Senior Minister: Rev. Mark B. Abernethy

We called Mark to be our Senior Pastor in 1998. In Mark, we found someone who believes that "through God, all things are possible." We also found someone who is committed to the family mission and ministry of Wapping Church. "I am committed to a ministry that brings people together in a church that brings people together..... Out of our own joys and triumphs, ministry unites people and binds people in a circle of shared commitment and shared discipleship. Church is a place you should call home, where people know your name.

Mark believes in pastoral care and that caring for one another is one of the most important purposes of our church. "There is nothing more powerful, profound or sacred in ministry than sharing with someone the most joyous, most lonely, most challenging, most painful, or most peaceful times in their lives." Mark enjoys visiting with the congregation and sees ministry during life events - birth, baptism, marriage, death - and ministering to hospital and home-bound as most important.

Lastly, Mark has a strong commitment to social justice ministry around issues of housing and homelessness, AIDS, race relations, economic justice, peace, and non-discrimination. We need to love the unlovable and the church can be a vehicle to help this happen."

Yet, Mark doesn't take himself too seriously. "I draw strength from a sense of humor. It helps me not to take myself too seriously and relate easily to other people." And, above all, "I consider myself a student and disciple committed to an ongoing process of learning, reflecting, seeking, and understanding along my Christian journey of faith," says Mark.

Mark's Bio

• Stanford University (BA, Intl. Rel.), 1987
• Shalom Institute for Spiritual Formation, Washington, DC , 1989
• Chaplain, AIDS Outreach Program, NY, 1989
• Student Pastor, Broadway UCC, New York, NY, 1990
• Chaplain, Pastoral Education, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, 1991
• Union Theological Seminary (MDiv.), 1992
• Senior Pastor, Bunker Hill UCC, Waterbury CT, 1992-1998
• Senior Pastor, Wapping Community Church, 1998 - present

Contact Mark: mark@wappingchurch.org or (860) 644-0833, extension 11

Director of Caring Ministries: Lisa Wallace

Lisa came to Wapping in 2005 after serving in a variety of caring and teaching ministries, with 17 years of Christian ministry in UCC churches. She knows without a doubt that the Holy Spirit led her to Wapping Church, and is thrilled to serve God as the Director of Caring Ministries.

Lisa believes that we are the hands and feet of Jesus, so she is fervent about role modeling the caring, as well as equipping, encouraging, and inspiring others to serve one another. With Christ as our example, pouring out His life for others, Caring Ministries is a personal ministry, beginning and blossoming in the hearts and actions of individuals. Therefore, Caring Ministries reflects a passion for reaching out to each other in response to the love and daily relationship we find with the Lord.

As we open our hearts to God, and give every aspect of our lives over to God with praise and thanksgiving, the Holy Spirit moves in miraculous ways. Always what follows is a tenderness of heart, eyes that open to see and feel another person's struggles, and God-inspired actions that bring healing, peace and joy. God's movement in this way, through every person here at Wapping Church, is the ultimate goal of Caring Ministries. God is calling us to walk with Him and each other in hope, faith and love.

Caring Ministries at Wapping Church is the umbrella for numerous outreach programs and initiatives to friends and members, as well as outreach to those who have never experienced the comfort and warmth of being part of our close-knit church community. Caring Ministries nurtures and oversees opportunities for individuals to become active in the life of the church, so they can:

* Thrive in faith and wholeness,
* Meet and enjoy each other, and
* Serve God by reaching out to others using the special gifts God has given them.

Lisa earned a BS in Communications, Magna Cum Laude, from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. She completed The Hartford's Leadership Training Program for Developing Recognized Leaders, as well as MBA courses with Marketing concentration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate School. Lisa has held number communications and management positions.

In addition to serving Wapping Church as the Director of Caring Ministries, she is also a Managing Director for People Management based in Avon, CT, a Christian international consulting organization, specializing in giftedness for personal and organizational effectiveness.

Contact Lisa: lisa@wappingchurch.org or (860) 644-0833, extension 24.

Director of Music Ministries: Michael Crowley

In August of 2008, Michael Crowley assumed the position of Director of Music Ministry at Wapping Community Church. If he brings any gift to Wapping Community Church, it is his unbridled passion and enthusiasm for making music.

Michael Crowley, a native of Coventry, CT is currently pursuing a double degree in Music History and Piano Performance at The Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut. There, he studies piano with Paul Rutman and music history with Ken Knott. As well as a solo pianist, Michael has been accompanist for soprano Jolie Rocke Brown, Coventry and Bolton Public School Choirs, The Charter Oak Music Festival Chorus, Uconn and Hartt music departments, and pianist/harpsichordist for The Connecticut Youth Symphony.

Michael's essays "Reza Vali: East Meets West" were selected to be read and discussed at the Bushnell with Maestro Edward Cumming and composer Dr. Reza Vali during the Hartford Symphony's "Pre-Concert Talk."Previously, Michael was part of a chamber music program in Umbria, Italy performing chamber works of Mozart, Beethoven and Piazzola with members of the Hartford Symphony. After winning the Willimatic Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Michael appeared as soloist with the orchestra performing Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto in 2008. He is also the recipient of the Patricia Bellingham Scholarship for best piano performance and won 1st place in the Windham Regional Arts Council Competition. Michael has performed in masterclasses with the Miami String Quartet, and with Maestros Edward Cumming and Eric Dudley.

Contact Michael: michael@wappingchurch.org or or (860) 644-0833