Rev. Shawn D. Van Dyke is the Pastor of First United Church of Christ. Born and raised in Oregon, the Rev. Ms. Shawn D. Van Dyke moved to Pennsylvania in 1990. A graduate of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, she was ordained into the Christian ministry with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in May 1985. She has served at Lafayette Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lafayette, California, Community United Church of Christ in Orem, Utah, Bausman Memorial United Church of Christ in Wyomissing, and Community United Church of Christ in Reading, Pennsylvania. As an ordained ministerial partner with the United Church of Christ, she began her ministry with the members of the First United Church of Christ in Schuylkill Haven in April, 1999. Pastor Shawn resides in Schuylkill Haven with her son and daughter, Joel and Cydney.
Christopher Evans is our Minister of Music, providing worship music for services on organ and piano as well as directing the Bell Choir and Chancel Choir. He is a graduate of West Chester University where he received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Vocal Performance. He is also employed by Penn State University, Schuylkill Campus, where he directs the choir and is music director for the annual musical.
Jen Semanco is our Church Secretary. Jen has been a member of First UCC since 1988 and Church Secretary since the fall of 2003. Prior to her employment here, she was a stay at home mom to her three sons, Nicholas and twins Zachary and Joshua, until they all began school at Schuylkill Haven School District. Jen resides outside of Auburn with her husband, Greg and their sons.
