Staff Members
Phone: 631-427-9547
Fax: 631-423-1504
Public Courtesy Phone (in foyer): 631-385-1079
Email: info@uufh.org
Staff members’ individual contact information is included with their information below:
Reverend Jude Geiger, Candidate for UUFH settled ministry.
A vote of congregational endorsement is slated for April 21, 2013.
Biography:
Rev. Jude Geiger currently serves as the Minister of Lifespan Religious Education at the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn. He has a Masters in Urban Planning from NYU Wagner focusing on Community Development, and an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary with a speciality in Christian Social Ethics. Jude has worked as a consultant for non-profits advocating for Affordable Housing and for the NYC Mayor’s Office working in Health Insurance Outreach for low and middle-income New Yorkers. Prior to his graduate education, he worked in information technology as a supervisor, database administrator and project manager. In addition to his ministry with Brooklyn, Jude served as the Summer Minister for the UU congregations in Summit and Morristown, NJ as well as the Ministerial Intern at Shelter Rock.
Active in denominational leadership, Jude is immersed in youth and young adult ministry at the district, regional and continental levels. He also leads weekend and week long workshops in Youth Ministry, UU Heritage, UU Identity, and Small Group Ministry. He currently serves on the UUA’s Council of Church Staff Finances.
Jude regularly blogs for the Huffington Post and can be found there at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-g-jude-geiger. You can read his writings and listen to his podcasts at http://revwho.com/. Or follow his public profile on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RevWho.
Jude is partnered to Brian Brewer. Brian works as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Cancer Research Institute – a non-profit located near Wall Street in Manhattan.
Reverend Nancy O. Arnold, Interim Minister
A message from Reverend Nancy O. Arnold:
When something changes in our lives – such as the retirement of a minister or any other important change – a time of reorientation is usually required. An interim ministry is intended to guide a congregation through that transition time.
You may feel as if the ground is shifting under your feet, leaving you feeling uncertain. Uncertainty can be the cause of emotional turmoil for individuals and for those for whom congregational life provides stability. This is why the Unitarian Universalist Association recommends hiring an Interim Minister.
The period between settled ministers offers the opportunity to process what is occurring in the life of the congregation. It is a time to step back and assess the ministry. It is a time to prepare for a new era in the life of the Fellowship.
In our time together we will evaluate the UUFH and determine where to go from here. This will be a time of change as we adjust to each others’ styles of ministry and learn to work and serve and play well together.
I am impressed with the ways in which Fellowship members are present for and care for one another. These are gifts that cannot be taught. I feel very fortunate to be serving as the UUFH Interim Minister. Thank you for that trust.
I look forward to meeting with you during this very important time.
Yours in faith,
Nancy
On February 1, 2012, UUFH welcomed Rev. Nancy O. Arnold as Interim Minister following Rev. Paul Ratzlaff’s retirement.
Rev. Nancy’s experience includes 17 years as a parish minister in Connecticut and Ohio. In 2008, Nancy returned to her native New York as a hospice chaplain with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Pastoral Care Minister for the Bay Shore UU congregation.
Nancy was an active lay leader for ten years before studying for the ministry. She is a 1984 Women’s Studies graduate from UMass, Amherst, and a graduate of Harvard Divinity School.
Nancy and her partner Jerry have been together 15 years and recently adopted Annie, a cock-a-poo rescued from a puppy mill by the North Shore Animal League. Nancy has a grown son who lives in Massachusetts.
You can reach Nancy at (631) 427-9547 or minister@uufh.org
Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education
A message from Austen Petersen
Greetings! My name is Austen Petersen and I’m your new DRE. I’ve received such a warm welcome to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington! Right now I’m in my new office sitting next to some lovely hand crafted flowers courtesy of Danielle and the RE classes. Thank you!
I come to you from Akron, Ohio; Banska Bystrica, Slovakia; Henan Province, China; Brattleboro, Vermont, and plenty of other places in-between. I’m excited to be here to share our journeys. I’m looking forward to learning more about living near the ocean, exploring some of the beautiful parks in the area, and cycling. One of my hobbies is collecting National Parks passport stamps, and I already have a list of places I’d like to visit.
I’m excited to get to know all of you, and to learn directions in which you’d like the RE program to grow. I see a Fellowship full of hospitality and beauty ready to blossom, and I’m thrilled to be part of that process. Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, and especially with good coffee house recommendations.
In Joy, Austen Petersen
Please contact Austen at (631) 427-9547 or dre@uufh.org
Richard Hyman, Music Director
Richard Hyman has been UUFH Music Director since February, 1996.
A graduate of Queens College with an MA in Music from Columbia University and an MS in Education from Queens College, Richard Hyman is Director of Vocal Music at Francis Lewis High School in Queens, NY, and Music Director of the Northport Community Orchestra.
Richard has composed, performed and conducted music for film, television and live performances. He has been an annual recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for composer members since 1998. In 2006, the Hofstra University Chamber Singers performed the world premiere of his choral setting, “Written in Pencil”. In 2007, his setting of “Oseh Shalom” was performed at the Vatican. Also in 2007, he was honored as Queens Music Teacher of the Year, winning a Steinway piano and $29,000 for his school.
You can contact Richard at music@uufh.org.
Barbara Weingarten, Fellowship Administrator
Email: info@uufh.org
(631) 427-9547
