OUR STAFF
OUR STAFF
The Rev. Dr. Curran Reichert
Minister
Curran was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA. Her wife, The Rev. Katie Morrison (Presbyterian ordained, UCC standing), is a public school teacher and they have a daughter, Ellis Jane, and little dog, Pip Lester.
Been to any good rallies lately? Women’s March, Climate Rally or take a stand on DACA ; if so, you have probably seen our Rev. Dr. Curran Reichert with a homemade knitted pink hat on her head and a bullhorn in her hand. She is a woman on a mission to advocate for justice and love for all. Curran was called to serve FCC in August of 2016. She offers leadership with a unique blend of purpose and fun
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Before dedicating her life to ministry and community organization nearly twenty years ago, Curran spent the early part of her career in musicals, TV and movies in LA, SF and NYC.
When the HIV/AIDS hit the scene, and decimated the community she loved, Curran decided that organizing people around compassion and action was the best way to have an impact.
She brings questions, challenges and common sense to the work of the church. Curran also represents the church on issues ranging from food security to land preservation. For four years she has served on the board of Sonoma Overnight Support and has diligently worked towards fair and accessible housing in the Valley. Curran is also a past Vice President of the Sonoma Valley Interfaith Ministerial Association.
Stephanie Ozer
Music Director
Stephanie Ozer performs in jazz festivals, concert venues, intimate clubs, house concerts, corporate events and weddings — in ensembles of jazz, folk, klezmer, and Brazilian jazz. Stephanie’s CD, “O Começo: New Beginnings in Brazilian Jazz”, was recorded in Rio de Janeiro with the legendary, Grammy winning vocalist Leny Andrade with whom she has subsequently toured.
Nominated twice as Best Jazz Musician in the North Bay, Stephanie holds a classical Piano Performance Degree from the University Of Michigan School of Music where she played in the University Javanese Gamelan. Her award winning Ozer-Moore piano/vocal jazz duo opened for Abby Lincoln and Phoebe Snow in Ann Arbor, MI.
With her inventive and poetic musical spirit, Stephanie performs in the Bay Area and nationwide — solo, duo, trio to sextet — in genre bending music in collaboration with top flight musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including vocalists Claudia Villela, Maria Marquez, Sax/flautists Mary Fettig and Harvey Wainapel, guitarists Luiz Brasil and Randy Vincent and bass players Scott Thompson and Peter Barshay. Her most recent group, As Três Meninas (Fabiana Passoni, vocals, Ami Mollineli, percussion) performs Brazilian Jazz, Samba, Bossa Nova and Choro-inspired compositions with these bandleaders who came together to craft their unique sound.
Stephanie teaches many styles of piano, technique and improvisation and coaches vocalists in accompanying themselves and performance techniques from her home studio in Sonoma Valley and at Jazz Camp West.
Angela Ljung
Office Manager
Angela has worked for First Congregational Church since February, 2014.
Her family moved to Sonoma in 1968 following her grandparents’ move here a few years prior. She worked 12 years at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Companies where she met her future husband, Denis, and his son, Erik.
Angela devoted 18 years to raising their children, Owen and Anika, and volunteering in both their schools and at St. Andrew Presbyterian, her family’s church since 1999. She is an ordained Presbyterian Deacon and Elder. Angela is very close to her large, extended faith-filled family who make a priority of regularly visiting each other.
When not enjoying her time at FCC, Angela takes pleasure in her ordinary life of hikes and explorations with Denis, entertaining, playing card and board games, and organizing just about anything. But mostly, you’ll find her in the kitchen planning the next gathering, cooking, and baking expressions of love.