Pastor – Rev. A. Elisabeth Aurand

Elisabeth , a native of Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City and an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her first call was to Incarnation Lutheran in Cedarhurst, New York, which she pastored for nine years until 2005. She was called to First Lutheran Church of the Reformation in New Britain in May of 2005. She and her husband, David, enjoy sports and try to “go green” whenever possible.
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Visitation Pastor – Rev. Willard Baumgarter

I am in my fiftieth year of ministry and served as the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Plainville for 36 years. I also currently serve as one of the chaplains for the Hospital of Central Connecticut the New Britain General Campus. I am involved in a three year project sponsored by the National Cancer Institute focusing on “The needs of end of life patients and spiritual resources for coping”. My son, Nathan, and his wife and son and daughter are members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester, CT and my daughter, Christa, and her husband and two daughters are members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pearl River, N. Y.
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Director of Congregational Life –Jennifer Kilps

Dr. Jennifer Kilps is our full time Director of Congregational Life. Jennifer’s vocational experience includes working as the Twin Cities Coordinator for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps and as Sponsorship Developer for the Minnesota Council of Churches’ Refugee Services Program. Most recently Jennifer received her Master’s in African Liberation Theology and Ph.D. in Religion and Politics from St. Mary’s College at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland. Jennifer is passionate about matters of peace and justice.
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Minister of Music William Hively

William Hively was named Minister of Music in 1996, having since 1986 held music director and administrative assistant positions at ELCA congregations in Newington and Kensington, CT, and at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Britain.

Bill directs the adult and Sunday School choirs and the worship band; oversees the volunteer Bell Choir director; and directs the church’s concert series, involving our musicians and volunteer and professional guests as well as presenting concerts in all genres by performing artists from far and wide. He plans our worship jointly with Pastor Aurand, designing and producing weekly worship folders, news inserts and special worship leader materials. He also administers the Music Series Fund, including the Kallberg-Johnson Memorial Music Fund, infusing our worship experience with professional musicians at major festivals and other special times.
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Youth Director Bre Johnson

Youth Director Bre Johnson, twenty-nine years old , comes to us from Harmony MN. Bre is a recent graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque IA, and prior to that, practiced as a adolescent psychiatric nurse in Madison, WI. She tells us that "I see ministry as a privilege and a blessing . And most importantly, I could not live without the Grace of God that continues to overwhelm with me with its strength and beauty.” We warmly welcome Bre to First Lutheran, and to New Britain .
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