WELCOME! Please SCROLL DOWN to meet our whole staff...

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The Rev. David Reed-Brown, Pastor
Evelyne Battle, Office Manager & Director of Music
Jean Aldrich-Jones, Organist
Arlene Howes, Handbell Choir Director
Dan Kehoe, Composer in Residence
Sue Begin, Youth Leader & Sunday School Coordinator
Joyce Munson, Youth Leader
Ronnie Marquis, Food Ministries Coordinator
Win Senter, Facilities Manager
Joe Bevilaqua, Custodian

 

The Rev. David Reed-Brown, Pastor

Since coming to Suffield in 2005, I have fallen in love with the people of Second Baptist and this delightful community.  I enjoy being a pastor because I get to help bring the loving mercy and peace of God into the world, especially the dark places. I am inspired most by Luke 4:14-21, the summary of what following Jesus is all about.  Therefore, my ministry is a progressive combination of creative worship, hospitality, inclusive social justice outreach, mission, education, and shared interfaith ministries. I rejoice that Second Baptist has sent out ten teams to minister in the Dominican Republic and work with Habitat for Humanity in the Katrina ravaged communities around Biloxi, Mississippi.  Personally, I love being outdoors, swimming, working with computers and media, and I perform a cabaret magic show called, "Illusion, Wonder & You."  I was born in Providence and landed in Suffield from Essex, Connecticut where I ministered for twelve years. I received my Masters of Divinity at Andover Newton Theological School in Boston and my Bachelors in computer science, vocal music and religion at Denison University in Ohio.  One of the highlights of my life was studying at the United Theological College in Bangalore, India, in 1991. It changed my entire outlook on life.  I provide ethics training for seminarians and professional church leaders to help prevent sexual abuse in the church.  I have been a chaplain at a mental hospital doing Clinical Pastoral Education and I am certified as a Prepare Enrich (tm) marriage counselor, so I am honored to listen to your tough questions.  My wife, Cindy, is a state Education Consultant for visually impaired preschoolers.  Our boys, Matthew and Kirby, bring us amazing joy.

If you have a dire emergency please call any time. You can make an appointment for Sundays-Thursdays by calling 860-668-1661, ext. 13. I am in the office Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to mornings and Tuesday from noon to around 3 pm.  I am usually off with my family on Fridays and Saturdays.  Our office manager, Evelyne Battle, is in the office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 2 pm with reduced hours in the summer.  We are glad you stopped by this site to find out more about Second Baptist. If there is ever any way we can be available to you and yours, please be in touch.  Feel free to e-mail me by clicking here.

Evelyne Battle, Office Manager & Director of Music

Ms. Evelyne Battle has been with Second Baptist since 2000 and now serves as our extraordinary Office Manager and Director of Music. She oversees our entire music ministry and conducts the adult sanctuary and two children's choirs. Evelyne has a degree in music and loves performing on stage and off whenever she can. This explains why she loves leading our choirs in some of her favorite contemporary pieces. Please be in touch with her if you would like to sing or play. You can e-mail Evelyne by clicking here.  You can call her at 860-668-1661 during Church Office Hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 2 pm. You will find Evelyne leading our music ministries on Thursdays and, of course, Sundays.

Jean Aldrich-Jones, Organist

Jean is our fabulous instrumentalist. She recently retired from over 40 years as an elementary school music teacher in Massachusetts. She is proficient in classical, jazz and contemporary music and readily switches back and forth between organ and piano. Jean is in charge of the music for all of our weddings and funerals as well. During the fall, you will find her singing in the Springfield symphonic choir because she adores performing in the annual Pops concert. Her husband, David Jones, is a member of our handbell and sanctuary choirs and often plays trumpet for us. You may e-mail Jean by clicking here.

Dan Kehoe, Composer in Residence

Dan has been our composer in residence for several years.  He has written pieces for bell choir, vocal choir and orchestra. For Second Baptist's 200th Anniversary in 2005, Dan composed a very special five movement piece for orchestra and choir entitled "Journey Suite." He enjoys nothing more than composing on his synthesizer and authoring DVDs. (He is quite fond of carrot raisin salad.) Dan is also president and CEO of Bigfoot Labs which provides software for emergency services. You may e-mail Dan by clicking here.

Sue Begin, Youth Leader & Christian Education Coordinator

Sue Begin has been at Second Baptist Church her entire life. She is currently one of our two youth leaders. Along with Joyce Munson, you will find her taking youth bowling, coordinating a Friday night dance in Fellowship Hall, leading young people in discussions of spirituality, taking an intergenerational group to the Soul Fest Contemporary Christian Music summer extravaganza in New Hampshire, teaching kids how to prepare meals for soup kitchen, or just listening to the joys, pains and hopes of our young people in Suffield. With Sue, "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Sue is also our Sunday School Coordinator where she oversees our Sunday School program at 10 am and the more interactive Kids For Christ Program on Sundays at 9 am. Sue is the leader of Begin Preschool here at Second Baptist. She checks her e-mail regularly, but if you want to reach her sooner, it is best to call her at 860-402-7813.

Joyce Munson, Youth Leader

Joyce Munson is our fun, thoughtful, kind and open-minded youth leader. Along with Sue Begin you will find her reaching out to young people, accepting them just as they are. She is the kind of person anyone can talk to. When she is not here at Second Baptist, you will find her in a local theater helping young people make their artistic dreams come true. She also provides excellent catering services during the summer.

Ronnie Marquis, Food Ministries Coordinator

Ronnie Marquis is one of our newest members of the church staff. In her new position as Food Ministry Coordinator you will see her enabling many leaders to host the meals and receptions at Second Baptist during the year. Ronnie feels called by God this this very important ministry of fellowship, love and hospitality. She is the person to contact about any use of our main kitchen in Fellowship Hall, including coffee hour, church suppers, mid-day luncheons and even receptions for weddings and funerals. Special meals highlighting our program year include the Welcome Home Sunday Breakfast in September, Pasta Suppers, the fall public Turkey Supper, our Church Family Thanksgiving Supper (the Sunday before Thanksgiving), our Sunday Lenten Breakfasts, Easter Breakfast, our grand Strawberry Supper and the All-Church Picnic in June. You may e-mail Ronnie by clicking here.

Win Senter, Facilities Manager

Win Senter joined our team in early 2006 as facility manger of our buildings and grounds. He regularly coordinates with Food Ministries Coordinator Ronnie Marquis and Custodian Joe Bevilaqua to see that church and other public events run smoothly. Win works with our Housing Committee to take care of our church buildings, the surrounding grounds and the pastor's parsonage. From light bulbs to major renovations, he oversees it all. You may also find him around the state building post and beam homes, log cabins or renovating kitchens. Most of all, Win is grateful to God for his new bride, Patsy. You may e-mail Win by clicking here.

Joe Bevilaqua, Custodian

Joe has one of the hardest jobs in the whole church: cleaning up after all of us! While the work is never done, he arrives before the sun is up to keep our church building ship shape. If you have a job or concern for Joe, please be in touch with Facility Manager Win Senter because they coordinate those things together.

Jennie Gogulski, Nursery Attendant

While you may only see Jennie's smiling face on Sunday mornings, she is one of the most indispensable members of the staff because she provides a loving and mature presence in our church nursery. For Second Baptist, providing a safe and caring nursery for our precious little ones is TOP PRIORITY. Leaving your child in Jennie's trustworthy care will free you to worship God in solace and peace.

Arlene Howes, Handbell Choir Direcctor

Arlene joined us as Director of our Handbell Choir in the fall of 2006 and has done a fabulous job developing the program and growing the choir.  Arlene has been the organist and Director of Music at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Enfield, CT since 1978. She has an extensive background in sacred and choral music and helps us out on occasion as organist for funerals and weddings as well as a substitute for Jean.