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New Minister Profile:
Rev. Dr. Sara Worcester
First Congregational Church of Coventry

by Drew Page

Rev. Dr. Sara Worcester and her dog, Cassidy

COVENTRY (09/24/2012) -- Rev. Dr. Sara Worcester, Senior Pastor at First Congregational Church of Coventry, may have degrees in Psychology and Social Work, but her true calling was not in therapy or counseling. Worcester has a true passion to make "God's love real in people's lives."

Worcester studied psychology and religion at Mount Holyoke College. She earned her Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in 1989. She served in Bloomfield and Amherst before enrolling at UConn to study social work. After earning her Masters of Social Work, Worcester served part-time in Wilton, and later, both part and full time in East Granby.

In 2009, Worcester opened the Serenity Center for Individual Growth in covenant with East Granby Congregational Church. Here, she led spiritual retreats and met with individuals to discuss their spiritual direction.

"It fit me to walk into the sacred moments of peoples live, when things that matter are happening," said Worcester when discussing why she chose to become clergy rather than a career in counseling. "Often [counseling] was only seeing one segment of people's lives. With ministry you get to see the joy and sorrow in people's lives."

New Ministers' Profiles An occasional series welcoming those new to serving in the Connecticut Conference UCC.

In July, Worcester was called to serve as the senior pastor at First Congregational Church of Coventry. Worcester says she saw a church with a willingness to embrace the "good that they have been" and take the next steps in a congregation consisting of four living generations. The church has historically been a partner in the town responding to the needs of the town and the area, and Worcester encourages the church to continue their hands on approach to mission. Moving forward, Worcester has implemented a small group spiritual session that was full in the first two weeks. In January, she hopes to begin a contemporary evening praise service. She envisions worship with a different form of music, a digital display to promote "face up" singing experience, and a service shared in the round in the fellowship hall as opposed to the sanctuary.

Drew Page is Media Assistant for the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ.