Rev. Dr. Brian C. Hardee
Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Brian C. Hardee joined the staff of West Avon Congregational Church in August of 2006.  

Rev. Hardee was previously the Pastor at Shenkel United Church of Christ in Pottstown, Pennsylvania from 1996 through 2006.  While at Shenkel, Brian obtained his Doctor of Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 2005.  He obtained his Masters of Divinity from Yale in 1996, receiving the Mersick Preaching Prize.  Brian’s undergraduate work was done at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he graduated in three years summa cum laude as a Caldwell Scholar. 

As the son of a career Army officer, Brian has had the opportunity to live in various areas throughout the country and spent five years in Germany.  Brian has also traveled to Puerto Rico, India and Israel. 

Brian and his wife Rebecca are the parents of four daughters.

 Cynthia Yee
Transition Minister of Pastoral Care

A member of West Avon Congregational Church since 1981, Cindy was called in June 2004 to be the part-time Transition Minister of Pastoral Care.  Her responsibilities include leading our visitation program known as Pastoral Partners, facilitating the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and maintaining the Prayer/Care Line.  In addition, she visits people in the hospital, in nursing homes and at home and is available to listen with people at the church.

A graduate of Hartford Seminary with a M.A. degree in Christian Education, she has served two churches as a Director of Christian Education.  As a volunteer at WACC, she’s visited parishioners, taught people of all ages, led prayer services in a nearby convalescent home, written and evaluated curriculum and co-directed our annual week-long Face To Face day camp for urban and suburban children.  She has served as a member of the original Care Team, on the Board of Deacons and the Board of Christian Education.

In June 2004  the Committee on Ministry of the Farmington Valley Association licensed Cindy as a Licensed Minister of the United Church of Christ.  In 1989 the United Church of Christ granted her Lifetime Certification as a Specialist in Church Education.

Please visit Cindy's Care Corner for her message of hope and care for everyone.

Cindy is available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Bill Vibert
Commissioned Minister for Youth and Christian Education

In 2000, the needs of our church caused us to search and find our first full time C. E. Associate, Bill Vibert. His responsibilities include oversight of the Christian Education Board, the children’s Sunday School, as well as a variety of adult programs. All programs are carefully guided to nurture the individual's relationship with and commitment to God. 

Bill or Mr. V. as the children call him, began his service to God in 1988 when he joined the First Church of Christ in Unionville, CT. He worked on the Christian Education Committee, taught Sunday School, and ran the church’s youth program for several years before earning a degree from the Associate Christian Education (ACE) program and beginning his tenure at Terryville Congregational Church. The ACE program is jointly sponsored and run by the Hartford Seminary and the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ.

In June 2006 Bill completed the requirements set forth by the Farmington Valley Association Committee on Ministry. A commissioning service was held to recognize the fact that Bill has been called by God to work with our Christian Education and youth programs.

Marj Bender
Administrative Assistant

Marj is often the first contact one has when they enter the WACC facility. Marj's duties include providing secretarial and administrative services to the Senior Pastor, the Minister of Pastoral Care, the Church Staff, and Lay Leadership. She also supervises general office operation and oversees rental of the facility. Marj and her family are long-time members of the West Avon Congregational Church. Marj may be contacted through the WACC office during normal office hours.

Maria Scarpa
Secretary

When you call WACC, Maria will usually answer the phone. As secretary, Maria's duties include providing general office and clerical support for the paid staff and lay leadership of West Avon Congregational Church. Maria may be contacted through the WACC office during normal office hours

Kenneth Quesnel
Director of Music

Ken graduated from Hartt School of Music in 2005 with a double major in Voice and Music Education; he recently completed student teaching at Farmington High School and East Farms Elementary School.  He has served as bass section leader at St. James Episcopal Church in West Hartford.

Lois Pardue
Organist

Lois graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree and the “Performer’s Certificate in Organ.”  She studied in France with the renowned organist, Andre Marchal and has held positions as organist, assistant organist, and instructor at numerous churches, colleges and universities around the country.  A few included on the list are Harvard, Wellesley, Vassar and the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA.  Through the years, she has given many recitals and remained active in community music organizations.

From 1973 to 1995, Lois served as organist at the First Baptist Church, UCC, in Bloomington, IN.  In 1979 she became the Administrative Assistant in the Choral Department at the University of Indiana School of Music.  In December of 1995, she retired from that position and relocated to Connecticut where she began serving as the Church Organist here at West Avon, in March of 1996.

Lois may be contacted through the WACC office during normal business hours.

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