Leadership and Staff

Reverend Karen Halac

Pastor

The Reverend Karen Halac is working closely with members of North Greenwich Congregational Church to create alternative opportunities for worship, learning, fellowship and service at ‘the quiet corner’ in back-country Greenwich, across from Audubon. Believing that a welcoming haven is needed for the many seekers and ‘de-churched’ in our community, North Greenwich Church offers an opportunity for small, safe, inclusive, and peaceful worship and prayer in its historic sanctuary and throughout its beautiful grounds – home most recently to an outdoor chamber concert series.

Karen’s previous ministries include: The American Church in Paris, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Stamford Hospital’s chaplaincy team, and The First Congregational Church Ridgefield. Karen continues to serve on the board of the America & Foreign Christian Union in support of the American churches in Berlin, Paris, and Vienna, and is also pursuing doctoral studies in Multicultural Theological Ethics at The Hartford Seminary. Her MDiv and STM degrees are from Yale Divinity School, where much of her work was focused on the challenges and opportunities of ecumenical unity and interfaith relationships among Christ followers from diverse backgrounds and theological/ecclesiological contexts. She is grateful for the congregation’s openness to innovation in Christian discipleship and willingness to explore new avenues of spiritual discovery, and for their commitment to honoring the unique faith journeys of all who are led here – a place where, as the UCC denomination affirms, “God is still speaking.”

Michelle Peluso

Church Administrator

Michelle is a Greenwich native, and came to North Greenwich Congregational Church in the spring of 2020 following beloved administrator Gladys’ retirement after twenty-five years of faithful service. While getting started in the midst of a pandemic posed many challenges, Michelle has enjoyed the opportunities to innovate and serve. With her passion for feeding the hungry and her background as a personal chef, Michelle is most excited about working with the congregation to expand existing ministries to the food insecure in Fairfield County and around the world through multiple outreach partnerships.

Carolyn Tyson

Chair of Church Counsel

Originally from Michigan, and with a traditional Presbyterian upbringing, Carolyn has called Greenwich home for 40 years. North Greenwich Congregational Church became Carolyn’s church home after first attending a Christmas service in 1993, and she is grateful for the circle of spiritual friendships that has grown ever since. Carolyn serves as a faithful member and leader of this “warm, close-knit, family church,” through leading council, participation in outreach programs, researching and cataloguing the newly-restored historic cemetery, church administration, writing, and planning special events. She shares how she is “continually energized and inspired by the rebirth of North Greenwich Congregational Church” as it approaches its bicentennial (2027).

Alexander Nakhimovsky

Music Director

Alexander Nakhimovsky is a performer,

recording artist, producer, composer and educator

whose accomplishments as a jazz and classical

artist include musical direction, arranging, solo and ensemble performances throughout the United

States, Russia, Japan and Israel.

Alla Zouborev

Musician

Alla Zouborev is a pianist, teacher and accompanist in Westport, Conncecticut. With degrees in piano performance and music education from Belarus (former Soviet Union), Alla now enjoys an active career as a solo pianist, duo pianist (Schubert Club Ensemble and Pro Piano Ensemble), organist/pianist throughout Fairfield County, accompanist to all Westport public schools, and as a teacher of classical piano and music appreciation courses to both children and adults. Alla has a beloved adult daughter and a treasured Shih Tzu named Cookie.

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