Diane draws her energy from people and radiates a warmth and joy for ministry. Church has played a central role throughout Diane’s life and has nourished her calling as far back as the youth programs of her home church in Wellesley, MA. Her gifts and skill for ministry have been shaped and deepened by her life experiences along the way: from leading a UCC outdoor ministries program on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee to her years as an elementary school teacher; from Diane’s role as mentor and supervisor at Boston University’s School of Education, to her community-building expertise in residential life at the Dana Hall boarding school. There, for almost two decades, Diane’s training and experience supported the emotional and spiritual growth of adolescent boarding students from all around the world. The campus was home to Diane and family, where they lived in the dormitory setting. It was a place where one heard many languages, experienced a range of cultures, a place where broad diversity taught, challenged, and encouraged the growth of all who called it home. Diane is grateful for the life-changing experience and memories held by her family’s many years at Dana.
Most recently, Diane served the Wellesley Village Church as Interim Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Engagement. Diane served as worship leader and preacher, guide and teacher for a range of small-group ministries, and she accompanied congregants as they navigated the tender places of life. One of Diane’s most humbling ministries at Village Church was her role as lead pastor for an emergency pastoral care call line. This ministry illuminated the needs of folks in the broader community, and enabled Diane to provide spiritual care alongside practical assistance to those in need. Sometimes it took the form of frozen meals or grocery cards, sometimes utility and rent payment, and always time for holy listening, pastoral presence, and prayer.
Diane is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she majored in German and concentrated in Mathematics and Christian religion. She holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from Boston University, and received her Master’s of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School. During her time in seminary, Diane completed her clinical pastoral education training as Chaplain Intern of Spiritual Care at Hebrew Senior Life of Boston. There she focused on palliative and endof-life care in an interfaith setting: it was a demanding yet transformative experience for her. At her graduation from Andover Newton, Diane was inducted into the Jonathan Edwards Society for academic honors and leadership; she was also the recipient of the H. Otheman Smith Preaching Award.
Diane is married to Eric, a tall and gentle arborist, with whom Diane enjoys exploring new hiking trails and just generally being in God’s Creation. Diane and Eric have three wonderful children, Graham, Grace, and Rudy, and one sweet dog named Leo.
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Our Staff
Dr. Patricia (“Trisha”) Snyder – Director of Music Ministry
Trisha began serving Storrs Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, as Director of Music Ministry in 2006. She received her Bachelor of Music in organ performance from the University of Western Ontario, and her Master and Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance from Yale University. In addition to directing our music ministries, Trisha has also served as Professor of Organ (adjunct) at The Hartt School, the University of Harford.
Before coming to Storrs, she was the Director of Music at the Pakachoag Church (UCC) in Auburn, MA, where she also taught organ and piano at the Pakachoag Community Music School. Trisha has taught at Andover Newton Theological School, Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the College of the Holy Cross, and was the Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Guilford.
Trisha has received many awards and grants, including Artist-in-Residence, Cité des Arts (Paris, France), a Gian Silbiger grant, and a Laurence Korwin International Competitions Grant. She studied in Europe with Marie-Claire Alain, earning a Premier Prix and Prix d’Excellence from the Ecole National de Musique de Rueil-Malmaison. Trisha is a prizewinner of many competitions, including the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Competition, and has given recitals in the United States, Canada, England, France, Spain, Switzerland and Japan. A former Dean of the Worcester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), she has served the guild in many capacities. Her solo performances have been broadcast on CBC, BBC, La Radio de la Suisse Romande and WICN Worcester. As a past director and accompanist of the choral ensemble Con Vivium, she can be heard on the compact disc “Love Came Down at Christmas,” featuring the choral music of Leo Sowerby, including ten world première recordings, released on the Albany/Troy label.
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Katherine (“Katie”) Bienvenue – Office Administrator
Katie comes to us with a wide range of office experience. She has an Associate’s Degree in Business Office Technologies and is finishing up her Certificate in Accounting. She was the Administrative Assistant for the Ashford Housing Authority for three years and found it to be her most rewarding job so far. This job enabled her to not only put her administrative skills to work, but it also gave her an opportunity to help others.
Katie is not new to the church, some may remember her as Katie Chague, she was an active participant in many of the youth and teen programs here growing up. She is currently raising 4 human boys, two cats, and a dog. When she isn’t running around (between hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and dance classes) she enjoys sleeping, reading, kayaking, hiking, going to the beach, and exploring northern New England. Their absolute favorite places so far are south eastern Aroostook County in Maine with Groton State Forest in Vermont at a close second.
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Antonio Aguilera – Sexton
The longest-tenured member of our staff team here at Storrs Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is our sexton Antonio Aguilera. A native of Puerto Rico, Antonio lives in Willimantic with his wife Lucia, and enjoys close contact with his kids and grandkids.
As sexton, Antonio ably takes care of the day-to-day cleaning and maintenance of our facilities and grounds, assists with event setup and clean-up, and even gives many an evening and weekend to being on-hand for outside event users and more. The great condition and sparkling cleanliness of our buildings is a testament to the tremendous care and dedication Antonio puts into his work.
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Ellen Bradley – Communications and Digital Ministry Specialist
Ellen Bradley comes to us with 24 years of office management experience in UCC offices: two years at Thompson Congregational Church, followed by 22 years at First Congregational Church of Woodstock. In her position here at SCC, which she has held since 2021, she is happy to be able to now focus exclusively on her special interest of Communications, reaching as many church and community members as possible in our vast computer age, while at the same time balancing this with personalized attention and presence to all, on our common journey along the digital highways.
Ellen lives in Union, CT with her husband of nine years, Edward (Ted), who is the organist/music director at the Church of the Good Shepherd, where Ellen is a Deacon; their cat Nori, and rescue dog, Willow. Ellen and Ted are both involved in many musical activities in their church and community, and Ellen is the bass player for the “Wings of Song” choral group. Ellen also has an adult daughter with whom she enjoys spending time. Among her hobbies are gardening, cooking, canning, creative writing, playing bass, sewing, chess, and cribbage, and she is currently learning piano.
Ellen’s office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. She is happy to help with all of your communication needs!
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