The Team

Rev. Dave Stambaugh

Pastor

Rev. Dave has been at the Essex Congregational Church since July of 2022.  Before that, he served churches in New Jersey, California, and Connecticut as both a solo and associate minister. He holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Seminary and a Master of Sacred Theology from Drew University.  He is currently the chaplain for the Essex Fire Department, and is also an avid pickleball player, cyclist, and drummer.  

revdaveucc@gmail.com

Shari Wilcox

Music / Choir Director

Shari graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree. She is a member of the faculty of The Community Music School in Centerbrook, where she teaches piano and voice. As an award-winning mezzo-soprano, Shari has appeared in opera, musical theater, and as a guest soloist with regional orchestras. Shari has served at FCC Essex since 2007. If you’d like to learn more about Shari, click here.

wilcox.shari@gmail.com

Kevin Xiao

Accompanist

Kevin Xiao was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Connecticut in 1999. Since then, he has received his Bachelor and Master of Music Degree from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. Kevin joined the Music Ministry of FCC Essex in September 2019.

Karen Burzin

Office Administrator

Karen and her family live in Ivoryton. Along with nurturing her spouse, 3 children, and two dogs, she also enjoys reading, gardening, and harvesting all that she has planted. She has been with FCC Essex since 2018.

essexuccoffice@gmail.com

Becky Stambaugh

Youth

Our middle and high school youth programming is led by Becky Stambaugh, the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Westbrook UCC. Every other Sunday, she, alongside other lay leaders, runs the high school youth group for several congregational churches in the greater Valley Shore area.

becky@creativeCEsolutions.com