Second Sunday of Advent
Christmas Pageant - "First Annual Noel Awards"

First Sunday of Advent
Guest Minister: Rev. Chris Mereschuk

Rev. Chris Mereschuk (He/Him) is an Unsettled Pastor in the Southern New England Conference with a call to transitional ministry. Chris has served in various roles at churches in Connecticut, New Orleans, and Massachusetts. As a transitional ministry specialist, Chris provides consultation to congregations and leaders throughout the denomination, offering vitality, mission, and Legacy (closure) discernment processes and support. Currently, Chris is training to be a Clergy Coach through the SNEUCC’s Together We Thrive initiative, funded by a Lilly grant. Chris serves as the Moderator of the Hampshire Association (SNEUCC). A native of Canton, CT, he was ordained by the Farmington Valley Association in 2007, with Rev. Mark Diters as his advisor. Chris lives in Northampton, MA with his wife Sarah, son Max, and dog Violet. For more information about Chris, check out revcjm.com

Guest Pastor: Tamara Ravelo

Our guest pastor will be Tamara Fore-Ravelo. Tamara Ravelo emerges from the Quechan Indian Tribe (pronounced Kwuh-tsan), where she proudly represents her Indigenous culture. Her grandmother Denise Dugan was an Indigenous boarding school survivor. Hence, Tamara, family members, and her community constantly encounter its generational challenges. Tamara often says she is the hope of her ancestor’s prayers. In turn, she endeavors to impart that hope to others wherever she goes.

Tamara has an earned master’s in business (MBA) and currently attends Yale University as a MDiv candidate to receive her degree in 2023’. At Yale she leads as president and also serves as a consultant to the oldest African American Congregational UCC church in the world which started in the 1820’s by the enslaved. Additionally, Tamara is a faculty member at the Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development led in leadership by Rev. Dr. Iyana Vanzant, where she teaches a course on ancient wisdom and world religion.

Then, at Salem Covenant Church in Washington Depot, CT, she serves as Assistant Pastor, where she loves prayer and creating spaces for others to heal; however, that may come. In her other life, she is a communications strategenious, specializing in marketing, branding, graphic design, web, publications and other forms of media. Tamara doesn’t do it alone, she is wonderfully loved and supported by her husband, the esquire Michael Ravelo.