Rev. Elizabeth Arulampalam (Pastor Liza) holds degrees from Emory University (Bachelors in Religion and Spanish) and Yale Divinity School (Masters in Divinity). Liza grew up in a UCC church, was ordained in the American Baptist Church, and now has dual standing in both denominations. In addition to pastoring two churches, Liza has worked in a variety of ministry contexts including middle and high schools in New Haven and Hartford International University. Liza was one of the founding clergy of the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance and is passionate about interfaith work, racial justice, and teaching the rich stories of Jesus to disciples of all ages. Liza lives with her husband Arunan and five children in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford.
You may email Pastor Liza at pastor@cchartford.org
Robert F. Gilbert is Director of Music/Organist of Center Church, where he directs a choir made up of professionals, college music interns and seasoned volunteers and plays the church’s 4 manual 63 rank Austin organ. Bob oversees the church’s Music and Arts Concert Series which annually hosts the Greater Hartford Handel’s Messiah Community Sing which he founded in 2006. As a church musician for over 40 years, Bob has served as Director of Music/Organist at UCC churches in Wallingford, Connecticut and Longmeadow, Massachusetts, as well as serving as Interim Organist at Hartford’s Asylum Hill Congregational Church. Prior to his work at Center Church, Bob was Director of Music and Organist at Trinity Methodist Church in Windsor, Connecticut (2001-2017), where he co-directed a comprehensive music program including graded vocal and handbell choirs for children and adults, a contemporary music team, and a concert series. Bob is a native of New Jersey and a three-time winner of the American Guild of Organists Biennial Organ Competition. Bob and his wife Eileen have three adult daughters. Bob worked for 38 years in the Connecticut Public Schools and recently retired from his position as Superintendent of Schools in Woodbridge, Connecticut. He is currently the Part Time Superintendent for the Colebrook Schools.
You may email Bob at rgilbert@cchartford.org
The Rev. Dr. Eric J. Hearst joined the Center Church staff in early September 2021. He is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and previously lived in that state as well as Maryland, New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Eric considers himself a life-long learner and has completed degrees in the fields of education, social work, and theology. He is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC (Bachelor of Science; Master of Social Work), Argosy University (Doctor of Education), and Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity/Master of Arts). He has worked as a social worker in public and private school systems in the National Capital Region of the United States, serving students and families with distinction. Eric has also served churches in administrative and pastoral capacities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Flemington, New Jersey and South River, New Jersey. He recently completed a Chaplain Residency program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in Plainsboro, New Jersey, a component of the University of Pennsylvania Health Care System before coming to Center Church. Eric was recently ordained as a minister of the United Church of Christ. He is excited about working with Center Church and looking forward to our adventures in ministry together.
You may email Eric at ehearst@cchartford.org
When Steven joined the Center Church staff in May of 2024, he was very excited to give his full time attention to the congregation’s ministries. Prior to joining the Center Church staff, Steven had spent the last ten years working in hospitality management at one of central Connecticut’s premier restaurant groups. After first discovering the community of Center Church in 2014, Steven joined as a member in 2018. Since then, Steven has been an active participant and sometime leader of the Worship Team, the GHIAA Core Team, the Visionary Team and once in a while he pops in to sing in the choir. A self-appointed hospitalitarian, he is happy to bring his welcoming energy to the church office. In his down-time, Steven likes to hike, kayak, cook, bake and eat, support local theater and dance with friends at a local drag show (usually, way past his bedtime and much to his regret the next morning).
You may email Steven at slewis@cchartford.org
Brenda Russell joined the church staff in the summer of 2019, following an extensive career in managing bookkeeping for a variety of organizations. Originally from Jamaica, Brenda brings expertise and grace in all she does. She and her husband, Michael, live in East Hartford. Brenda works in the church office Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am-2:30pm.
You may email Brenda at brussell@cchartford.org
Originally from Louisiana, Tom St. Amant is a long-time member of Center Church and serves as Sexton both during the week and on Sundays. Tom was employed by Cigna before retiring several years ago. He and his wife, Sally, live in Hartford, and are frequent babysitters for their two granddaughters, Violet and Olive, who live with their son, Brendan St. Amant and daughter-in-law, Shirley Hwang, in the Boston area.
Outreach director Carrie Howe has been a part of Center Church’s mission work for over a decade. An experienced entrepreneur, Carrie is passionate about teaching folks the life and job skills necessary to be, as she calls it, “creative solutionists.” Founder of the grass-roots “Night Angels Community Outreach” and “The Space Between, Inc.,” Carrie has been honored by the town of East Hartford and Working Women in Business for her efforts. When she is not engaged in the community work that she so much enjoys, Carrie can be found, microphone in hand, singing out loud and full of joy – she is the Karaoke Queen. Carrie is mother to an amazing 21-year-old son. Carrie, grounded in her faith and shaped by her life’s experience, believes if we lead with love, the rest will follow. “The work never ends,” she frequently says, “but the ways we approach it can change the outcome.”
You may email Carrie at chowe@cchartford.org
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