1500 9th Ave Longmont CO     

                    303-776-4940              

Our Clergy and Staff Team

Rev. Amelia Richardson-Dress, Senior Pastor 

Rev. Amelia Richardson Dress is the Senior Pastor at UCC Longmont, where she previously served as Minister for Community Faith Formation. As a pastor, she considers it a deep privilege to walk alongside people on their faith journeys.  Amelia is particularly interested in spiritual development throughout life stages, intergenerational ministry and doing progressive Christian theology with children. 


Prior to coming to UCC Longmont, Amelia focused on interim and renewal ministry, and spent five years as a bi-vocational pastor working in Human Services supporting early education teachers. As an interim/renewal pastor, she’s worked with congregations in the United Church of Christ as well as other denominations.


 She’s also the author of two books, "The Hopeful Family: Raising Resilient Children in Uncertain Times", and a picture book, "This Is the Mystery of Easter,” which was based on a children’s sermon given here at UCC Longmont. She’s spoken and led retreats around the country on the topics of hope, theology in intergenerational settings, and congregational discernment.


Amelia enjoys long walks, gardening, live performances of all kinds, and spending time with her husband and daughter. They live  with their three cats, who are a constant source of joy and mischief.

 

If you would like to contact Rev. Amelia please click here

 

Whitney Janzen-Pankratz, Director of Community Faith Formation

 

A Note From Our New Director of Community Faith Formation
Thank you all for your warm welcome last weekend. I am delighted to accept the call to be your Director of Community Faith Formation! In the next couple of months I am finishing up my Masters in Divinity with a concentration in Social Transformation from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. I am also in the process of working toward ordination with the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ.  Prior to my seminary journey I spent 7 years as the Wellness Program Coordinator for the Weld County Area Agency on Aging, and 5 years working as a Social Services Director at a Long Term Care facility. My faith has always been connected to a passion for the interconnection of community, and a commitment to social justice. In my free time I enjoy writing, hiking, and camping with my partner Nick and sons Theo (age 11) and Zack (16 months). 

I look forward to getting to know each of you as we live life together in community! Feel free to reach out to me at wjanzenpankratz@ucclongmont.org, or swing by to visit in my open office hours from 11 am - noon on Thursdays. 

If you would like to contact Whitney Janzen-Pankratz please click here. 

 

Rob Cronin, Youth Minister

 

My name is Rob Cronin. I was born and raised in Minnesota and grew up loving the outdoors and all the adventures to be found there! My wife, Maaike, and I were married 20 years ago and lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area until May 2020 when we moved to Longmont to follow a dream we shared of living in Colorado. We have three children: Mary Jane (16), Bekah (13) and Emma (10). I continue to love finding time to be outdoors and adventuring; primarily through mountain biking, hiking, paddle boarding and snowboarding…though I’ll try just about anything once! I’m grateful to be a part of the youth ministry and am super excited for the adventures we’ll have together!


If you would like to contact Rob Cronin,please click here.

 

 

 

 

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Lauren Black, Music Director

 

Having grown up in a musical household in Rockville, Maryland, Lauren began her musical career studying classical piano and voice. She has a degree in vocal performance from the University of Denver. Lauren has sung with the Colorado Ballet’s Dracula (2022) and Nutcracker (2019-2023); as well as with Boulder’s Ars Nova (2021). She is currently a vocal instructor at the Denver Music Institute and the Music Director for the First Congregational Church of Longmont.

 

If you would like to contact Lauren Black , please click here.

 

 

Robert Hjelmstad, Keyboardist

 

Robert Hjelmstad is an exceptionally talented and accredited keyboardist, holding a Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Georgia, and a Doctorate from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Outside of his musical pursuits, Robert is an avid reader, a fitness enthusiast, and a dedicated creator of dad jokes, much to the delight of his wife, Jessica, and their two children, Gabriel and Isabella.

 

If you would like to contact Robert Hjelmstad, please click here.

Mike Sutton, Building Coordinator

 

Mike Sutton is a creative enthusiast with a passion for photography, music, and cinema. When he’s not capturing life’s moments through his lens, Mike loves seeing live bands, playing guitar, thrifting. A true denim connoisseur, he appreciates the finer details in fashion.

Mike grew up in South Padre Island, Texas, where he developed a love for surfing. He is happily married to his wife, Mari, who shares his love for adventure and creativity. They moved to Longmont, Colorado, ten years ago and have since made it their home. Mike has built a career in property management and loves working at United Church of Christ.

 

If you would like to contat Mike Sutton, please click here.

 

 

Jen Mueller, Administrator 

 

 

Jen Mueller is a California native turned Colorado transplant, having made the move in 2014. She's been happily married to her husband Christian for 16 years and share a son, Zealand, who's 14 years old and a avid baseball player. When she's not cheering on her son at his games, Jen enjoys belting out her favorite tunes at karaoke nights with friends and spending quality time with loved ones. With a passion for travel and exploration, Jen is always looking forward to the next adventure on the horizon. 

 

If you would like to contact Jen Mueller, please click here.