We trust that you will find among us the warmth of Christian love which is Christ’s gift to our diverse church family. If you are seeking a church home, we are eager for you to join us in our life and mission together.  All are welcome.

Pastor Janet Leighninger

New Pastor, Rev. Leighninger, first service Palm Sunday, April 13

The Reverend Janet Leighninger (pronounced len-in-ger) will be joining the Federated Church of Sturbridge and Fiskdale as the new Pastor, starting April 7.  She follows the Reverend Keith Weekley, who has been the Interim Minister at the Federated Church for the last two years.

Rev. Janet Leighninger is an ordained United Church of Christ minister who has also served Presbyterian, United Methodist, Federated and non-denominational churches.  She is a certified Maine Police Chaplain.

Rev. Leighninger is a native of Maine and has ministered in the towns of Kennebunk, Popham Beach, and other Maine communities as well as in West Bridgewater, MA, Princeton, N.J., and Palatine, IL.  She is an honors graduate of the College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor in Fine Arts, has a Masters in Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School, and is in her second year of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Andover Newton.

Rev. Leighninger has two grown children—a son, Zach, who is living in Alabama, and a daughter, Jen, who resides in Connecticut.  Reverend Leighninger will be relocating to Sturbridge and is looking forward to beginning her ministry in the Sturbridge community.

The congregation of the Federated Church of Sturbridge and Fiskdale extends a warm welcome to Pastor Janet and invites all to come and meet her.  She will be leading the Federated Church services on Palm Sunday (at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on April 13).  She will also be leading the Easter sunrise service (at 6:00 a.m. on April 20) at the Meetinghouse of Old Sturbridge Village as well as the 9:00 and 11:00 Easter services at the Federated Church.