Photo/submitted
Shrewsbury – The Reverend Lynne Dolan recently completed her sixth year as senior pastor of First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury and is taking a three-month sabbatical to rest, pray, and renew – spiritually, mentally, and physically.
During her time away, the church will be led by Rev. Dr. James Matarazzo who will become the interim minister upon her return.
Prior to joining the staff in July 2019, he served as interim associate minister at First Congregational Church in Guilford, Conn., for one year. Before that, he was a lecturer in theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford, England, the largest seminary in the Church of England. He was also a member of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford. He will teach part-time in the Theology Department at Boston College during his ministry in Shrewsbury.
Matarazzo has worked in the international development/humanitarian relief field for the past 15 years, with most of his work dealing with HIV initiatives in least developed countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa.
A native of Boston, Matarazzo was ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ in 2005. He holds additional clergy standing in the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, the Church of England, and the Church of Scotland. He lived in the U.K. for over 11 years until his return to the States in 2018.
He loves travel and has travelled to more than 91 countries and territories. His other hobbies include music, reading, hiking, and rock wall climbing. He is looking forward to get to know the people of his new church and of the wider community.
Services are held at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays at the church, 19 Church Road.
