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Janice P. Devine
and Timothy M. Devine (Jan and Tim)
Co-Pastors
We
came to serve as Co-Pastors of First Presbyterian
Church, Endicott, in January of 1998. This
is our third pastorate in 25 years of
ministry. In those years, we have learned
to depend upon and celebrate the passions
and strengths that both of us bring as
individuals into doing ministry together.
We are glad to serve within a community
of faith that seeks to invite and encourage
people on the journey of faith. We celebrate
Gods invitation to be in relationship
with all people through Jesus Christ, Gods
power to transform lives, and the presence
and power of the Holy Spirit.
On a personal note, our greatest joy is
our two children, Nathan and Kristen .
We have tried to share family life in much
the same way that we share ministry. Together,
we enjoy many different sports and activities,
music opportunities and travel.
As you therefore have received
Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live
your lives in him, rooted and built up
in him and established in the faith,
just as you were taught, abounding in
thanksgiving. Colossians
2:6-7
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Jeremy
received his education from Philadelphia
Bible University working toward a B.A.
in Bible/Youth Ministry. He
was the Lead Residential Services Manager
for a Christian-based youth residential
treatment center in the Philadelphia area,
where he supervised resident managers,
direct treatment staff and counselors.
In addition to this intense work with hurting
children, Jeremy has also worked with youth
through church ministry. He served
in a voluntary capacity and became a youth
intern during a staffing vacancy.
Jeremy came to us because he wanted to
work full time in youth ministry “where
I am able to use the gifts and abilities
God has given me to draw young people and
their families to, and disciple them in,
Christ."
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Alisha
graduated from Philadelphia Bible
University with a B.S. in Biblical Studies.
For five years prior to coming to FPC,
Alisha worked as the Director
of Client
Services
and Marketing Coordinator for a law firm
in the outskirts of Philiadelphia. Her
passion, however, is ministry in the context
of the local church. She taught Junior
High students for a year at an
alternative public
school. She has served in
Christian ministry with children by way
of Child Evangelism
Fellowship,
Sunday school teacher, camp counselor
and youth volunteer leader at three churches.
Alisha
has been blessed with a wide range of musical
gifts. She plays French Horn and bass
guitar, sang
in the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
and led an alternative Christian rock
band. In the late 90's, Alisha was one
of the worship leaders for the “Awesome
Adoration” worship team at Family
Life Ministries and also directed the
Worship Team for the church they previously
attended.
We feel blessed to have Alisha sharing
many of her various talents with us. She
was originally hired to work in Christian
Education,
Youth
and Worship Leadership for the contemporary
service. For three years, Alisha Finn
led the Worship Team during the early service.
She added her energy, faith and passion
to the mix of musicians and developed the
team, new sounds and ways to worship God.
Even as we commission her to redirect more
of her time toward children’s ministries,
we are grateful for her presence and leadership
in worship.
And yes, Alisha is married to Jeremy
in case
you
happened
to notice
they shared the same last name.
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Tim
Wetherbee
Organist,
Choir Director and Music Administrator
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Hello
friends at First Pres! It seems very natural for me to be back
acting as your interim Organist, Choir Director and Music Administrator.
You may know that I also have a similar position at St Ambrose
Church in Endicott, where I have served for four years. It has
taken some juggling of my schedule to do both, but so far the two
responsibilities have been manageable. You may also know that I
served at First Pres from 1996 to 2002 in this position. In many
ways it seems like coming home, and it is good to be greeted so
warmly.
I have served as a musician for many years at Baptist, Evangelical
Free and Episcopal Churches in the Southern Tier. I received a
B.A. degree in Church music from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee,
with a major in organ, and studied voice with Gerald Graham of
the Tri- Cities Opera and appeared with The Chamber Opera, The
Summer Savoyards, Broadway at Binghamton, and Binghamton University
Chorus as a baritone soloist.
I take great joy in being God’s son, and I love to be around
those who are led by the Spirit and are committed to loving God
and neighbor in a sacrificial way. I know God’s presence
through the witness of others, through worship and especially through
music. Ken Medema’s song “Lead the Way” expresses
my faith attitude well. It says:
There’s no way in this world that I can be
all the
things that Love means for me to be
But as long as morning breaks another
day, Lord, I’m yours;
I ’ll follow, lead the way.”
I look forward to what God’s plans are for me in ministry
here at First Pres and pray for God’s will to be done during
this time of discernment. God bless you all!
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Walter
Kondratowski
Worship Leader
for "9:09" Service
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We welcomed Walter to our Music Ministry Staff
in November. As he and his wife, Kristin,
and daughter, Tessa, move into our community,
be sure and welcome them to our church
family.
Bio and Picture Coming Soon!!! |
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Sharon,
an engineer
at heart, heard God
calling
her to a ministry position within this
church. When her job was transferred out
of state, she took time to
study the ministry needs of this congregation
and attend conferences. Through prayer,
fasting, study and conversation, she was
able to discern God
leading her to call us
as a congregation to take risks in discipleship
and service.
At the November 2004 Session
meeting, the Elders gathered around Sharon,
laid hands upon her and prayed for God’s
direction. Three months later, Session
blessed Sharon’s call to a part-time,
non-paid staff position as Coordinator/Coach
of Connecting Ministries.
What are connecting ministries? They are
the ministries that connects people, making
them feel like they belong and giving
them the desire to serve the life
of this congregation.
Currently, Sharon’s primary focus
is the Small Group
ministry. Get involved and experience how
this ministry develops
and grows.
Sharon feels blessed to be supported
in this ministry by her husband Bryan
and their three school-age children. Using
her gift of technical savvy, Sharon
also maintains our church website as a
way to help people stay connected by knowing
what is actively going on in the life of
our congregation. She has also started
sending out a pre-weekend update of what
is happening
in the life of FPC, notification when the
monthly newsletter is posted and time-sensitive
communications during the week to those
on the distribution list. If you would
like to be included in these communications,
send an e-mail to her with which lists
you would like to be added to.
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Janet
Frederick
Office Manager
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Janet assumed the position of part-time secretary
at First Pres., her home church, in 2006
after “retiring” from
a 15-year elementary school teaching career
and several business positions. Most recently
she was employed in the Human Resources
Department of Partners Trust Bank. She
has also worked at colleges, a Wall Street
investment banking firm, a paper mill and
a television station. At this time in her life, Janet
is hoping to use her work experiences and
talents to help serve others here at First
Pres- a direction she has felt God calling her
to for some time. She looks forward to
taking a more active role in helping further
the vision and ministry of First Pres.
Janet and her husband, Harry, in addition to being active members
of First Pres., enjoy music, reading, travel and time with family.
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Carol
Cronin
Secretary
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Carol joined First Pres in 2003 after relocating
from California. She has recently joined the office staff as a part
time secretary. Carol worked for many years in the software industry
in various software support positions. She enjoys traveling and outdoor
sports.
Carol is also involved with the Spiritual Gifts Ministry within
the church. The goal of this ministry
is to help members discern their spiritual
gifts and ministry passions, and match
them with ministry opportunities within
the church.
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Bill retired from the U-E school
district where he served as an elementary
school principal for many years.
He was not planning to begin working again
right away. But “when
a minister named Devine” called to talk to him about the
nursery school and its needs, Bill took
some time to pray and discerned that it
would be both fulfilling and that he could
offer the N.S. what they needed. Bill brings
to us knowledge and experience in security,
UPK, expansion, shared space and restructuring
of space, as well as oversight of staff
and programs.
The Pre-School is nationally accredited and also in partnership
with the Union Endicott School District
as a site for Universal Pre-Kindergarten.
Although non-sectarian, the Nursery School
is a mission of the church as we seek to build
bridges between nursery school families
and this congregation.
Peggy Wheeler, a teacher here for 7-8 years, has also been hired
as the Director of Education. In this new position, she will work
closely with Bill on many things, but will have a particular emphasis
upon nurturing and mentoring the teachers, especially those who
are new to the program.
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Dennis
Maney
Caretaker
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Dennis has been in charge of maintaining the church
facility for years. His responsibilities include cleaning, repair,
security and special projects which use his gifts of craftsmanship.
Dennis has become an integral and valued friend of the church.
Dennis has two grown children and enjoys wood working and summer
recreational opportunities on the finger lakes. |
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Gerald
Kelley
Part-time Bookkeeper
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Gerry has recently been hired as our part-time bookkeeper.
He comes to us as he finishes up his year-long position as the
Office Manager for the Franklin Graham Festival. Gerry has an extensive
business background, and we appreciate his willingness to share
his gifts with us in this capacity. Gerry and his wife have four
children; their youngest daughter is still at home.
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Denise
Decker
Sunday Morning Caretaker
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Denise, in addition to her full time work at Professional
Home Care, is responsible for opening, closing and readying the
church for worship on Sunday mornings.
She considers this work part of her service to God and the church.
Her husband, Tom, graciously
helps with this responsibility. Everyone
feels welcome with Denise's gift of hospitality; a friendly smile
and a sweet laugh. |
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Hemant
Tandi and Saima Naik
Part-time Custodians
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Hemant Tandi and Saima Naik serve as part-time custodians
at FPC, in addition to their full-time
work at EIT and Wilson Hospital respectively. They have two daughters,
Shelley and Hosanna. The
Tandi family moved to the US in 2002. They
are passionate about a mission in their native India that they
founded and continue
to direct, The Grace and Peace Mission
in Orissa. It includes an orphanage, medical clinic and ministers
to the lepers in the jungle
area of Orissa.
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