RUC welcomes a new Director of Christian Education!

Sarah Anders is honored and excited to join the RUC community.  She is passionate about nurturing the faith development of children, youth and adults and has a special place in her heart for children.  She believes strongly in teamwork and is delighted to be in shared ministry with the staff, lay leaders and congregants.  She is drawn to the congregation’s collaborative and creative spirit and values its desire to be compassionate and mission-oriented.

Sarah received her Master of Theology degree in May 2004 from Wesley Theological Seminary.  In May 2007 she completed a 16 month program with The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation on “Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats.“ From 2006 to 2009 she served as part-time Director of Older Adult Programming for Christ Congregational Church in Silver Spring.  Sarah returned to Wesley and graduated in May 2010 with a Master of Divinity degree.   She recently completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Washington Hospital Center.

Sarah has been a member of Christ Congregational since 1994.   Her husband, Eric Nelson, is Jewish.  Together they decided to dually educate their two children, Faith and Marc, in the Jewish and Christian faiths.  For several years they were active in the Interfaith Families Project while Sarah continued to be engaged with Christ Congregational, teaching and volunteering in both groups.

Sarah is energized by the outdoors, regularly attends and leads silent retreats, and sings along with everything from Verdi to Mumford and Sons.  She resides with her family in Rockville, Maryland.