Liz Kuhn

Hello! This is my story.

I was raised in the Catholic church where I was baptized, confirmed and married. Shortly after our youngest daughter was born, my husband Jim and I decided we needed to search for a new Church home. We visited several churches. Since Jim had attended the Congregational Church in Manchester where he grew up, we decided to visit South Church in Granby (where we were living at the time). We had good friends who were members and they highly recommended that we visit. We found South Church to be very welcoming and it offered many opportunities for young families. We became members in 1986. Geordie Campbell was the senior minister.

Fast forward many years and a few moves and we are living in Bloomfield. (We later moved to West Hartford.) It was time to find a new church. Geordie had since moved to First Church West Hartford so it was an easy choice to consider joining there. Not only was the minister a personal friend and wonderful preacher, but we found the congregation welcoming, the music wonderful and the range of opportunities to become active in the church many and varied. We had found a new church home. This was in 2008.

Over the years, Jim and I have served on several boards and participated in a range of activities. I was on the JP Webster Library board for many years, including serving on the committee overseeing the renovation project. I have participated in the Monday book group with Susan Izard, and the monthly book group Jennifer facilitates. I find the church library to be an incredible gift to our congregation and the wider community. It is a treasure which has provided many worthwhile, thought-provoking and informative programs. It is so much more than books, CDs and magazines.

I continue to help serve lunch through the Loaves and Fishes program when I am available. Jim and I both enjoy helping with the Festival of Trees each December. We have participated in the Gather Round the Table dinners. We enjoy coffee hour where we can catch up with church friends. Although we now spend several months in North Carolina, First Church continues to be our home church. Whenever we return after being away it feels like coming home. The opportunities for spiritual growth, personal growth, socialization and ways to contribute to the wider community are unlimited. Although we greatly miss hearing Geordie preach each Sunday, we look forward to what a new minister can bring to First Church. A wonderful place can only get better.