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Introducing Rev. Deborah Blood |
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The First Congregational Church In Bloomfield |
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The members of the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield have the pleasure to introduce the Rev. Deborah Blood. Deborah’s varied background, broad interests, personal and intellectual gifts and commitment to the ministry will enrich and energize us all in the years to come. Deborah has deep New England roots; she grew up in Massachusetts and has family in New Hampshire and Vermont. Music has always been a central part of her life. After high school she attended Ithaca College, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1979. She taught music for three years and then decided to study law, graduating from Syracuse University College of Law, cum laude, in 1986. For the next fifteen years she practiced law, becoming a partner in the Essex firm of Hudson & Kilby in 1991. Although she did trial work and was involved in a variety of real estate, probate, business and non-profit organization matters, her focus was family law and mediation. She calls this work “a ministry to people and families in need.” As time |
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went on, she increasingly felt a need to move this “ministry” from the courtroom to the Meeting Room. In 2003, Deborah graduated with honors from Andover Newton Theological School. She has been a member of the First Congregational Church in Essex for many years and was an Acting Associate Pastor/Music Director there during seminary, when that church was in an interim time. She has also served the Essex church as Chair of their Stewardship Committee and member of Church Council. In June - September 2004, she was the interim minister in West Stafford, Connecticut. She serves as a Connecticut Conference Consultant to congregations, providing conflict resolution and strategic planning services. After several years of education, varied ministry and training, Deborah is now ready to serve a congregation as full-time pastor. Deborah’s sermons are warm and stimulating and frequently focused on issues from the lectionary lessons. Music is often a part of the sermon. She relates to children easily and teaches with humor and clarity. She is accomplished at resolving conflicts and knowledgeable about money and business matters. Her approach is to open the church to everyone, with welcome and hospitality for all Deborah is also committed to having the church be active in the world. She is now Chairperson of the Colombia Partnership Committee for the Connecticut Conference of the UCC. In that capacity she has been to Colombia and visited our Mennonite Church Partners. She has also been to South Korea twice to represent the Connecticut UCC Korean Partnership. Closer to home, she serves as a weekly Prayer Partner to women incarcerated at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic, and serves on the Board of A Sacred Place, Inc. which supports ministries at the prison. .……….more (Continued on page 13) |