The Reverend Mary Elizabeth Waters, known to most people as Betsy or  Rev. Betsy, comes to Bedford with an array of experiences both in and  out of the church.   She is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ (1995), a licensed educational psychologist and church consultant.  She has served as pastor of three congregations and as consultant with more than a hundred others.  She also worked in school settings as a teacher and psychologist for more than thirty years.   She has experience and expertise in spiritual development, strategic planning, coaching leadership, conflict utilization and church renewal.   She is completing her third year in a doctoral program in Chicago focused on preaching.

Betsy has three sons and three grandchildren, spread from coast to coast.  Her partner and husband, Steve Veno, has three children and four grandchildren.  Steve works as a senior application engineer in water treatment.  Betsy enjoys music, travel, kayaking and time with family and friends.

She began working at First Church in April 2010.

Suzie Barry, of Lexington, MA, joined our staff as Administrative Assistant on June 7, 2010. Suzie's background is in administrative and financial work.

She is married to Mike Barry and they have two school aged sons (Mike and Tommy). She is an active volunteer in the Lexington schools and Town Government. In her spare time she enjoys attending her sons’ sporting events, gardening and baking.

She may be reached by calling the church office at 781-275-7951 or by e-mailing her at fchurchb2@verizon.net.

We hired Susan Wingfield in July 2002 as our part-time Computer Specialist. She is responsible for our newsletters and annual reports. She also works on special computer projects for the staff, creates database reports, trains the staff on how to use their computers, software, and the church database as requested. She also worked part-time in 2001, assisting our Nurture Coordinator with special tasks. She normally works on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but adjusts her schedule as needed. For many years she has volunteered in the church office and on church boards and committees. She was our volunteer webmaster from 1998 until April 2011.

Her hobbies include reading, gardening, working on the computer, and bridge.  She also enjoys being a grandmother.  You may email your newsletter articles to her by clicking here.

We welcomed Julie Braschler to our staff in May 2007 as Director of Christian Education.  Working with the Board of Christian Nurture, she coordinates Sunday School, Youth and Adult programs. She recruits teachers, resource adults, program leaders, and caregivers. She provides materials for them to use and answers hundreds of questions.

Before coming to First Church, Julie worked as the Coordinator of Family Ministries at Hanscom Air Force Base.  She also served as a Deacon in our church.

She cooks delicious meals for our "Wonderful Wednesdays" and has planned many all-church events such as Green Eggs and Ham brunches and summer picnics.

In her spare time she enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with her sons, and being a tour guide at the Louisa May Alcott House in Concord.