Meet Our Pastors & Staff
Rev. Nick Hatch
Co-Pastor
Pastor Nick grew up in Mahomet, Illinois, the son of Dr. Terry Hatch and Rev. Dianne Hatch. His home church was First Presbyterian of Champaign Illinois. His mother was called there to be an Associate Pastor. He has many fond memories of his Presbyterian upbringing and, later, theological training. His summers were spent at the family property just east of Park Falls, WI. It continues to be Nick’s family's favorite place in the world and a true retreat for his spirit in the midst of ministry. Nick graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelors in Psychology. During seminary Nick was a Youth Director at Glenview Community Church UCC in Glenview IL. where met his wife and best friend Amanda, and they were married in 2005. After being a Tomlinson Hampton Scholar at McCormick Theological Seminary, Nicks first call was to First Presbyterian Church of Great Falls MT where he served two years. Nick was called to First Congregational in September 2011 as Pastor for Youth and Family Ministry. Nick has two children, Maddison and Elijah Hatch. In 2024 Nick’s role changed as he became a Co-Pastor for First Congregational. Nick and Amanda both feel very blessed that God brought them to Appleton to grow in place through committed long-term ministry in a church that they call home.
Pastor Katherine Willis Pershey
Co-Pastor
Rev. Dr. Katherine Willis Pershey joined First Congregational United Church of Christ on Easter Sunday in 2024 as the new Co-Pastor. A native Ohioan, she received her Master of Divinity degree from the Claremont School of Theology in California. She recently completed a Doctor of Ministry degree on the theme Holy Presence: Eugene Peterson and the Pastoral Imagination from Western Theological Seminary in Michigan. She was the solo pastor of South Bay Christian Church for five years and served as Associate Pastor of The First Congregational Church of Western Springs for fourteen years. Katherine is a member of the Board of The Christian Century and is also a regular contributor to the magazine. She is the author of Any Day a Beautiful Change: A Story of Faith and Family and Very Married: Field Notes on Love and Fidelity. She completed yoga teacher training in 2018, and is certified through YogaDevotion to teach faith-integrated yoga. Katherine and her husband, Ben, have been married since 2002 and are raising two teenage children.
Pastor Dianne Droster
Pastor of Visitation & Youth Ministry
Rev. John McFadden
Pastor Emeritus
Rev. John T. McFadden served as Senior Pastor from 1983 to 2006, and hopefully did no lasting damage to the church. Since retiring from that position, he and Susan have written and lectured extensively about aging, dementia, friendship, and community. They were among the founders of the Fox Valley Memory Project, which offers the nation’s most extensive array of services to persons living with dementia and those who care for them. He plays ukuleles. A lot.
John Albrecht
Director of Music Ministries
John Albrecht joined our staff in 2007, having previously served church music programs in OH, IL and WI. His background includes teaching public school high school vocal music and working with community children’s choruses/boy choirs. His duties here include worship planning, conducting ensembles, supervising our LU Music Scholar program and organist, and developing the music ministries of the church. John is married to Kristy, a German teacher, and they have a married son living in the Chicago area. He enjoys
attending concerts, attempting
home improvement projects,
reading mystery/thriller novels, traveling abroad with Kristy and
her students, and caring for Ruby
the Rescue Beagle.
Dr. Nathan Birkholz
Organist
Nathan Birkholz began his work in church music ministry in Urbana, Illinois at St. Matthew Lutheran Church (ELCA). After several years and three degrees in piano study, conducting, French, and musicology, he moved back to his hometown of Appleton and started working as organist at Zion Lutheran Church. He then served for over seven years at First English Lutheran Church as organist, choir director, and handbell choir director before coming to First Congregational in 2021. He holds degrees from Northern Illinois University (BM), Indiana University-Bloomington (MM), and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (DMA). He also serves as staff accompanist at Lawrence University in its vocal arts program. He is the father of two boys who love to fish and enjoys helping coach their various baseball and soccer teams. His other hobbies include gardening with native perennials, lifting weights, hiking, birding, and following his favorite Wisconsin sports teams.
Sarah Wilterdink
Director of Children, Youth &
Families Ministries
My husband, our sons, and I have been members of FCUCC since 2015. I have been our Director for Children, Youth and Family Ministries since 2022. There is nothing like being able to spread God's love to little ones! In addition to hanging with the young at heart while working, I enjoy fostering children with my family, playing games and laughing with friends. Taking walks in God's creation is my favorite way to be mindful of the amazing world we live in.
Siri Witt
Bookkeeper
Zaina Gonzales
Office Manager
Zaina officially moved to Wisconsin in 2022 with her family and joined the FCUCC team in March of 2023. Outside of being Office Manager, she enjoys spending time with her family and reading. As Oprah Winfrey said, “Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.”
Sheila VanRooy
Administrative Assistant
Matt Feuerhelm
AV & Technology Coordinator
Matt started part-time at FCUCC in September 2021, as the AV Coordinator running the livestreams and creating video projects as needed. At the end of March 2024, he reduced his freelance workload and came on full-time as the church's AV & Technology Coordinator; assuming the lead on all things technology-related for the church. When not working, Matt loves working on passion (video) projects, spending time with his twin 13yr-old daughters (Tallulah and Alejandra), and teaching his cats (Sir Wigs Alot and Squanch) new tricks! Stop by his office down in the CYF building, and say hi!
Danielle Bruce
Childcare Provider
Bart Forseth
Custodial Supervisor
Patrick Metoxen
Custodial Assistant
Tom Ott
Custodial Assistant
Tim Krause
Weekend Custodial Assistant