Meet Our Team
Rev. Dr. Kristy Coburn
Pastor
Rev. Dr. Kristy Coburn has been the pastor at the United Church of Christ in Abington since 2011. Kristy graduated from Bridgewater State College with a degree in Psychology before attending Andover-Newton Theological School where she completed her Master of Divinity Degree in 2001. Following Divinity School, Kristy worked in Hospice Care as a Hospice and Bereavement Chaplain. In 2004, she began working in the parish setting, having served two churches before coming to UCC Abington. In 2021, she completed her Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformational Leadership at the Boston University School of Theology.
In addition to being the pastor of the United Church of Christ in Abington, Kristy is also the Abington Fire Department Chaplain and the Chaplain and a Past Commander for the Abington American Legion. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Jeff Coombs Memorial Foundation and the Abington Celebrates Committee. Kristy is also a certified Meditation teacher.
Kristy and her husband Ken live in Abington. They have three adult daughters: Rebecca, who is a Seventh Grade English teacher, Caroline, who is a student at the University of Vermon, and Jenna, who is a student at UMass Amherst.
Jean-Marc Schweizer
Music Director
Jean-Marc Schweizer is a classical pianist & self-taught composer. Jean-Marc was born in Richfield, Ohio. He was accompanist at First Mennonite Church in Wadsworth for almost ten years. He simultaneously enjoyed performing a wide array of music with performers of all ages & backgrounds throughout the Northeast Ohio area in various venues. Jean-Marc has collaborated on several Cleveland Composers Guild concerts with longtime friends & fellow composers Ryan Charles Ramer & Maya Vandegrift. As a composer, Jean-Marc's music has been described as "powerful & moving." He has had the privilege of having his music performed & recorded in The Netherlands in Winter 2023. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his wife Hellen & cat Benito.
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Lindy Tautkus
Secretary
Carolyn Bates
Minister of Music Emeritus
Carrie is a graduate of Lake Erie College in Painseville, Ohio with a BA in Organ and Voice, with a minor in Music Education. She is a member of this church, directing all three of the musical groups. She is also the Organist and Choir director of a local Catholic Collaborative.
Lucy
Unofficial Spiritual Support Dog
Lucy the church dog rose to church fame in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Rev. Kristy was leading worship from home, Lucy could often be seen walking around the house or yard, dancing to the closing music, or sitting on Rev. Kristy's lap during the Children's time. When the church re-opened following the pandemic, Lucy just had to come with us! Now, she attends worship on Sundays when we are in the sanctuary. She loves greeting people when they arrive and begging for treats or communion bread!
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Lucy is a Havanese, which is a Cuban circus dog. She is hypoallergenic, meaning she has hair, not fur, so she doesn't shed. When she's not at church, Lucy enjoys chasing chipmunks, taking naps, and learning new tricks for treats.
Bob Caldeira
Sexton
