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Clergy and Staff

Senior Sabbatical Minister Rev Dr. Norman Bendroth norm@fcc-winchester.org

Rev. Dr. Norman B. Bendroth, Sr. Sabbatical Minister, is a Professional Transition Specialist certified by the Interim Ministry Network. He has served as a settled pastor in two United Church of Christ congregations and as a Sr. Interim pastor in six other UCC congregations. He was also an executive for three different non-profit agencies. In addition, he has been trained in Mediation Skills for Church Leaders from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center and training in Appreciative Inquiry from the Clergy Leadership Institute. Rev. Bendroth has the M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his D. Min. from Andover Newton Theological school where he concentrated on theology and systems theory. He is married to Peggy Bendroth, two adopted Amerasian children, and English Shepherd Sal and three cats. In his spare time he enjoys guitar, hiking, kayaking, and reading. Rev. Bendroth's cell phone is available by either emailing him or contacting the church office.

Senior Pastor Rev Dr. George (Skip) Waterbury skip@fcc-winchester.org

Skip has been our Senior Pastor since 1990. Since his arrival, he has worked to help us build upon a vision of this church as a team of laity and clergy working together. He sees each of us as ministers in our own right, and our church as a caring community of people called by God into meaningful lives of love and service. Skip has a strong belief that in our increasingly frenetic world, an intentional life of faith is at the heart of living lives that are coherent, meaningful, and authentic. He believes that a regular practice of prayer centered in worship and care for world is central to such a life.

Associate Pastor Rev Judy Arnold M.Div. judy@fcc-winchester.org

Judy has been serving the people of the First congregational Church since September, 2003. She believes that working with Youth is one of the best-kept secrets in ministry because that's where the fun (and the food) is. It's also where spiritual questions are wrestled with honestly, and love is shared fearlessly. Judy feels blessed to be part of this community - young and old alike.

Judy was brought up in a New York suburb very like Winchester and attended the First Congregational Church there. Church life and youth activities were important to Judy then and continued to be, especially in times of transition and trouble. Ministry, however, came later in life when her desire to delve deeper into her faith led her to seminary at Andover Newton Theological School. Judy graduated in 1996 with a Masters in Divinity and was called to serve as the Pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Londonderry, Vermont. She served there until her arrival here with us.

Church School Coordinator Justin Pearl justin@fcc-winchester.org

Justin is excited to serve the First Congregational Church as a church school coordinator. Originally (and with much pride) from New Hampshire, he moved to Massachusetts to attend Eastern Nazarene College where he studied music and religion.  He currently lives in Boston and is studying in a Master's program at Boston University School of Theology.  Justin's previous ministerial work has taken him through the gamut of protestant denominations including; Nazarene, Adventist, Episcopal, and Church of Christ; but he is really happy to have landed at the UCC.  

Minister of Congregational Health and Wellness Kathleen Zagata, RN MSN CS kathleen@fcc-winchester.org

Kathleen Zagata, MSN CS, joined the team as Health Minister in January 2001. Christian faith has been central to Kathleen's personal life journey and professional work. As a nurse, she has witnessed how faith is essential to well being, and mastery of life's milestones as well as how it makes a difference in times of crisis, illness, and addiction.

Our Christian tradition makes clear that Jesus was not just about fixing a diseased person, his intent was to heal in God's name and to restore each person to fullness and community. Thus health ministry is based on a whole person model- mind, body, emotion and spirit- encouraging us to become the person God is calling us to be at each developmental stage. Kathleen's education in Community Health and personal development studies in BodySoul Rhythms, Interplay, and Mind/Body training in Positive Psychology and Healing Touch are the foundation of her leadership.
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Kathleen believes that a faith community is an unparalleled source of health prevention. She encourages all to enhance their faith by living the connection between wellness and spirituality, both personally and in ministry to others.

Minister of Music Jane Ring Frank jane@fcc-winchester.org

Jane Ring Frank is pleased to be in her ninth year as Minister of Music at First Congregational Church in Winchester. From 1998-2003, Frank was Director of Chapel Music at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, where she worked extensively with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to that post, from 1991-1998, Frank was Director of Music at Boston’s Arlington Street Church, where she conducted a 65-voice volunteer chancel choir.

With degrees in conducting, as well as collaborative piano, Frank is a Resident Scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center of Brandeis University, Artistic Director of the 60-voice Concord Women’s Chorus and has recently been appointed as the Music Director of Cantemus, a 40-voice chamber chorus located on Boston’s North Shore. From 1997-2009, Frank was the Artistic Director and Founder of Boston Secession, one of the city’s premiere professional choral ensembles. Critically acclaimed by the Boston Globe (“extraordinary chorus, notable for its beautiful balance, and musical surety…”) and Tom Garvey’s Hub Review (“lushly transparent singing conducted with intelligence and wit”), Frank conducted and produced two CDs which were outstandingly reviewed by the New York Times, Gramophone, and American Record Guide, along with other journals, magazines and blogs. For a number of years, she served as Conductor for E.C.S. Publishing Company’s professional recording choral ensemble, Philovox, as well as a 10-year faculty member at Emerson College.

Frank began her conducting career at California State University, Long Beach, where she became conductor of the Women’s Chorus, staff pianist, lecturer, and musical director/conductor for the Department of Theatre Arts. She also worked as a repetiteur with professional opera companies in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles music Center Opera and the Long Beach Opera Company. She came to Boston in 1991 to conduct at Harvard/Radcliffe College. She has extensively toured England, Wales, Vienna, Munich, Prague, Stockholm, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and the United States extensively as a guest lecturer, choral/instrumental conductor, and pianist.

Pastoral Counselor, Affiliate Ken Orth ken@fcc-winchester.org

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Orth was ordained in 1976 when he was serving as the Minister of Youth here at FCC Winchester. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School and Andover Newton Theological School, he has served in parishes in the Boston area, while specializing in pastoral psychotherapy and spiritual direction. He is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and has been an affiliate on the staff of the First Congregational Church in Winchester since 2000. He offers spiritual direction and pastoral counseling to the community at large and leads groups, retreats, and workshops on spiritual growth and transformation. His direct number at the church is (781)-376-0022

Office Manager Sarah Marino info@fcc-winchester.org

Sarah has been with us since January 2008, when she joined us as a temp. Once she got her claws in, she refused to leave and we are not complaining. In fact, we are grateful for her many talents including her ability to stack paper on her desk. Sarah lives with her husband, and cats Mister & Jasper, in Tewksbury. In her free time, she enjoys drama, singing, and being nerdy. She recently appeared in a community theater production of Jesus Christ Superstar with her twin sister.

Brad has been part of the First Congregational Church community for longer than anyone can remember. He is dedicated, efficient and resourceful in caring for our historic church home.