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Pastors

 

Rev. Mark Seifried, Pastor
Haydenville Congregational Church has called a new pastor, the Rev. Mark Seifried. Pastor Mark began his service as our designated-term minister on March 1, 2023. Prior to this he served as intentional interim minister of the First Congregational Church in Williamstown. Has led other congregations, including First Churches in Northampton. 

 

Rev. Carol Rinehart

Rev. Carol Rinehart, Pastoral Care Minister 
I’ve been a member of Haydenville Congregational since 2005 when my husband Doug Renick and I moved from Boston to Florence.   For the past 11 years I have been part of a Hospice team supporting people at the end of life. After some decades as an organizational consultant helping leaders make fair and positive work environments, I shifted my work focus to “standing in the fire” of antiracist action.  At the same time I felt called to develop skills in offering spiritual guidance.  Our move to Western Mass opened the door to a curiously organic new chapter in my checkered career with a call to pursue interfaith ordination and go into hospice work.I was ordained in 2008 by the Interfaith Temple of New York and The Community of the Mystic Heart.  I am also a member of The Guild for Spiritual Guidance.
I believe every vocational choice and congregational role can be an important call to “the ministry of the laity,” and that all seekers grow and enrich one another through study, prayer and speaking their truth from the depth of the soul.  I prefer to “lead from behind” and share God’s delight in every one’s unique gifts.


yohah

Rev. Yohah Ralph, Minister of Outreach and Pastoral Care
Through my years in ministry, I have been a worship leader, and been involved in pastoral care, prayer ministries, spiritual direction, human rights advocacy, feeding ministries, and service to underserved populations.Following a rich experience in a worshiping community in Northampton, MA, I pursued theological education. I undertook studies at Weston Jesuit Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and earned a Master of Divinity degree at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. In pursuit of skills to deepen theological conversations, I completed a practicum in spiritual direction at the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA. My passion is to share the healing and saving power of faith I have experienced, with others. I am dedicated to supporting the needs, dreams, and aspirations of the people I meet, through acts of kindness, and cultivating the use of prayer, forgiveness, sacred scripture, dialogue, writing, and expressive arts as catalysts for transformation and self-actualization. I am passionate about inter-generational ministry, the power of the spoken word, the dignity of every person, and joy as a means to God’s true nature.