Our Clergy & Staff « First Congregational Church of St. Louis

Our Clergy & Staff

Rev. Nayiri Karjian
Interim Senior Minister

An Armenian Christian born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, Nayiri Karjian graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1985 from Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster PA.

Since then Nayiri has served as Bethany UCC, Ephrata, PA; First Congregational UCC, Madison, WI; First Congregational UCC, Ottawa, IL; Spring Glen UCC, Hamden, CT; Congregational Church UCC, Easton, CT, First Congregational UCC, Houston, TX and First Congregational UCC Downers Grove, IL.

At this time on her journey Nayiri feels called to Interim Ministry particularly because she feels that she can more likely be an agent of growth and change. She is interested in spiritual journeys, individual and communal, since she believes that religion is not only about a set of beliefs but about journeys of transformation and enlightenment when we move from darkness to light, from oppression to liberation, crucifixion to resurrection, and death to life. She celebrates that everyone is on a journey and everyone has a story.

Nayiri’s particular interests include the arts, especially music, reading, traveling, languages, global issues, and good chocolate.

Contact Rev. Nayiri by email. Contact by phone: 314-721-5060 x 12

Rev. Steve Westbrook
Acting Associate Minister
Since graduation from Eden Theological Seminary in 1991, I have served at United Church Neighborhood Houses, Webster Groves Christian Church and South Summit Christian Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. I am thankful to now begin my 20^th year of ministry as Acting Associate Minister with the people of First Congregational! Building on your good and strong foundation, our ministry (TOGETHER!) with children, youth and young adults will be filled with great meaning, joy, good-kind-of-challenge and fun! From getting to know one another…to discovering new gifts and talents…to exploring faith and spirituality in new ways… to enriching friendship and community… to giving of ourselves in mission, we are blessed to now embark on this new journey.

I am married to Kim and we have two young adult children (Lindsay and Sean) along with two sons at home. (Luke and Jake) Besides my family and mission and ministry, I love sports, geocaching, camping, fishing and the piano.

Let us live simply, love lavishly and be the best “we”, we can be! Contact Steve by email

Ron Hall, First Congregational UCC Church, Music Director

Ron Hall
Director of Music & Organist

Last year, I was very pleased to be celebrating my 20th year as Music Director and Organist at First Congregational Church. I grew up in Huntsville Alabama where I was an organ student of Kenneth Turvey, a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory. I completed my Bachelor Degree in Sacred Music and Organ at Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee where I studied organ with Helen Trotter Midkiff. I studied conducting and choral technique with Irwin Ray, a student of Robert Shaw. Before completing my Master’s in Organ Performance at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, I was appointed Music Director and Organist at First Congregational Church in 1989. I enjoy being a part of such a tradition of successful and high quality music ministry and feel very blessed to be a part of the First Church Ministry. Contact Ron by email

Deb Goldfeder
Parish Nurse

First Congregational Church’s parish nurse, Deb Goldfeder, works with members and their families to promote health in body, mind and spirit. She not only checks our blood pressures but she also provides health teaching, makes referrals to agencies in the community, visits people in hospitals, homes or in nursing homes to provide pastoral care as well. Deb and the Tuesday Saints Women’s Fellowship obtained a defibrillator (AED) for the church. Deb arranged Heartsaver/AED training for the staff and interested church members. Contact Deb by email

Deb has a special interest in mission: she lived and worked with the Moru tribe in Southern Sudan from December of 2005 to June of 2006. When an opportunity to a return came up to there to assess the hospital, First Church supported her. This picture of Deb and her friend’s son, Most, was taken during December 2008.

First Congregational UCC Church Staff

First Congregational Church Staff
Ron Brooks, Custodian; Karen Safe, Church Administrator and Don Hubatka, Bookeeper

If you have any questions about First Congregational Church, where to find something, who to contact or how to get something done, these are the folks you need to find! Always ready to help, you’ll find our staff’s helpful attitude always welcoming, whether you need to get something done or just want to stop by and say hello. Contact Karen by email

Seminary Intern, David Irick

Hello! I will be your seminary intern fall 2011 and winter/spring 2012. I am currently halfway through my education at Eden Theological Seminary and am looking forward to gaining a great deal of wisdom and experience through my time with you this coming year. I am originally from Troy, OH and grew up going to First United Church of Christ in Troy, and spending a week every summer at church camp. I came to Eden straight from The Ohio State University, where I graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education. During my time at Ohio State I was a member of The Ohio State University Marching Band, and you may not find a bigger Ohio State fan in St. Louis! I have been working in ministry settings since 2004 on the summer staff of the church camp I went to, and I found the ability to be a greater influence and inspiration for children at camp than I had found with students in a public school classroom.

This fall I will be coming back to St. Louis straight from Montana! I have been fortunate to spend the summer in Montana working in Glacier National Park with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP). While I missed the Ohio Conference UCC camps this summer, I know I needed a new adventure to help myself grow in my capacity for ministry, and working in Glacier has proved to be a great experience, helping me to grow personally and spiritually. I look forward to spending this next year working with First Congregational Church and I’m excited about the opportunities that will present themselves!