I grew up in the beautiful state of Minnesota, where I attended the College of St. Benedict. After college, I moved out to New England to attend Yale Divinity School, and it was there that I discerned a calling to ordained ministry. In this calling, my three passions meet: theology, people, and social justice. I am passionate about the power of church to transform our world into a place where all God's creation can thrive.  

Since seminary, I have served as a neonatal hospital chaplain in New York City and a pastor in central Connecticut. I served on the board of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights of CT from 2013 to 2019, and I was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 2017. With my spouse Elliott, who is also an ordained minister, we love to hike, downhill ski, and keep up with our toddler daughter, Lydia.

I thank God for leading me to serve this amazing church and community.

Listen to a sermon preached by Pastor Elizabeth.

elizabeth@midducc.org

I grew up in Colombia and after a couple of years living in the USA, I moved to Vermont in 2018. Back home, I had graduated with an English major and was teaching English as a Second Language. The love of languages and teaching inspired me to do an exchange program in New Hampshire, which led me to have some teaching connections in Vermont. After a year of working as a paraprofessional, I started a Master’s Degree in Spanish Literature at Middlebury College and started to teach Spanish in Addison Central School District. 

I started attending this Church in 2019, and this year (2022) I stepped in as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries. In my time as a church member, I've served on the Board of Membership and Communications, the Green Team, as a Sunday School teacher and as a Youth Group Leader. I love being with people, and especially in this community, being in the woods, doing photography and art, and catching up with my family over long video calls. 

eliana@midducc.org

I grew up singing in church and improvising on piano for worship services. I have been directing choirs since 2000 when I won the position of Assistant Conductor of my college choir. This inspired future work with church and community choirs that resulted in earning a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting. My connection with The Congregational Church of Middlebury began in October 2007 when my new husband Jeff Buettner and I moved to Middlebury from the Midwest. I am the Choir Director and Director of Music at the church, and I enjoy engaging in music teaching and performances within the community whenever possible. I love to travel and am a photographer and gardener at heart. Jeff and I live in Middlebury with our daughter. 

jallen@midducc.org

I began playing the organ when I was thirteen, after a few years of piano lessons and listening repeatedly to my parents’ album of Bach organ music. That and a terrific teacher and mentor led me to study organ and church music at St. Olaf College. My focus shifted to include choral music through masters and doctoral degrees (Cincinnati and Michigan State), and I have been a church organist almost continually throughout that time and to the present. I live in Middlebury with my wife Jessica, and daughter Greta. I am also Christian A. Johnson Professor of Music at Middlebury College.

buettner@middlebury.edu

For 32 years I was an educator in New York state where I taught elementary school, directed an after school enrichment program and coached a LEGO Robotics Team. During that time and after retiring in 2006 my entrepreneurial spirit found me creating and running a bed & breakfast reservation service as well as a home staging business.  To realize a life long dream to paint, I studied painting with numerous acclaimed artists and now teach painting in my home studio and online. I bring the variety of skills that I have learned along the way to my job here at the church. I love working with this outstanding team and living in Middlebury Vermont with my husband Dory.

office@midducc.org

buildingmanager@midducc.org

moderator@midducc.org

cvpropnf@comcast.net