The Team

Rev. Dave Stambaugh

Pastor

Rev. Dave has been at the Essex Congregational Church since July of 2022.  Before that, he served churches in New Jersey, California, and Connecticut as both a solo and associate minister. He holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Seminary and a Master of Sacred Theology from Drew University.  He is currently the chaplain for the Essex Fire Department, and is also an avid pickleball player, cyclist, and drummer.  

revdaveucc@gmail.com

Shari Wilcox

Music / Choir Director

Shari graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree. She is a member of the faculty of The Community Music School in Centerbrook, where she teaches piano and voice. As an award-winning mezzo-soprano, Shari has appeared in opera, musical theater, and as a guest soloist with regional orchestras. Shari has served at FCC Essex since 2007. If you’d like to learn more about Shari, click here.

wilcox.shari@gmail.com

Cheryl Harger

Bell Choir Director

Cheryl Harger has been directing handbells at FCC Essex since 1999 and has also been ringing in the community handbell choir, Shoreline Ringers, since 2008. Although her degree is in accounting, music has always been a part of her life which started when her mother taught her piano as a young girl.

Kevin Xiao

Accompanist

Kevin Xiao was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Connecticut in 1999. Since then, he has received his Bachelor and Master of Music Degree from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. Kevin joined the Music Ministry of FCC Essex in September 2019.

Karen Burzin

Office Administrator

Karen and her family live in Ivoryton. Along with nurturing her spouse, 3 children, and two dogs, she also enjoys reading, gardening, and harvesting all that she has planted. She has been with FCC Essex since 2018.

essexuccoffice@gmail.com

Becky Stambaugh

Children / Youth

Our children and youth programming is led by Becky Stambaugh, who has spent over 25 years of her professional career working with children and youth both in public schools and in ministry. She considers Essex UCC her ‘home’ church where her husband serves as pastor, but during the school year, you will find her on Sundays serving as the Christian Education Director at Westbrook UCC, and leading the Valley Shore youth group which provides youth ministry for several congregational churches in the greater Valley Shore area.

becky@creativeCEsolutions.com