Staff
Worship Circle Coordinator
Olivia Russell leads our Sunday morning interactive faith formation activity for students in elementary and middle school. Students gather in the Children's Worship Circle room before Worship.
Olivia is a high school/middle school English teacher who currently tutors homebound high school students at E.O. Smith in Mansfield. In 2017 she was named teacher of the year in Colchester.
Organist
Erik Haeger has been the organist at First Church since 2000, and a covenantal member since 2006.
A graduate of the University of Connecticut, he lives locally with his wife, Rebecca, and their daughter, Julia. Erik started playing piano at a young age. He was a substitute organist at local churches for years before settling at First Church. He teaches piano for beginners and enjoys jazz and the Red Sox.
HomeLay Leadership
Officers
Moderator - Deb Hubbell
Treasurer - Cheryl Chase
Clerk - Artemis Damble
Governing Board
Don Baxter
Wes Bell
Donna Clauson (Collector)
Karen Christianson
Jim McGaughey
Janna Pedersen
Lisa Peterson-Blinn
Jeff Puccini
Deb Richards
Ministry of Caring
Donna Clauson
Carol Fineout
Sharon Foster-Chalecki
Ministry of Spiritual Life
David Darnell
Bobbi Giardina
Laurel Thurman
AdMinistry (Ministry of Administration)
Jean Bell
John Clauson
Mark Messier
Pastor
Rev. Don Erickson was born and raised in the Hudson Valley of Upstate New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies in 2000 from North Carolina State University. After a yearlong role teaching conversational English in South Korea, he returned to attend seminary at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. He graduated from Union in 2004.
Rev. Erickson is clinically certified in pastoral care (ACPE), receiving his residency training in 2006-2007 at Tampa General Hospital. For eight years, he ministered full-time as a hospice chaplain, years he deems essential to his heart for ministry.
Rev. Erickson transitioned to parish ministry in 2013, and since that time has served churches in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Connecticut. He began his ministry at First Church of Christ in Mansfield in January 2026.
Rev. Erickson is a lover of Christian theology as well as a longtime student of Buddhist philosophy and practice. He is a published poet, amateur musician, film-buff, and book-lover. In August 2019, his book A Life Lived and Laid Down for Friends: A Progressive Christology was published by Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Family is deeply important to Rev. Erickson. He and his wife, Holly, are parents to their son, Corey.
This is the core philosophy of his ministry:
“Nothing can be more important than being emotionally and spiritually present, no matter the circumstance. Nothing can be more significant than praying with and listening to those knowing fear or courage, worry or contentment, sadness or joy. The work is to walk alongside, pointing to wisdom as we go and urging compassion with each step.”
To learn more about him, please link here to his blog. https://www.revdonerickson.com/Pastor
Office Assistant
Mandy Boukus provides administrative support for our pastor and lay leadership. With her great organization skills, sharp eye for detail, and warm, people-friendly approach, she helps keep everything running smoothly and makes work easier for all of us.
