Archwood United Church of Christ

“Joyfully and with anticipation” was the first line of written
material from the Settled Pastor Committee in introducing
Sara Ross, M. Div. as they well-prepared us with information about her. Sara was called on December 5th, 2010 by a unanimous congregational vote after an eventful candidating weekend.  The phrase still fits, and even more so as she begins her service on January 1st, 2011. Sara and her family, partner Jenei Grigg and children Sadie, Statia , and Skipper spent the latter part of December moving from Lansing Michigan and making the parsonage and Cleveland - their new home. Sara will hold her first worship service on January 2nd; and there will be a welcoming reception for her and her family after worship. This will be her first full-time position in a local church, but not her first pastoral experience. While a student at Chicago Theological Seminary, she was placed in two urban UCC congregations in that city: the multi-racial, multi-cultural People’s Church and the predominantly Hispanic First Congregational Church. She brings strong references from parishioners and from the seminary’s Center for Community Transformation, which placed and evaluated her. Her employment background includes an eight-year administrative career in environmental conservation and a position as office administrator in the seminary’s business office.