Our Staff


 
         
     

    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 Peace
    Center 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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   Fran Apltauer, Minister of Visitation
 

Fran Apltauer has been involved in the church all her life. She has
served as Moderator of the Western Reserve Association and
the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ and is
currently serving as the secretary of the Western Reserve
Association Council. She was a member of Trinity United Church
of Christ for many years where she served in multiple leadership roles.
Fran was employed at Metro Health Medical Center for  31 years
and for the United Church of Christ Board for Homeland Ministries
for 10 years. Fran is a licensed lay minister of the Western Reserve Association in the UCC, attends he Lay School of the Western Reserve and is a graduate of the Bethel Series. She leads worship services at nursing homes, has conducted funerals and has led worship in many churches in the area. In addition to serving as  Minister of Visitation for  our congregation, Fran also serves as Lay Minister of Visitation at Lakewood Congregational United Church of Christ.
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Fran's e -mail - fmaplt@cs.com

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Contact Information:
505 Front Street, Suite 3
Berea, Ohio 44017-1769
e-mail: BereaUCC@sbcglobal.net                                 

Office Hours:
M,W,Th 9:00 a.m. to 3:30p.m.
Tu & F  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
 
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