Staff

Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair

As an ordained minister with dual standing in the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church, I believe the foundations for a healthy and thriving church and community of faith must include spiritual growth, scriptural literacy and integrity, the recovery of spiritual gifts, and growing spiritual fruits. The church is called to become the Great Commandment and live out the Great Commission in the world by inviting, welcoming, and including all. My call to ministry reaches beyond the borders of denomination, race, color, and creed by reaching out to those living on the margins of the church and our communities. I am called to a ministry that seeks to foster relationships in the local community and the world by building bridges. My passion is to lead the ministry to answer difficult questions that keep us from reaching our vision, mission, and ministry goals.

Dr. Eugene A. Blair

"Love is creative and redemptive. Love builds up and unites; hate tears down and destroys. Physical force can repress, restrain, coerce, destroy, but it cannot create and organize anything permanent; only love can do that. Yes, love — which means understanding, creative and redemptive goodwill, even for one’s enemies — is the solution to the race problem.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, 1957

Dr. James Sullivan has served as organist/accompanist for FCUCC of Grand Ledge since 2023. In addition to his role at the church, James is Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Michigan State University. He holds advanced degrees in both music theory and double bass performance from the Eastman School of Music and has played piano and bass since the 5th grade. James’s favorite things about FCUCC are the inclusivity of its services and open-mindedness of the congregation to different styles of music. James currently lives in Lansing with his partner Dustin and their two cats Opal and Sterling, both named after cartoons :) When not working, James and Dustin both enjoy visiting their favorite breweries and exploring new ones.

Originally from Oklahoma, Brandon A. Frost is a Realtor at MaraRealty in Dimondale, Michigan.

Brandon has been active in church music since high school and has served at Methodist, Presbyterian and UCC churches.

He studied music composition and conducting at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma before moving to Michigan.

Brandon lives in Dimondale, Michigan with his husband Chad Frost and their two cats Foxy and Yumi and dog Karen Walker.

When they aren’t traveling around buying and selling antiques they are hosting dinner parties and enjoying Michigan’s beautiful shores.

Hello my name is Sue Sackett and I am the Custodian for First Congregational United Church of Christ.

I along with my husband, Bob and son, Ben are responsible for the basic cleaning of the inside of the church.

I have been a member of the church for over 35 years.

I have served on many boards and committee over the years, but for the last 14 years I have been the custodian.

My hobbies are reading, running, making scrap books for the grandchildren, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

My husband and I have been married for 46 years this July.

We both graduated from Grand Ledge High School, as did both of our children.

My goals for First Congregational UCC are to make the church an appealing and pleasant place to visit and worship.

I’m John Baumgartner and as of May 2014 installed as the Pastor Emeritus of First Congregational Church.

My wife, Mary Ann and I live in Grand Ledge. We are members of Edgewood United Church UCC, E. Lansing.

I am currently a member of the Friends of Eaton Co Parks. I enjoy reading, gardening and am an avid bird watcher.

Question: "What is a Pastor Emeritus?"

Answer: Emeritus is an honorary title bestowed upon one who has retired from a position (pastor, professor, or other professional position)

as a way of honoring the individual’s service. Emeritus comes from the Latin word emereri, which means to earn one’s discharge by service.

Bestowing the title “Pastor Emeritus” upon a retiring pastor is a way for the church leadership to honor his service to the church.