First Congregational Church UCC Harwich

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Staff

Rev. Dianne E. Arakawa – Interim Pastor

Rev. Dianne E. ArakawaPastor Dianne began serving us in February of 2019. She understands her ministry as a specialized ministry, and brings many years of experience in intentional transitional ministry in the United Church of Christ.

Previously she served in Niantic/East Lyme, CT; Simsbury, CT; Boston, MA; East Milton, MA; and Belmont, MA as well as in the Chicago, IL area and in New York, NY. Before being asked to serve in CT, she was the Chair of the Transitional Ministry Committee of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Pastor Dianne holds an MA from the University of Chicago Divinity School in the history of religions; an MDiv from the Harvard Divinity School, where she received the American Bible Society Prize and a Certificate in the Teaching of Religion in Schools; and a BA from Wheaton College in MA, where she double majored in Religion and Art History.

She is married to the Rev. Stephen C. Washburn, and they have a grown son. When not ministering, she enjoys visiting museums and historical sites, listening to classical music and watching opera, walking on beaches, skimming ethnic cook books and diving into British detective mysteries.

Marcia Hempel – Music Director / Organist

Marcia HempelMusic Director Marcia Hempel is a highly skilled organist with extensive training in choral direction for both children and adults.

Marcia has studied organ at the New England Conservatory, piano and voice at the Rhode Island Conservatory and choral conducting at Westminster Choir College, to name just part of her broad and ongoing training. Her interests are eclectic ranging, as she puts it, “from Bach to Bernstein,” including the jazz organ! She also plays the guitar.

In addition to her church work, Marcia directs the Young Singers Program for ages 9-16, sponsored by the church. She conducts the Harwich Women’s Chorus, which she started in 2013, and accompanies the Victrola Chorus, which performs at nursing homes.  Prior to coming to First Church, Marcia was the founder, director and accompanist of the Nantucket Women’s Choir.

Gail Nickerson – Secretary

NICKERSON-GAIL-94Originally from New York City, Gail moved to Cape Cod and married a local school teacher. Their two grown daughters still live here on the Cape. One is a school teacher and the other is Christian Education Director at another local church.

Besides Gail’s duties as church office administrator and secretary, she also is writing an historical novel about the Salem witch trials.

Paul Frederickson – Sexton

Paul has served as Sexton at First Church since 2006. He enjoys his work and the people here.

Being the son of a long-time member, he grew up in this church and is knowledgeable about its buildings, campus and history.

A talented musician, he contributes to our Coffee House gatherings. Paul also works at the Cape Cod Technical High School.

He is married to Susan.

Sunday Worship

We are an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ.

During the health pandemic, we invite worshippers to join us on Sundays at 10:30 am. We meet in safety for a 45-minute service on our (encrypted) video-conference platform.

How to Find Us

Past Sermons

Sermon: Plan? What Plan?

December 27, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Worry, Be Happy

December 18, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Thoughts for 3 a.m.

December 11, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: The Moods of Christian Life

December 5, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Who Are We to Judge?

November 27, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Keeping One’s Marbles amid the Whistling Tree Frogs

November 20, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Interpreting the Bible

November 7, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Luther, Schmuther!

October 30, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: A Mechanistic God

October 16, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Knowing Who We Are

October 12, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: The Freedom of Constraint

October 2, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Daytime TV and Bonbons

September 25, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Mind Your Own Knitting

September 18, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Stasis, Novelty or Reform

September 11, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Decisions, Decisions

September 5, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Everyone’s Got One

August 28, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Self-Righteousness, Othering, and Violence

August 21, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Oh, This!

August 14, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: From Heel to Healer

August 8, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Unexpectedly

July 31, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Surviving Hope

July 25, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Prevenient Grace

July 17, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: The Strange Persistence of Guilt

July 11, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Freedom

July 3, 2017 By FCCH Staff

Sermon: Looking for the Lord

June 26, 2017 By FCCH Staff

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