130 West Main St. • Plainville, CT 06062

860-747-1901

Our Clergy & Staff

Don Erickson

Pastor

From 1990 to 1993, I attended Cedarville University, a Christian college with a focus on biblical studies. I met my wife while at Cedarville and we were married in September 1994. In 2000, I graduated from North Carolina State University where I received my Bachelors of Art in Religious Studies. In 2004, I graduated from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.

 

I am clinically certified in pastoral care (ACPE), receiving my residency training in 2006-2007 at Tampa General Hospital. For eight years, I ministered full-time as a hospice chaplain, years essential to my growth as a pastor. 

 
In July 2013, I was blessed to be called to serve as the minister of the Community Church of North Orange & Tully (CCNOT), a federated UCC and UUA church in Central Massachusetts. I returned to hospice chaplaincy in 2017 and served as the chaplain at the Hospice of Franklin County in addition to my position at CCNOT.  I served as the interim minister of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Middletown, Ohio from July 2019 to July 2020. I am currently serving as the minister of the Congregational Church of Plainville (UCC) in Connecticut 

 

I am an expert in Christian theology and Buddhist philosophy. I am a published poet, amateur musician, film-buff, and book-lover. In August 2019, my book A Life Lived and Laid Down for Friends: A Progressive Christology was published by Wipf and Stock Publishers.

My family is most precious to me. My wife is Holly, and we have a young son Corey. He is 12 and is the proverbial spark-plug. 

This is the core philosophy of my 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.”

 

Jackie Harris-Stone

Director of Music Ministries

Jackie Harris-Stone was born in Kenya of British parents, and lived in Nairobi until age 5, then after a short stint in England, came to America. 

Jackie began piano at age 6, and trombone at age 11, adding in percussion at age 16 Jackie received a bachelor’s in music from Wheaton College, IL and a master’s degree in bass trombone from Juilliard. 

Jackie has served as interim directors of the Grace Lutheran Bell Choir in Glen Ellyn in 1996-1997 and the Wheaton Bible Church Orchestra from 1997-1998, Music Director for the Holy Family Anglican Church from 2003-2007 in Monterrey, Mexico (where they also played in the orchestra), organist at Colebrook Congregational Church from 2016-2018, and Music Director at Congregational Church of Burlington from 2018 to 2021.

Jackie lives in Farmington with two young kids, and also teaches privately at Grace Academy, Hartford, as well as freelancing as a musician, including as first trombone of the big band, “Flamingo”

Nicole Guglietta

Director of Faith Formation