Meet Our Congregation's Paid Staff
Our pastors, the Rev. Craig Hoffman and the Rev. Jan Hoffman, are husband and wife and have served First Reformed Church of Scotia since 1994. They have two grown sons, John and Judson, who are also part of the First Reformed Church family. Craig's office hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan's hours are Tuesday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Craig serves the
church on a full-time basis. He received his
theological education at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New
Brunswick, New Jersey, a seminary of the Reformed Church in America and
the oldest theological seminary in the country. From 1979 to 1994 Craig
served as the Pastor of the Pultneyville Reformed Church on the shore
of
Lake Ontario just east of Rochester, NY. He has also served two terms
on the Editorial Board of The Church Herald, the magazine of
the
Reformed Church in America, and two terms on the board of directors of
the RCA's Church Building Fund. For fun, Craig enjoys hiking, biking,
reading and is an amateur astronomer. Before ministry Craig was a
licensed professional civil engineer with bachelor's and master's
degrees from the University of Michigan.
Jan serves the
church on a half-time basis. She received her
theological education from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Jan
has also served as the Interim Director of the Reformed Church's Fowler
Camp and Retreat Center in Speculator, NY, and as a member of the
National Council of Churches Commission on Worship and the Arts. For
fun, Jan enjoys travel and is a gifted vocalist. She is a graduate of
Hope College in Holland, Michigan and is a recent member of the
college's alumni board.
Our Church
Secretary, Kathie Balser, has cheerfully answered our
phones and graciously managed our church office since 1996. She became
a member of First Reformed Church in 1987 after friends invited her to
worship. Kathie and her husband, Steve, have two grown sons. In her
free time she enjoys quilting, reading, jogging and their camp in
Maine. Kathie's office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our Church
Sexton, Lee Poremba, has cleaned and cared for our
church
home since 2000. She became a member of First Reformed Church in 1997.
Lee was shopping for a church and says she stopped shopping here
because
of the warmth of the people. Lee has three grown children and three
grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors and quilting.
Lee works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Our Director of
Music Ministry, Rebecca Shepherd, became active at First Reformed
Church in 1990 when she joined the choir. The church’s good music
attracted her. For ten years she directed one of the Children’s Choirs.
Rebecca teaches choral music at Lansingburgh in Troy, New York. She directs five choirs at the secondary level and teaches general music at the Middle School level. Rebecca has directed the High School Musicals for 16 years, and has been a guest conductor for several All-County Music Festivals. Rebecca and her husband London both enjoy spending time with their twin granddaughters who keep them very busy. She also enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time.
Church Organist Justan Foster came to us in 2011 and says, "The sense of community and warmth attracted me to become a member the next year in 2012." Justan began studying the piano at age 6 and the organ at age 15, studying with Lonnie Kulick and Peter Mahigian.Ê From 2007 to 2009 Justan was the West Point Organ Scholar with Craig S. Williams, and currently studies with noted composer Alfred V. Fedak. He has a BA from the University at Albany-SUNY, and has also studied liturgical music at the College of Saint Rose.
Kristen Bodden is the Coordinator of Christian Living
Kate Dulmes is the Youth Group Leader