Them. Her journey through Yale Divinity School created opportunities for stretching, evolving & developing in all aspects of her life, including ministry.
No Email & No Phone
While On Sabbatical
Rev Jack Perkins Davidson
ON SABBATICAL THROUGH SEPT 4, 2023
Senior Pastor (he/him) – Raised at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, Pastor Jack first felt the call to ministry as a teenager in a very active youth ministry. He then attended Colby College studying Music, World Religion, and Math. He went straight through to Harvard Divinity School where he took part in a special program examining the way religious studies and public education intersect in our pluralistic society.
clare@springglenchurch.org
Rev Clare Robert
Chaplain (she/her) –At Spring Glen, Clare leads a weekly meditation group, a monthly contemplative prayer gathering and the monthly gathering of elders who explore the choices and challenges of Aging as a Spiritual Journey. She visits members at home, offers one on one meetings at the office, and by phone or video calls. She supports the Lay Caregivers in their work of visitation. She participates in worship a few times a month and is also a “pew pastor” who can be present on Sunday for informal connections with congregants.
terese@springglenchurch.org
Dr Terese Gemme
Organist & Music Director (she/her) Terese Gemme, a native of Massachusetts, received a Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music and Music Education, magna cum laude, from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, and a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from The Boston Conservatory. She was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1994 from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. She has studied piano with Maureen Egan, organ and harpsichord with Stephen Long, Phillip Steinhaus, James David Christie and Donald Sutherland, and conducting with Allan Lannom, Frederick Prausnitz, James Jordan and Constantina Tsoulainou.
jess@springglenchurch.org
Jess Tingley
Children’s Ministry Coordinator (she/her) – Jessica heard God’s calling as a teenager, tried to follow different paths, but God brought her back to church. Since then, she has been embracing Christian Education ministry with open arms, and learning everything she can from books, videos, workshops, and more. Additionally, Jessica is completing a degree from Southern Connecticut State University in a combination of philosophy, religious studies, and psychology.
karis@springglenchurch.org
Karis Slattery, MDiv
Karis (she/they) grew up in Philly where she was raised in the Mennonite and Catholic Churches. She moved to Boston to attend Emmanuel College where she studied psychology, religious studies and women’s studies. After that she worked in the HIV/AIDS community in Philadelphia and as a graphic designer for several years before attending Yale Divinity School where she graduated in 2020 with a diploma from Andover Newton Seminary. Karis is called to ordained ministry and is working her way through the Member In Discernment process with the UCC. She is excited to grow into her role as the Care Coordinator at Spring Glen and is particularly energized by the opportunity to connect with our congregation and broader community.
mark@springglenchurch.org
Mark Dinger
Seminarian Intern (he/him) – Mark comes from Fort Worth, TX where he was born and raised. He graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU) with a Bachelors of Music Education before attending YDS. Mark is a member and seeking ordination of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ, a denomination closely related to the UCC and to which SGC has historic ties).
sgc@spraingglenchurch.org
Lydia Hoffman
Interim Office Manager (she/her) – She hails from New Hampshire, and holds a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of New Hampshire and currently is studying at Yale Divinity School. She will graduate with her Master of Divinity in May, and hopes to pursue a career in outdoor ministry.
josh@springglenchurch.org
Joshua Sharp, MDiv
Tech Ministries Coordinator (he/him) – I’m a Master of Divinity Graduate from Yale Divinity from Essex Vermont. My primary interests outside of the church are videogames and baking. My work at Spring Glen will be updating the Church’s internet presence via the website, Digitizing historic church documents and managing the Church’s Sunday Livestream. I also hope to become involved in the Church’s podcast and look forward to working with the church membership in imagining what being a hybrid church can mean.
michaela@springglenchurch.org
Michaela Zaffino
Toddler Room Teacher (she/her) – Some of you may know me as Spring Glen’s toddler caregiver from 2019-2021. I’m excited to be back! In addition to my position here, I am also working on my master’s degree in social work with children and families. In my free time, I love to read and take walks with my pit bull mix, Oakley. The Toddler Room is currently located in the Great Hall on the second floor and opens up at 9:45am. You can either drop your toddler off before worship or bring them up after Children’s Time in the middle of worship.
youth@springglenchurch.org
Emily McKenna
Youth Ministry Coordinator (she/her) – On top of leading racial justice workshops for adults and youth across the country, Emily McKenna also volunteers running week-long camp programs at our denomination’s summer camp Silver Lake Conference Center. During the day, you’ll find her working as the Office Manager at our sibling church Center Church Hartford. On the weekend, you can find her taking on a wide range of artistic pursuit. And now, on Sunday evenings, you can find her at our OASIS Multi-Church Youth Group!