Berea UCC | First Congregational United Church of Christ of Berea | Berea, Ohio | Worship Services | Weddings

Rev. Martha Chenault, Pastor
Betsy Hinton, Secretary
Bryan Bowser, Minister of Music
Bertha Grant,Organist/Keyboardist
Fran Apltauer, Minister of Visitation

Rev Martha F. Chenault, Pastor

Martha Chenault is a native Kentuckian and has been with our church since January 2006.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Kentucky, she has an undergraduate degree in Music in Education (BME) as well as a Master of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary. She also holds the designation of “Interim Ministry Specialist” with the Interim Ministry Network and has received special training through the Lombard Mennonite PeaceCenter in conflict transformation skills and mediation. Martha is a trained and experienced Stephen Ministry Leader, Bethel Series trainer/teacher, and Healthy Congregations facilitator. She was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky in 1976 and received UCC standing in 2004. She has served congregations in Kentucky Ohio, and Michigan and is active in the Western Reserve Association, OH Conference of the UCC. Martha lives in Rocky River with her husband, Larkin and their West Highland Terrier, Mungo. They have two grown daughters, Cordelia and Carolyn, who reside in Germany and Boston respectively.

Martha 's e-mail: mchenault@sbcglobal.net

Betsy Hinton, Secretary

Betsy Hinton has been the Secretary since March of 2005. Prior to taking over the daily runnings of the church office, she worked at First Church Child Care for 8 years where she watched both of her own children attend and graduate from preschool. Hers is the first voice and face you will encounter when dealing with the church office. A magna cum laude graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, she holds a B.A. degree in Music and a business minor. Although music is now mostly a hobby, Betsy enjoys singing and playing piano. She lives in Berea with her two children, Taylor and Nick.
Betsy's e-mail - BereaUCC@sbcglobal.net

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Bryan Bowser , Minister of Music

Bryan Bowser is the Minister of Music at First Congregational UCC where he has served since 1999. He is also the Assistant Director for External Affairs at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music where he manages the Community Arts, Summer Music, and Opera Programs in addition to consulting on matters of Conservatory fund raising, marketing, student recruitment and alumni relations; he also serves as Director of B-W’s Arts Management Program. Bowser spent three seasons as Director of Operations and Development with Lyric Opera Cleveland before returning to his alma mater Baldwin-Wallace as Director of the Conservatory Outreach Department; he was appointed Assistant Director of the Conservatory in 2004. He has been seen in many local theaters, colleges and universities as a music director and conductor. Bowser is an advisory board member of Brecksville Theater on the Square and Chair of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts’ Central Great Lakes Region. He holds an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and B.M.E. fromBaldwin-Wallace College. He has been invited to present at numerous professional meetings including those of the Association of Arts Administration Educators, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and Ohio Music Teachers Association. Bryan leads the First Congregational UCC Choir and oversees the entire music ministry of the church.

Bryan's e-mail - bbowser@bw.edu

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Bertha Grant, Organist/Keyboardist

Bertha Grant has been the Keyboardist at First Congregational UCC since 1992. Previously, she has served at churches in Brunswick, OH; Shelby, OH and at the Chapel of Granite City, IL. She began her career at the organ and piano in Muskegon Hts., MI. She is retired after working 40 years as a Registered Nurse. She enjoys spending time with her family of 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

Bertha's e -mail - BereaUCC@sbcglobal.net

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