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Associate
Minister
Born and raised in Illinois, Sandy graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Recreation and Park Administration. She has worked in therapeutic, municipal and agency recreation settings. Sandy has over two decades of professional outdoor recreation experience. She directed the UCC Minnesota Conference camping program six years. Sandy is a 1993 graduate of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota. She attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Embracing her ecumenical family roots, Sandy is also a consociate member of the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Integral to her identity is the “bigness of God.” However hard we try, we cannot confine God to a box. Nor should we. Sandy ministers through our wide ranging Christian education programs, youth groups, multi-generational events, worship, pastoral care, and social witness. Her move to the D.C. area presents exciting and challenging opportunity. She continues to revel in the diversity, history and friendliness of the “east.” Sandy joins the CCC faith community in its commitment to be an active and reflective urban, social gospel oriented, inclusive church. Accompanying Sandy is her Guatemalan born pre-school daughter, Jaime. There’s never a dull moment, either at home or church! |
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Nae recently completed an 18 month residency at The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland, and continues to lead workshops and retreats for Group Contemplative Prayer. He and Ted Hull, his partner of 10 years, an archivist with the National Archives and Record Administration, own a house that they fell in love with in nearby Adelphi, Maryland. They spend most of their free time gardening, bike riding, hiking and taking care of Chelsea, their 14 year old Alaskan husky. Nae is currently seeking ordination within the United Church of Christ and hopes to continue to combine his love of music with his love of teaching and spiritual formation in the life of the local congregation.
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Director of Senior Adult Programs
Sarah has been a member of CCC since 1994. As a member, she has spent several years teaching church school and volunteering at elementary and middle school camps. She has also served on Deacons and continues to serve on Referral and Service. While serving as Director of Senior Adult Programming, she remains active in her children’s CCC activities. In search of deeper understanding of her Christian tradition, Sarah attended Wesley Seminary and received her Master’s of Theological Studies in 2004. An interest in meditation led her to complete The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation’s 18 month program on Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats. This program has fueled her desire to work with faith communities on contemplative practices and share the mystical message underlying the Gospels. Although it receives less attention than academic theology, mysticism’s thread runs through and connects all major religions. Currently, she is back at Wesley, pursuing a Master’s of Divinity Degree. Her work with senior adults at CCC is part of a two year “Practice in Ministry and Mission” course at Wesley. Sarah and her husband, Eric Nelson, are long time members of the Interfaith Families Project (IFFP). They are educating their children, Faith and Marc, in both the Christian and Jewish religions. Faith completed IFFP’s Coming of Age program in 2005. In 2006 she completed the confirmation program at CCC. Marc is currently in the Coming of Aging Prep program at IFFP while also being involved in CCC middle school activities. Sarah and Eric have been dialoging with CCC’s Couples Communication group for over 10 years. |
Sandy
began serving as CCC Associate Minister in May 2004. Sandy comes to us
from Minnesota, a place she called home 25 years. Experiential Christian
education, worship, and children, youth and family ministries are areas of
particular expertise and interest.
Nae Pearson came to serve Christ Congregational Church as Director of Music and Organist in July of 2006. Prior to coming to CCC, Nae served at Millian Memorial United Methodist Church in Rockville, Maryland, for five years and during that time earned his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Holding also a Master of Sacred Music from The Catholic University of America, which he completed while serving at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia from 1990 until 2000. 
Sarah joined CCC’s staff in May 2006. Her work at CCC is one of the best gifts she’s ever received, and it is with great joy that she works with senior adults at CCC. 