Our minister, Rev. Claire, will be on sabbatical from June 21 to November 30, 2025. The summer months, from June 21 to August 25, our ministerial intern Nate Clark will lead our summer worship programs with support from guest preachers. He’ll offer pastoral care in collaboration with our lay ministers. Beginning August 25 and going through November 30, we are delighted to announce that the sabbatical minister will be Rev. Carolyn Patierno. Rev. Carolyn is a dear friend and colleague of Rev. Claire’s, and she is retiring from her congregation in New London, CT this spring. Read more about Rev. Carolyn.

Rev. Carolyn will be half-time at Follen, supervising Nate along with our director-level staff, and working closely with lay leaders. She will be in person on Sundays and Mondays, with remote availability on other days of the week. She will preach about half of the fall Sundays and support Nate and guest preachers on other Sundays. Rev. Claire says: “To know Carolyn is to love her! You even heard a story from Carolyn this January, during our worship theme of Friendship. She’s a warm, funny, and calm presence, and she’ll keep all our ships afloat while I gratefully receive the gift of rest and spiritual rejuvenation. Please welcome her at Ingathering with open arms!”