Rev. Adam Eckhart has served First Church Milford for over twenty years but still embodies a youthful spirit that engages the church in faith and ministry.
First U.C.C. Milford called Adam to be its settled Senior Pastor after he served for 13 years as the church's Associate Pastor. After the church initiated an Open and Affirming process in 2017, Adam helped facilitate the theological reflection of what God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit reveal to us about accepting all people unconditionally, especially in the face of historical injustice. The church adopted its Open and Affirming covenant in June 2019.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Adam and the rest of the program staff quickly adapted by producing pre-recorded online worship and maintaining connections as the Body of Christ in the midst of suffering and isolation. As the pandemic evolved and became less severe, Adam led efforts to bring the congregation into its new normal, including holding in-person worship that is also livestreamed and archived online.
Adam leads worship; offers pastoral care and faith formation opportunities; works with Trustees in maintaining the church's finances and facilities; leads the staff; interprets and articulates God's call to the church and the congregation's vision and faith; and helps equip the church to be the body of Christ in 21st century Connecticut.
As the church's primary preacher, Rev. Adam often uses humor, drama, and music to engage the congregation in lively sermons. Adam preaches with one foot in the biblical story and the other in today's world with all its complications, brokenness, and humor.
In his spare time, Adam jogs, hikes, solves crossword puzzles, eats bratwurst, and roots for the Chicago Cubs (not all at the same time). He and Associate Pastor Rev. M. Ashley Grant are married and together raise their four exuberant children (two now studying at college).
His writings have been published in Feasting on the Word and Feasting on the Gospels commentaries. His theological interests include the ethics of relationships and language; sacred ecology; the writings of Soren Kierkegaard; the impact of technology on community; and neighborliness. He has been active in U.C.C. churches his entire life.
Adam graduated from Yale Divinity School with his Master of Divinity degree three years after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Yale College. Adam was raised, along with his older brother, by two wonderful parents who now reside in southern Wisconsin.
Pastor Ashley was called as First Church Milford's Associate Pastor in December 2016 after first joining the staff as Faith Formation Minister in 2007. She studied at the University of Georgia and received her M.Div. degree from Yale Divinity School. Ordained by the New Haven Association of the UCC in 2004, Ashley served as Associate Pastor of First Congregational Church of Greenwich and then in pulpit supply ministries for the Fairfield Association.
Rev. Ashley brings gifts for communicating the Gospel to people of all ages and nurturing faith through Christian community in the classroom, sanctuary and beyond the walls of the church. Her preaching draws people into the story, the poetry and grace of faith. Ashley contributed essays to the Feasting on the Word biblical commentary series. She has led multiple church asset mapping events both for FIrst UCC and for other churches as part of her call to help empower faith communities to see their spiritual gifts and potential.
Senior Pilgrim Fellowship, the church's high school youth group, is coordinated by Rev. Ashley. She has led the group on weeklong service mission trips to Texas, New Hampshire, Long Island, and Ohio.
In 2016, Ashley and First Church MIlford member Michele Steinlauf founded Milford Food 2 Kids, a ministry to feed local food-insecure children through the MIlford Public School system. Milford Food 2 Kids purchases, assembles, and delivers bags of food to local school social workers, who then give food to children they have identified as having the greatest need for weekend meals. In the ministry's history, it has now provided food for over 200,000 meals, and relies on the generosity of the wider community as well as First Church. Ashley and Michele have received multiple awards as a result of this vital feeding work.
Ashley has special gifts for problem solving and connecting people and their gifts to ministries that nourish their souls.
Rev. Ashley and Rev. Adam, our Senior Pastor, are married. They have four delightful children who keep them busy (two are at college, but parenting is a lifelong responsibility!).
Originally from Maine, Kelsey is delighted to have found a home in Connecticut and with the community at First Church! Kelsey attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania for her undergraduate program and received her graduate degree from Virginia Tech in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Having previously worked in Higher Education, Kelsey is thrilled to be at First Church in Faith Formation as education is her true calling. Kelsey has a background in outdoor ministry through her time at Pilgrim Lodge in Maine and has worked with youth in both educational and camp settings over the years.
She spends her free time teaching music, dance, and acting to young people and looks forward to bring her creative energy to her work at First Church. She and her husband Joe were married in 2018.
Rev. Ashley brings gifts for communicating the Gospel to people of all ages and nurturing faith through Christian community in the classroom, sanctuary and beyond the walls of the church. Her preaching draws people into the story, the poetry and grace of faith. Ashley contributed essays to the Feasting on the Word biblical commentary series. She has led multiple church asset mapping events both for FIrst UCC and for other churches as part of her call to help empower faith communities to see their spiritual gifts and potential.
Senior Pilgrim Fellowship, the church's high school youth group, is coordinated by Rev. Ashley. She has led the group on weeklong service mission trips to Texas, New Hampshire, Long Island, and Ohio.
In 2016, Ashley and First Church MIlford member Michele Steinlauf founded Milford Food 2 Kids, a ministry to feed local food-insecure children through the MIlford Public School system. Milford Food 2 Kids purchases, assembles, and delivers bags of food to local school social workers, who then give food to children they have identified as having the greatest need for weekend meals. In the ministry's history, it has now provided food for over 200,000 meals, and relies on the generosity of the wider community as well as First Church. Ashley and Michele have received multiple awards as a result of this vital feeding work.
Ashley has special gifts for problem solving and connecting people and their gifts to ministries that nourish their souls.
Rev. Ashley and Rev. Adam, our Senior Pastor, are married. They have four delightful children who keep them busy (two are at college, but parenting is a lifelong responsibility!).
Yeheun "Yennie" Kwon is a versatile and accomplished musician, excelling as a conductor, accompanist, organist, jazz vocalist, and professional singer. Her extensive academic and performance background reflects her exceptional talent, with expertise in orchestra conducting, piano, organ, harpsichord, and jazz voice.
Kwon's musical journey began in her childhood in South Korea. Taught by her mother, a composer, she first learned piano and singing, laying the foundation for her classical music path. This journey continued through her studies at an arts middle school and Seoul Arts High School, where she pursued Classical voice and piano.
She then earned her degree in Choral Conducting from Yonsei University's Church Music Department, with minors in organ and voice, and later completed her master's in Choral Literature and Conducting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. However, alongside her classical studies, Kwon developed a passion for jazz, which she began exploring during her university years. This led to her winning 1st Prize in the prestigious Yonsei Baekyangro Singing Competition and conducting the SoWhat Jazz Orchestra as a jazz big band leader—a balance she continues to maintain in her career.
Her performance career has taken her from singing with the renowned Ensemble Music of Baroque Chicago to serving as assistant conductor of the Boston Children's Chorus. She has worked with numerous choirs, including the Black Chorus, Varsity Men's Glee Club at UIUC, where she earned accolades for her dedication to music education and performance excellence. In Korea, she directed various choirs, including the Wangsimni Joongang Presbyterian Church, DENU Choir and Geumho Jeil Methodist Church's Children's Choir, gaining recognition at national choir competitions.
Kwon's deep faith journey is rooted in her grandmother's spiritual legacy, which instilled in her a lifelong dedication to serving the church through music. Over the years, she has continually offered her musical talents to various congregations, making her appointment as Minister of Music at this historic church — with its rich legacy — all the more meaningful. She is honored to be a part of such a warm community and looks forward to sharing God's love through music in worship.
As the conductor, organist, and pianist responsible for the entire music program in worship, Kwon directs various ensembles, including the adult choir, the bell choirs (Meetinghouse Ringers and Chapel Ringers), as well as children's choirs and music programs. Anyone with a love for music is more than welcome to join!
When she's not making music, you can find her at the gym — mainly to balance out her love for delicious food! In her free time, Kwon enjoys making the perfect latte with her prized espresso machine, baking, cooking, and seeking out great restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries. She also loves traveling, filming vlogs of her daily adventures, and relaxing by watching cute dogs and squirrels while listening to music. It's the little things in life that truly bring her joy!
Since October 2019, Nicole Moore has served as our church's Office Administrator.
Her warm personality, hard work, and organizational skills have been a blessing since day one here and we're glad that she can help our congregation and community with questions and help our leaders get their work done efficiently. She loves to get to know people!
We hope you get to meet Nicole when you come by the church or receive her help over the phone or by email.
Sal began working at First UCC Milford in Spring 2023.
Sal brings previous experience in maintaining the facilities of other places of worship and as a journeyman.
He enjoys taking on projects to enhance and improve the church's properties. Sal is a devoted father and a humble and caring person.
Sal moved to Connecticut from California many years ago and we're glad he is here!
