Ben is from Wisconsin but is very happy calling Colorado and its beautiful landscape (and better weather!) home now. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology and Religion from Ripon College and his Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Ben’s wife Caitlin is a lead collaborator at the Fred Tjardes School of Innovation in Greeley. Ben, Caitlin, and their son Emmett love calling Greeley home! 

Nicholas is a Northern Colorado-based conductor specializing in orchestral, choral, and operatic
music. He has worked with ensembles around the US and Canada including Opera Fort Collins,
Loveland Opera Theatre, and the Greeley Philharmonic. Nicholas also served as the Music Director for Heartland Opera Theatre in Joplin, MO, and the Halifax Summer Opera Festival in Nova Scotia for many years. In addition, he has taught music at Crowder College, Laramie
County Community College, Missouri Southern State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and works regularly as an operatic voice coach.. Nicholas’ compositions and arrangements are performed around the country by orchestras, choirs, and university groups. Nicholas and his partner Eli love to read, eat good food, go on adventures, and sing at the piano.

Laura is a Greeley native who has called our church home since high school. She is an only child with a brother, a sister, and a full-of-love family story. Laura has a special love for the work we do with the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and in her free time, she enjoys singing a capella with two Sweet Adelines choruses. Laura loves life alongside her partner, Emily, and two chaotic cats, Cassius and Nebula. 

Tammi is a Michigan native who has called Greeley home for over a decade. She graduated from Calvin University with a double major in Psychology and Spanish and followed that with an M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. Tammi deeply believes that children are already on a spiritual journey and that the grown ups' job is to make spaces for kids to meet God in ways that make sense to them. Children's prayer practices and play languages have allowed Tammi to meet God in new ways. Her favorite prayer practice is blowing bubbles.

Tammi is married to Phil, who does all manner of web and video things and is also the home cook. Together, they love hanging out with their two elementary-aged kids. When the kids aren't keeping her busy, she loves reading, doodling, and attempting to keep plants alive outside.

Shona holds Bachelor's degrees in music education and piano performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Shona has been teaching in Northeastern Colorado since 1997. She taught K-12 music, choir and band in Merino, Colorado for three years after her graduation from college. Shona has been teaching general music and keyboard classes at Union Colony Children's Music Academy for 21 years and maintains a large private piano studio in Greeley, working with students of all ages. Shona also currently serves as the accompanist for the 8:00 a.m. chapel service at First Congregational Church. She is a proud mom of two amazing sons, one a senior in college and one a senior in high school. 

Colin is a Fort Collins native and has had to struggle with his name being spelled with two L's his entire life. He studied music at Colorado State University and the Manhattan School of Music where he received his master's degree in classical voice (opera). Colin enjoys board games and painting, listens to punk rock and metal, and will always have time to talk about dungeons and dragons.

Bridget recently graduated from Greeley West High School and is currently a student at the University of Northern Colorado. She is working to earn her BA in Psychology. She hopes to achieve a PhD in Child and Developmental Psychology. Bridget enjoys nature, music, theatre, traveling, and her very silly looking dog Apollo. If her brain was a soup, it would be cereal. 

Chloe is from Colorado Springs, CO and is currently a Freshman at The University of Northern Colorado.
She is majoring in Nursing and hopes to become a pediatric RN after graduating. She enjoys hiking,
running, climbing, camping and really anything else in nature. Most of all, Chloe aspires to encounter
everyone with love and joy in hopes of demonstrating the love and joy she has found in Jesus Christ.

Hi my name is Zenith Rhoda Maupin and I’m originally from the beautiful country Philippines. I have 6 boys that makes a one solid basketball team. I work at Sunshine House as a childcare teacher and work at the FCC as a part-time childcare teacher. Ive been working at the church nursery since 2019. I love working with the little ones, there smiles, giggles, hugs and kisses just makes me feel young again. FCC is a beautiful congregation that makes me feel that I am home. My favorite things to do here in Colorado is camping and fishing.

Rev. Tamara Torres McGovern found her way to ministry following a path which included spiritual formation as a yoga instructor, holistic cook, folk musician, and massage therapist. She has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Mount Holyoke College in MA,  and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University in New York, where her focus was Voices from the Margins. Ordained in 2013, Rev. Tamara served church congregations and emergent spiritual communities in Connecticut and Maine, before being called to Colorado. She dreams of a spiritual community where people are welcome in all of their messy, passionate, embodied suffering and hopefulness. She dreams of a place where justice is held up not only as the right thing to do, but as a path to encountering God. Rev.Tamara is trained as an Interim Minister, helping to guide communities through identity formation and transition. She is a passionate Enneagram educator (2w3), has volunteered as a Community Chaplain for Planned Parenthood, and co-hosts the "Queer Spirit" radio series (part of OUTcast radio at WMPG in Maine). When Rev. Tamara is not working, she can be found hiking, biking, baking (or engaging in power struggles) with her spunky kiddo, cuddling with the family dog, or listening to fantastical podcasts with her partner. Rev. Tamara and her family are delighted to be in Greeley and to be a part of a kind, curious and compassionate community like the one at FCC.

Lara Jean O’Connor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Oboe Performance from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. After graduate work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she returned to Denver to pursue her music career. She has been a staff accompanist at Metropolitan State University of Denver since 2009 where she is the principal accompanist for University Treble Choir and University Basso Choir. She is a freelance accompanist in the Denver area as well as a private piano instructor. When she is not playing, Lara Jean enjoys crafting and reading.

Whitney grew up in central Kansas, but has been thrilled to call Colorado home for the last decade. She is a seminary student, working toward a MDIV in Social Transformation with United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Whitney has a passion for Social Justice, and has a Bachelor degree in Social Work with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Kansas. She is inspired by the ways transformational love moves in community, and is passionate about grounding ways we serve in our faith. In her free time she enjoys hiking and camping with her partner Nick, and son Theo. 

Hutton is a Greeley native who recently graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a degree in International Affairs. After graduation, Hutton and his wife, Olivia, moved to Hawaii for 8 months where they lived the island life! He is currently in seminary in pursuit of his M. Div. Hutton has been doing youth ministry in Greeley for about 6 years, and is so excited to be a part of the FCC Youth Ministry. 

Hutton is a former tennis player and coach, and still enjoys getting out on the court! He also loves riding his bike, trying new foods and activities, and getting to meet and talk with new people. Hutton and his wife have an Australian shepherd, Olive, and love taking her out on hikes and to eat on patios!

Kathy Azari studied Oboe at UNC and received her BME in 1989. She was the Band Director at Brentwood Middle school for 31 years until her retirement in 2021. She has also taught early childhood music through Union Colony Children's Music Academy since 1999 and continues to love singing, dancing, moving, and playing with these students every week.. She was the Greeley/Evans District 6 Teacher of the Year in 2013 and that same year was awarded the director of a Program of Excellence by the National Band Association. She was awarded the Outstanding Woman of Weld County distinction in 2007 for her contributions to music education in Weld County. Currently, she teaches woodwind lessons through Music & Arts in Ft. Collins. In addition to music, she works as a Recognition Specialist at Award Alliance in Greeley. She and her family has been members of First Congregational Church in Greeley since 1995. 

Tyler lives with his family in Loveland. In his free time, Tyler enjoys cycling and creating exceptional woodworking projects

Dr. Keenan Boswell received a Bachelors degree in Organ Performance from The Julliard School, a Masters in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College, and a Doctorate in Opera Coaching from The University of Texas in Austin. 

As a keyboardist for the Carmel Bach Festival between 2014 and 2018, Dr. Boswell served as chorale accompanist, orchestral keyboardist, and collaborative pianist for the festival's main stage solo vocal concerts. Selections from his voice-piano song cycle Trinity were premiered to much acclaim during one of the featured main stage concerts during the 2018 festival. As a composer, Dr. Boswell's works have been and continue to be performed across the United States in schools, churches, and concert halls.

Dr. Keenan Boswell is also a highly regarded professional coach who teaches self healing practices through music and metaphysics as the means through which one can access and actualize their most authentic expression of self. 

In 2017, Dr. Boswell launched Return to Self Healing, commencing his work as a personal coach. Using metaphysical studies + astrological archetypes as the basis of his coaching, he works with individuals one-on-one and in group settings to help them consciously see and accept all aspects of self, as well as see any and all ways in which they avoid aspects of self. Most recently, Dr. Boswell has merged music and metaphysics together by offering coaching sessions in which he composes music that reflects one's authentic energetic expression and self healing journey. 

Above all, Dr. Boswell seeks to explore and express the connection in all things through all that he does and loves sharing the journey of self healing with others.

Joshua works closely with Tyler Rossman to attend to the upkeep and care of our building and grounds. Joshua grew up in the church and recently graduated from Greeley West High School.