Congregational Church welcomes new minister to pulpit

GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Glen Ridge Congregational Church UCC has announced the appointment of the Rev. Damien J. Lake as designated interim minister beginning Sept. 1. His first Sunday in the pulpit will be Celebration Sunday, Sept. 10, according to a recent press release from the church. The church will celebrate the beginning of the new year for the school and church, with a celebratory picnic held on the South Lawn following worship.

“I am very excited to begin meeting the great people of GRCC,” Lake said in the release. “My mind is filled with visions and possibilities for the future work that we will do together revitalizing the church in preparation for the future.”

The congregation is also excited about moving ahead with its new minister.
Lake, who earned his master’s degree in divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary, brings a wealth of experience in helping churches in transition during a clergy change. He served churches as an interim minister in Michigan and Ohio and headed the Vitality Team for the Eastern Ohio/Western Reserve Associations of the United Church of Christ, Ohio. In addition, he has worked with the Center for Progressive Renewal and is an advocate for social justice in many venues. Working with youth and young adults is one of his passions.

Lake is a dedicated family man. He and his wife, Sue, are a blended family with four children: Gwenevere, Lorelei, Caleb, and Arabella. They love spending time together playing games, taking walks, looking at specialty cars, and vacationing in different parts of the world.

An admitted specialty car fanatic, he loves to look at old and new ones as well as work on old cars, restoring them to their previous glory. His wife is currently working on her master’s degree in architecture.

The family is looking forward to experiencing life and hospitality in Glen Ridge, its excellent schools, wonderful community, the church, and the 32- minute train ride to enjoy all that NYC has to offer.