Our Ministerial Staff

               Ministers: All Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich
 
Reverend Patrick Collins, Senior Pastor
 A Nebraska native, Reverend Patrick Collins graduated in 2003 from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he majored in Psychology and earned two letters as part of the football team. He then went on to the University of Missouri, where he received a Master's degree in Counseling and Sport Psychology in 2005. From 2005 to 2012, Patrick served as the Director of Youth Ministries at Countryside Community Congregational Church in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2016, he completed his Masters of Divinity degree with honors at The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.

Patrick is married to Kate, a physical therapist, and they have three sons and a daughter. The Collins family has become deeply involved in the Old Greenwich/Riverside community since their arrival in 2016. Patrick has coached youth football and baseball and has been a Den Leader in Cub Scout Den 3. Kate has served in volunteer roles at Old Greenwich School, is very involved with the Christmas tree sale at FCCOG, and works as a pediatric physical therapist in a local school system. 
Rev. Patrick Collins
Cydney Van Dyke, Associate Pastor
Reverend Cydney Van Dyke has been the Associate Pastor at FCCOG since October 2020. She grew up in Southeast Pennsylvania, the daughter of two UCC pastors. She attended Ursinus College, majoring in Peace and Justice Studies with minors in International Relations and Religious Studies.  She received her Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School. While there, she served at United Parish in Brookline (American Baptist, UCC, and United Methodist), as Seminarian, Summer Pastoral Associate, and Interim Christian Education Coordinator. Ordained in 2016, she then served as Associate Pastor at New Goshenhoppen UCC in East Greenville, PA.

As a pastor, Cydney is dedicated to the ways of Christ that transform, heal, and reconcile, both individual lives and systems of power. She also welcomes and honors the varied paths of spiritual journeying that each of us takes. These convictions fuel her passion for social justice issues, ecumenical and interfaith relationships, and cultivating sustained spiritual practices. And, as a youth-based ministry advocate, she believes that church should be fun for everyone. Like, really fun.

Cydney is an avid singer, relishes being an aunt, and loves sports, traveling, and food, especially cheese. She and her partner, Scott, are proudly owned by their two cats.
 

Craig  Scott Symons, Minister of Music
Craig  Scott Symons began his tenure as Minister of Music at First Congregational Church of Greenwich in 2010. Craig is a native of Michigan, where he most recently served as Director of Music for 15 years at First United Methodist Church in Royal Oak, a suburb just north of Detroit. He attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy for four years and graduated in 1980. Craig received his Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University as a student of Ray Ferguson and went on to receive a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from University of Michigan, where he studied with Robert Glasgow and James Kibbie.

Craig is active in a number of organizations, presently serving as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Music in Worship for the American Choral Directors Association – State of Connecticut, He previously served as Dean for the Detroit Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and has held positions on executive boards for Fairfield-West Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians – Detroit Chapter, and Choristers Guild – Detroit Chapter.

From 1990-2007, Craig was the Founder and Conductor of Ars Nova, an auditioned group of 24 singers, which presented concerts of music ranging from chant to vocal jazz and everything in between. He is also Director/Pianist for the Blue Notes, a philanthropic group of women who spread the joy of music with senior citizen groups, retirement centers, and nursing facilities throughout lower Fairfield county.

Craig has performed organ recitals around the country, including numerous venues around southeastern Michigan, New York City, Boston, and Washington D. C. Since 2008, he can be found singing bass with sounding light, a professional choir based in Detroit, directed by Tom Trenney.
Khaleigh Laicher, Director of FCCOG Church School and Regional Youth Ministry
 
Khaleigh Laicher (she/they)  is a New Jersey native who was raised in North Texas by Jewish & Pagan parents who exposed her to a wide variety of faith traditions. After converting to Christianity as a teenager, Khaleigh became deeply involved in their home church within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a sister denomination to the United Church of Christ. At age 16, she was preaching from the pulpit when she was encouraged to go to seminary, and shortly after, she accepted her call to ministry while serving communion to others at church camp.

Her ministry is rooted in building relationships, ensuring that every child and youth feels seen, supported, and celebrated. She believes that the church should be a place where young people are not just taught but are actively involved in creating a fun, caring, and justice-oriented community. She finds inspiration in the Parable of The Lost Sheep, striving to create a space where every young person is sought, lifted up, and their worth is affirmed.

Life outside of ministry includes her wife, Julianna, and their four beloved pets: Ollie the dog, Tiny the senior cat, and a young bonded cat pair Daphne and Dasher. She enjoys hiking, coffee, and spending time with loved ones. Khaleigh is also an avid fan of NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, Harry Potter, and Star Trek Voyager ( and is a proud 4th generation Trekie!)