NGCC Staff

Meet Our Bridge Minister!
Rev Jennifer McCleery

NGCC welcomes Rev Jennifer McCleery into our congregation. Rev McCleery will begin her ministry with us on January 14, 2025, for a six-month duration.

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!

Christine Sima grew up in CT in the Congregational Church, receiving her first Bible at age 8 (which she still has, by the way).

In 2018 she felt God tugging at her heart and followed that call to Seminary. She is a 2023 graduate of Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary), earning a Master's in Chaplaincy. A member in discernment, Christine feels called both to the pulpit and to chaplaincy and is currently on the ordination track. She is presently serving as the Christian Education Director at North Guilford Congregational church.

She lives in Guilford where in her spare time she likes to take long walks on the beach with her life partner Jeremy and their dog Ming.

Hallie Sorensen is the director of the Senior Choir, Bell Choir and Children's Choir.

David Irvine lives for two things: music and God. As organist of NGCC, he plays the piano, the midi, the carillon, and of course the pipe organ. In addition, David sings in a choir, directs musicals, and works with disabled children. His hobbies include baton twirling and roller derby.

Bob Hastings is the NGCC sexton. He keeps the infrastructure running smoothly. Before joining our team he worked for Evergreen Woods. Guilford has been his home for 40 years. Bob and his wife Rochelle have been married for 42 plus years and have two children. When he's not working he enjoys playing golf and riding his 1979 BMW motorcycle.