Alumni News
Settled Pastor, Full-Time, Trinitarian Congregational Parish (TCP) of Castine: Castine, Maine
Who We Are
The purpose of our congregation is to bind together followers of Jesus Christ in the public worship of God, and to make the will of God dominant in the lives of people, as that will is set forth in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As a congregation, we recently participated in a year-long self-study with respect to the determination that we have been – and continue to be – an Open And Affirming church with respect to the UCC definition thereof. Each and every individual is welcome here, without regard to life’s circumstances, or where she/he/they is/are on the journey of faith.
Position Announcement
The Trinitarian Congregational Parish (TCP) of Castine is prepared to welcome a new leader for our congregation. Situated in a historic, coastal, and academic community, ours is a church of diverse Christian backgrounds with strong lay leadership. We intend to continue our 25-year tradition of supporting a full-time pastor to be our partner in faith, in service, in growth - and to
lead our worship and help us continue in the community as a beacon of hope, help, caring, and
acceptance. The capacity to minister to all ages, a sense of humor, a love of music, and a
penchant for thought-provoking sermons are some of qualities we seek in our next pastor.
Position Overview
The Pastor provides full-time ministry for the Trinitarian Congregational Parish of Castine and is
the primary supervisor of both the half-time Administrator and the Director of Music. The
Pastor’s general responsibilities fall into five (5) basic areas: worship, congregational care,
community care & outreach, administration, and stewardship. Actual work in these areas may be
delegated to others, including both salaried staff and/or volunteers, but the Pastor is ultimately
accountable.
Current Membership - 70
Position Description for a full-time settled Pastor is appended hereto.
Position Salary and Benefits
We follow the UCC guidelines, which can be found at:
https://www.maineucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Compensation-Guidelines-2024.pdf
Complete information regarding current compensation is found in the church’s 2024 Annual
Report, appended hereto.
In addition to the cash salary, as a congregation, we commit ourselves to providing the following
Pastoral Call Agreement terms:
Responsibilities and Duties
Works with Church Council members, boards, committees, congregation, and others to ensure that TCP’s ministry and administrative areas operate efficiently and effectively
Supervises the Church Administrator (with the exception of financial
administration) and the Director of Music
Plans and executes the orderly progression of a meaningful and inspiring worship experience
Conducts sermon preparation and preaches
Plans for the major seasons of the liturgical year
Involves laity in the worship services
Assures that newcomers to the church and community are visited and
relationships are cultivated Works to bring inactive people back to the church
Cultivates and receives new members into the church
Calls on those in hospitals, nursing homes, senior living facilities, homebound, and other places of visitation
Contacts TCP’s seasonal members of the congregation once they leave Castine
Counsels as may be required and makes referrals when appropriate
Conducts weddings, funerals, and baptisms, as required
Assists in keeping the congregation mission-centered
Fulfills the responsibilities associated with being a voting member of the Church Council
Recruits delegates to represent TCP at United Church of Christ meetings
Appoints or takes direct charge of TCP’s Christian Education, which may include youth ministry, college age ministry, adult educational programs, and summer camp coordination
Performs or supervises the public relations tasks involved in producing TCP’s
newsletter, publicity, website, social media, podcast, streaming, emails, and other forms of communication
Performs all duties in a timely manner and meets deadlines
Performs all duties in a manner that promotes goodwill and TCP in a positive light
Liaisons with UCC Maine Conference, UCC National Conference, donors, other
churches, or others as necessary
Knowledge and Skills
From the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry, Section 3, Subsection entitled “The Church’s Expectations Of Its Candidates For Ordination”
Has attained a four-year college degree (bachelor’s degree or its equivalent)
Has graduated or will graduate from an approved theological seminary
Is able to relate the Christian faith to contemporary issues
Has engaged in a disciplined study of and has acquired knowledge in the following fields:
■ The Bible
■ Biblical interpretation
■ Christian education
■ Christian ethics
■ Church history
■ Evangelism and church growth
■ Ministry resources
■ Stewardship
■ Theology
■ United Church of Christ history, polity, practice, and theological roots
■ Worship, sacraments, liturgy
Has acquired skill in:
■ Administration
■ Counseling
■ Group dynamics
■ Interpersonal relationships
■ Listening and communicating
■ Organizing
■ Pastoral care
■ Planning and goal setting
■ Preaching and worship leadership
■ Teaching
■ Working with volunteers and volunteer institutions
■ Is prepared to lead the church as a community in mission
Qualifications
Holds or will hold active Ordained Ministerial Standing with the Sunrise
Association of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ
Demonstrated ability to write and communicate effectively
Demonstrated ability to handle oral communications
Special Conditions
Background check is required
Working Conditions
Private office with computer, printer, phone and other standard office equipment
Must be able to visually inspect work and generate own work on the computer
Must possess a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Housing
Annuity Plan contribution equal to 14% of cash salary and housing allowance
Social Security and Medicare Offset equal to 7.65% of cash salary and housing allowance
Life Insurance and Disability Income Plan contribution equal to 1.5% of cash salary and housing allowance
An annual budgeted amount for Continuing Education and Professional Expenses
Mileage Reimbursement
Vacation Leave provides 4 weeks during each 12 months of service; one week’s leave is earned for each three months of service.
Personal/Compassionate Leave
Ted Bowman (’68) Publishes a New Article Titled “Epiphanies and Grief and Bereavement Care”
The following is an excerpt of an article from by STH Alumnus, Ted Bowman, published by The Journal of Poetry Therapy on August 23, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
Director of Music Ministry, Part Time, First Church in Sterling: Sterling, MA
SUMMARY
The Director of Music Ministry (DMM) leads the music ministries in the church, including organ/piano, choirs, and instrumental music for Sunday worship and other events as needed. The DMM works in conjunction with the Pastor, Organist and lay leadership in planning the musical portion of church programming and worship services.
WHO WE ARE
We are a joyful community who care for each other, for people in our broader community, and for our earth. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association, First Church in Sterling is a theologically diverse, open and affirming, progressive Christian community where we are gathered in the spirit of Jesus and are committed to creating heaven on earth. We offer worship services Sundays at 10 AM, year-round.
We are dedicated to dynamic worship each Sunday morning, with music central to the experience. We celebrate our multi-generational and multi-denominational congregation with a wide range of music and worship opportunities.
We are searching for a DMM to build on the foundation of a choir of around 15 members and a growing and very active congregation of about 300 members (including many with diverse musical talents).
WHO YOU ARE
Passionate about music as a means of spiritual expression and of opening the congregation to spiritual exploration. A choral director in both traditional and contemporary music. Flexible and creative, able to work with musicians of all skill and ability levels, and willing to support the mission of the church.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support of Worship Services:
• Coordinates all music and directs the choir for Sundays and special services including Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve (two services), Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
• Reviews, selects, and purchases music that follows the thematic planning of the senior pastor, worship team, and the liturgical year, and that reflects a wide diversity of styles. Maintains the music library.
• Intentionally programs a thoughtful mix of traditional/contemporary hymns, songs, anthems, and pieces for choirs, small groups, and soloists, and instrumental pieces for organ, piano, or other instrumental groups or soloists.
• Arranges for and provides orientation for guest/substitute musicians and other artists (instrumental, vocal, visual) as needed.
• Provides copyright reporting to appropriate entities for live-streaming worship services.
• Attends weekly staff meetings and meetings of the worship team.
Musical Education and Development
• Rehearses and conducts the adult choir for services and for weekly rehearsal(s).
• Recruits and motivates new choir members and other musicians.
• Creates and maintains information about musical talents/abilities in the congregation and regularly incorporates them into worship services.
• Directs, rehearses, and accompanies children/youth choirs and instrumental groups, as interest warrants.
Stewardship of Music Program Resources
• Oversees with organist the maintenance of pianos, organ, bells, and other instruments
• Procures vestments, folders, music, and other related materials.
• Manages, consults, and advises on music budget and program needs.
Additional Responsibilities:
• Provides consultation and music for other special services; remuneration negotiated with the Senior Pastor.
• Other duties as requested by the Senior Pastor.
Minimum Qualifications:
The Director of Music Ministry must be able to conduct choral groups. The DMM will have:
• Wide range of knowledge in sacred music, contemporary music, and worship planning.
(Bachelor of Music/Sacred Music or certification is preferred but not required.)
• Knowledge of, and ability to implement, choral vocal technique.
• Good communication and organizational skills.
• Spiritual and emotional maturity.
• Willingness to explore innovative ways of growing the music ministry.
• Knowledge of and experience with basic audio/visual technology is a plus.
Please submit a cover letter, resume and possible links to your work to sterlingoffice@gmail.com
Title: Director of Music Ministry
Terms of Employment: Part-time non-exempt position, average of 12 hours per week, 10-12 months/year. Would have the option of taking the summer off for a 10 month position.
Salary: $16-19,000 per year commensurate with experience, with 5 annual paid Sundays off
Audition required.
• Lead a choir rehearsal:
o Rehearse a piece the choir knows well (10-15 minutes)
o Introduce a contemporary piece of your choice to the choir (10-15 minutes).
Reverend Elizabeth Duncan Marshall Casasola, (’20) is New Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Castine, Maine.
Alumnus Rev. Elizabeth D. M. Casasola ('20), is new Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Castine, Maine. The Reverend Elizabeth Marshall Casasola began her ministry with the Trinity Episcopal Church (TEC) in Castine, in September 2025. Rev. Liz was ordained a Priest in February 2023 by theDiocese of Massachusetts and most recently served as Associate Rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Spotswood, NJ. Liz has a dual Masters from Boston University in Divinity & Social Work.
In addition to her half-time ministry with the TEC, Liz serves as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Private Practice specializing in treating individuals with trauma.
Marsh Chapel kicks off its 75th Anniversary Celebration this Weekend
The following is an excerpt from the article “Marsh Chapel, the Soul of Boston University, kicks off its 75th Anniversary Celebration this Weekend” by Rich Barlow, published on September 24, 2025, by BU Today.
Kimberly Macdonald joined the Marsh Chapel Choir at Boston University during her freshman year, in 2001. Macdonald (CFA’04, COM’23) is still singing in the choir 24 years later, as the chapel, opened in 1950, celebrates its 75th anniversary.
“The chapel choir is a spiritual home for me and many of my fellow singers and alumni,” says Macdonald, the BU School of Theology marketing and communications director. “I’ve grown up with this choir. It is the intergenerational community that has been the most steadfast and solid throughout my entire adult life. We’ve seen each other through job changes, moves across the globe, getting married and having children, loves and losses, successes and failures.” Macdonald’s choir mates sang at her wedding in 2013.
...
“Personal holiness and social holiness both converge here,” says the Rev. Robert Allan Hill, the chapel’s dean since 2006 and the sixth person to hold that position; he is also a School of Theology professor. “We express a deep personal faith and an active social involvement [that are] mutually enriching.”
...
Associate Pastor, Full Time, Leighton Church: Caledonia, MI
Shepherd Staff is honored to be working with Leighton Church in Caledonia, MI as they search for their next Associate Pastor. Leighton Church is a rural country church that has been around for 162 years. They’ve recently disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church and are excited about their new independent status. The church is incredibly healthy in both unity and financial operations.
Leighton Church has a familial culture where everyone is known, welcomed, and cared for. The church boasts numerous opportunities for all ages and spending time together throughout the week, deepening their relationship with Jesus. They hold to conservative Christian values including the sanctity of marriage, the teaching of the full Word of God, and a complementarian view of women in ministry.
The Associate Pastor position at Leighton Church in Caledonia, MI, is a unique opportunity to serve in a small-town church with deep roots and a strong desire to grow. This role is broad and relational—supporting the Lead Pastor, sharing in preaching and worship leadership, providing pastoral care through hospital and home visits, and investing in kids, youth, and families.
The ideal candidate will be:
Strong Relational and Pastoral Heart – Able to connect with kids, students, families, and the broader church body through preaching, teaching, hospital/home visits, and personal care.
Leadership in Next Generation Ministry – Skilled at organizing Kids Ministry, revitalizing youth programs, and drawing in young people and families to grow the church’s future.
Compatibility and Communication – Works well alongside the Lead Pastor (Dennis), communicates clearly, is decisive yet loving, and fosters teamwork with volunteers and staff.
Worship and Musical Ability – Ideally able to lead worship and support the church’s music ministry while modeling passionate, Christ-centered worship.
Spiritual Integrity and Lifestyle Alignment – Demonstrates a biblically faithful life marked by holiness, maturity, and alignment with the church’s values (small-town setting, nondenominational background, family-focused culture).
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Associate Pastor role at Leighton Church is a significant opportunity for the right leader to bring organization, vision, and renewed energy to key areas of ministry. The church has a strong base of volunteers and a clear desire to reach young people and families, but there is also a recognized need to strengthen the structure and effectiveness of Kids and Student Ministries. Revitalizing the youth department, creating systems of discipleship through home groups, and providing consistent pastoral care will be central to this position.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct and lead the development of a comprehensive ministry to Preschool Children through High School students, their families, and student ministry leaders.
Recruit, train, and disciple volunteers to handle tasks related to student ministries.
Develop and manage discipleship programs, small groups and Bible study classes.
Work alongside our senior pastor in leading the congregation in ministry and growth.
Apply for this job - https://tss.chat/434313
Reverend Paul H. Sharar (’56)
Paul Sharar Obituary Paul H. Sharar, who spent decades with the YMCA creating pioneering programs for young people, veterans, and families while also shaping the organization s international work, died on August 12, 2025, in Glen Rock, N.J. He was 94.
Born on April 27, 1931, in Iowa, he grew up during the Great Depression, the son of Paul B. and Dorothy Sharar. His father, a school administrator, founded Clinton Community College; his mother was a teacher and community leader. Both believed deeply in education and service. Mr. Sharar recalled childhood summers on the Mississippi River, listening to the music of paddlewheel calliopes and watching barges and steamboats pass. In 1936, he ran to the tracks to see the first sleek yellow streamliner trains streak by at 90 miles an hour a symbol, he said, of a bigger world beyond Depression-era Iowa.
These early memories, he believed, shaped his lifelong fascination with people, places, and history. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University, a Master of Divinity from Boston University where he studied at the same time as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Columbia University s Teachers College. His dissertation, The Training Resources for Youth (TRY) Project (1969), became the blueprint for the nation s first Urban Job Corps center.
Based in Brooklyn, it combined vocational instruction with counseling and job placement and became a model for workforce development. Dr. Sharar began his YMCA career at the Ridgewood, N.J., branch, later moving to the Greater New York YMCA, where he directed the Counseling and Testing Service in Manhattan. During the violent summer of 1967, when Harlem was tense with unrest, his team provided counseling, recreation, and employment opportunities for young people, helping keep peace in the community. He developed programs for veterans returning from service, mothers receiving public assistance, and newly arrived immigrants.
Later, he helped design rehabilitation efforts for people recently released from New York prisons, reflecting his belief that institutions could help restore opportunity. From his office overlooking the Lincoln Tunnel in Manhattan, he often reflected on how the same highway began not far from his childhood home in Iowa a metaphor for the path his life had taken.
From there, he worked with colleagues around the world to expand cultural exchanges. With Don Wheeler and Japanese YMCA leaders such as the Honma family, he built enduring ties between Tokyo and New York, as well as Korea. He collaborated for more than fifty-five years with Dr. Winthrop Adkins, a Columbia University psychologist. Dr. Adkins wrote that their partnership defined much of both their careers, crediting Paul with vision, discipline, and unshakable integrity.
Mr. Sharar and his wife, Helen, lived a life of community service together. For decades they were active in the Ridgewood United Methodist Church and many nonprofit organizations. In later years, he was proud to serve on the Glen Rock Environmental Commission. Those who knew him described him as a spiritual man who lived by the golden rule. He was remembered for his warmth, his ready laugh, and his thousand-watt smile. He was the kind of person who not only asked how you were but genuinely wanted to know and then listened with patience and wisdom.
Beyond his professional work, Mr. Sharar pursued history, science, and the arts, and spent countless hours on genealogy. He believed in education as a force for human flourishing, echoing his father s vision that learning should bring the joy of accomplishment above and beyond the commonplace that might have been. Above all, he loved his family and time together at home in Glen Rock, on vacation and at family gatherings and celebrations. His children and grandchildren remembered that he never missed a performance, art show, or sporting event. His wife, Helen, predeceased him.
He is survived by his daughters, Kathryn Sharar Prusinski, Carol Sharar and her husband, Robert Lutz, Connie Sharar, and Linda Sharar and her wife, Cory Collins; his sister, Carol Straumanis; and grandchildren, Zephyr Prusinski, Griffin Conway, Maya Sharar, and Kennedy Sharar, as well as nieces, nephews, and extended family. A memorial service will be held at Ridgewood United Methodist Church, Ridgewood, NJ on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at 10:30am.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Epic Inclusive Communities https://www.epicschool.org/programs/epic-foundation/ Paul B. Sharar Foundation https://eiccfoundations.org/paul-b-sharar-foundation/ YMCA https://www.ymca.org/donate To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Paul Sharar, please visit our Tree Store. Read More
Sunday School Teacher, Parish of the Good Shepherd: Waban, MA
Thank you for your interest in helping our children grow in the knowledge and love of God! The Parish of the Good Shepherd in Waban (Newton), Massachusetts, is looking for a Church School teacher to teach lower-elementary school children on Sunday mornings from September 2025-June 2026.
The ideal candidate will be ready to plan and deliver simple, fun lessons that foster spiritual growth and community among our children, with support from volunteers and the Director of Christian Education (DCE) as needed. Our teaching is led by the lectionary and by the Montessori-based principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.
Stipend: $100/week (commensurate with experience) while classes are in session (early September - early June). Compensation is based on the expected 2.5 hours of Sunday commitment and an hour or less in preparation of a simple plan. Additional hours should be approved in advance and will be compensated at the same hourly rate.
I. Qualifications
II. Responsibilities
III. Term
To inquire further or to apply, please contact Dr. Rachel Teubner, Director of Christian Education, at ce@goodshepherdnewton.org. Applications should include the following materials:
1. Cover letter
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until position is filled.
Parish of the Good Shepherd
1671 Beacon St
Waban MA 02468
www.goodshepherdnewton.org
office@goodshepherdnewton.org
617-244-4028
Youth & Community Outreach Minister (YCOM), Part Time, Payson Park Church: Belmont, Massachusetts
Do something that matters. Payson Park Congregational Church UCC, (www.PaysonPark.org) an Open and Affirming congregation at 365 Belmont Street, Belmont, MA (next to Cambridge and Boston) is seeking a faithful and dynamic individual to serve as our Youth and Community Outreach Minister (YCOM). (20 to 30 hours/week, $40,000 -$50,000/year, depending upon qualifications, experience, availability). Join with us in making a difference. Be part of a real community. Light up God for our youth. Give them life direction.
This job will return back to you manyfold. As part of our creative and fun team, you will lead faith formation for our youth, including children of all ages; and connect our teens to the church and each other, in a variety of ways, including outreach to our neighbors in need. Be on our team, and make a real difference in the life of young people.
Please submit a cover letter and resume today to PastorEric@PaysonPark.org
Website: http://www.paysonpark.org/
Permanent Church Pianist Wanted, Gig (paid per appearance), First Church of Winthrop.
First Church of Winthrop – Permanent Church Pianist Wanted
First Church of Winthrop, a small, welcoming Methodist congregation, is seeking an
experienced permanent church pianist for Sunday worship services.
Requirements:
• Proficiency in United Methodist hymns and worship music
• Ability to provide preludes, offertories, and postludes for weekly services
• Availability for year-round services (with two paid Sundays off)
• Participation in special services, including Christmas Eve, Good Friday, and Easter
This is a year-round position offering the opportunity to share your musical gifts in a warm,
faith-centered community.
If interested, please reply with “Church Pianist” in the subject line on the following emails
firstchurchum@gmail.com
alimushiw277@gmail.com