Meet the Staff
|
Meet Our Co-Pastor!
The Rev Jennifer McCleery NGCC welcomes The Rev Jennifer McCleery into our congregation. Rev McCleery began her ministry with us on January 14, 2025.
A life-long member of the UCC, Jennifer was ordained by the New Haven Association of the UCC and has been serving as a minister to congregations in Darien and Avon since 2018. Jennifer received her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and her M.Ed. from Harvard University. She spent her junior year of college studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In her ministry, Jennifer is passionate about the kind of preaching that reveals the good news of God's great love in ways that are relatable, relevant, and vulnerable. She loves opportunities for adult faith formation, including Bible Studies, book discussions, and workshops. She is also happy to sit down over a cup of tea for a chat anytime! |
|
Meet Our Co-Pastor!
The Rev Theresa Borchetta NGCC welcomed The Rev Theresa Borchetta into our congregation as Co-Pastor on September 1, 2025. She has been an active supporter/member of NGCC for many years working as CE Director and on our Special Activities Committee. |
|
|
Danalisa Mancini-Riccio is the NGCC Office Manager.
Danalisa came to NGCC on October 7, 2019. She has been non-stop ever since. Danalisa has been a great asset to NGCC as she supports all who come to her with respect and dignity. Whether it be with tasks, questions, seeking advice, or just needing someone to talk to, she is always there to lend a hand....or an ear. |
|
Hallie Sorensen is the NGCC Director of Music.
A long-time member of NGCC, Hallie began her role as music director in 2011. She began singing in the choir in 1976. As a music director, Hallie directs the adult choir, youth choir, and the handbell choir. She also serves as a member on the Christian Education Committee. Hallie holds BS and MS degrees from Western Connecticut State University. She taught music in the Middletown Public Schools for 38 years and continues to work there as a building sub. Other music activities include singing with the Con Brio Choral Society and playing clarinet in the New Horizons Band. Hallie also served as a guest music director for three of the Cappella Cantorum's international music tours; trips to Ireland/Wales, Hungary/Austria, and Belgium/France. One of her fondest memories was coordinating the music camp at Camp Wightman, a Christian summer camp. Hallie resides with her husband Bill in North Guilford. Together they enjoy spending summers camping in New Hampshire, singing together, and traveling. |
|
Irene Senedak is the NGCC Pianist. Irene Senedak was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and received her bachelor of music with honors at the New England Conservatory in Boston and her master’s degree at the University of Washington in Seattle. She spent several years at the Chautauqua Institute’s piano performance summer sessions, and her solo performances have been acclaimed throughout the US and Canada, in recitals, competitions and recordings. These include performances of the complete Book 1 of JS Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier, and, as a champion of new works for the piano, in a vast number of premieres, collaborations and performances.
She has toured as accompanist for the SCSU Choir in performances in Athens, Greece, throughout Portugal, England and Scotland, and at the Vatican and throughout Italy, while under the direction of Dr. Terese Gemme. An upcoming SCSU choir tour of France is planned for Spring of 2027. Irene was a founding member of the Marzena New Music Ensemble and the PS 88 Piano Duo, and has held collaborative piano/accompaniment positions at the UW, Duke University in Durham, NC, and the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT. Irene is a frequent adjudicator for both the Fischer Piano Competition in New Haven, and the Young Musicians Festival in Fairfield, CT. In her role as a teacher, she has received the Senior Teacher Award at SCSU, and has led numerous master classes and seminars, both in person and in online web sessions. She was a piano faculty member at NMS in New Haven for 25 years, and she currently holds a Music Department faculty member position (28+ years) at SCSU, while maintaining an active private piano and keyboard studio. She seeks to inspire, to promote, and to bring the joy of music to others in all her various musical roles. |
|
|
Brian Higney is the NGCC Sexton. He keeps the infrastructure running smoothly. Before joining our team, he worked for CT State Gateway for over 30 years. Branford has been his home for over 50 years. Brian and his wife have been married for 20 years and have one child. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family trying new restaurants around town and keeping up with outside landscaping and gardening around his home. |