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Pastors
Michael
S. Bennett — Senior Pastor [view
Michael's bio]
Curtis
J. Preston — Associate Pastor [view
Curt's bio]
Michael S. Bennett
Senior Pastor
The
Rev. Michael S. Bennett was called in 2002 as the sixteenth
Senior Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow.
After his ordination in 1986, Mike began his ministry in the
United Church of Christ as pastor of the Church of Christ
in Granby, Massachusetts. He then served 12 years as Senior
Pastor of the Ellington Congregational Church in Ellington,
Connecticut, before coming to Longmeadow.
A
native of Seattle, Mike graduated from the University of Washington
with a degree in Economics. He earned his Master of Divinity
from Yale University Divinity School, where he also met and
married his wife, the Rev. Susan Frost Bennett. Sue is an
ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, currently
on an extended family leave. Mike and Sue have two children,
Beth (born in 1990) and John (born in 1993), and own a home
in Longmeadow.
Mike's
vision for First Church includes a commitment to the church's
historic traditions of excellent worship and music, engaging
adult education, and service in and beyond the Longmeadow
community. Mike views the Christian Church as a community
of faith and practice-offering spiritual foundations and meaningful
support for the people of God in their daily lives.
In
his spare time, Mike enjoys reading, walking, golf, and music.
The Frost Bennett family takes part in many community activities
and enjoys travel-especially to visit with their extended
family on the west coast.
As
Senior Pastor of First Church, Mike serves as head of the
church staff and works with the congregation's lay leadership
to continue and develop the church's long legacy of faithful
ministry in Longmeadow. Mike is available by appointment (567-6287)
and may be reached via e-mail at msb@firstchurchlongmeadow.org.
Curtis J. Preston
Associate Pastor
The Rev. Curtis Preston has been called to be the Associate Pastor of The First
Church of Christ in Longeadow.
Curt grew up in Englewood, Colorado. He is a lifelong member
of the United Church of Christ. Throughout high school, he
taught Sunday school and was involved in the youth group, youth
choir and various youth trips and events. Curt’s parents, Dan and
Sue, live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He has two older
siblings, Craig and Christy.
Curt graduated from Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon in 1998
with a BA, majoring in Sociology and Literature. He has just
completed his Master of Divinity at Pacific School of Religion,
Berkeley, California.
Curt enjoys time with his family, cooking, reading, camping,
playing sports and playing the guitar.
Curt met his wife, Danielle, while in high school at a church camp.
They were married July 25, 1998. Danielle grew up in Denver,
Colorado and graduated from Pacific University, Forest Grove,
Oregon in 1999 with a BA, majoring in Literature and Feminist.
Curt and Danielle have one daughter, Lucy, who was born
January 2, 2002. Danielle plans to pursue graduate studies in
the greater Springfield area.
From August 2001 to August 2002, Curt held a full-time pastoral
intern position at Rock Spring Congregational UCC, Arlington,
Virginia. During this internship, he co-led weekly junior and
senior high youth groups, organized and co-led a youth
mission trip to South Dakota and designed and co-led a fiveweek
Lenten Bible Study. He regularly assisted in worship
planning, preaching and visiting with members and friends of the
congregation. Curt was a Residential Treatment Counselor in
Lake Oswego, Oregon from October 1998 to August 1999.
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