Pastor
The Reverend Chris Dion
Pastor Chris Dion is Faith’s first pastor, called to lead its three consolidated churches into oneness. While traditions are honored, she will journey with Faith creating new and innovative ministries that build connections between the congregation’s members and its surrounding communities with the love of God.
Pastor Chris graduated from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA with a B.A. in Psychobiology and in 2004 received her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA (now United Lutheran Seminary).
She has served as pastor for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Terryville, CT and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Simsbury. Pastor Chris has also served area Lutheran churches as a Transitional Pastor and Consultant, helping congregations discern their mission sustainability, most recently at Grace Lutheran Church in Plainville.
She is most drawn to Transformational Ministry that guides congregations through the current changing religious landscape and offers renewal of worship practices; diversity; generational accommodations; interfaith relationships and social justice work.
She lives in East Granby with her husband, David, in a busy 3-generation household filled with her 3 grown children, a daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren, and numerous pets. She loves gardening, reading, and staying active with her family.
Pr. Chris can be reached at 860-989-3507 and would appreciate opportunities to meet and get to know Faith’s members and visitors through scheduled visits, zoom calls, phone calls, etc
Minister of Music
Deacon Gwynne Hopko
Deacon Gwynne Hopko grew up in Salem Lutheran Church. There, musical opportunities were abundant and she taught her first Primary Choir at age 16. Gwynne graduated from Western CT State College with BS and MS degrees in Music Education as a piano major, after which she taught classroom music to Grades K-6 and choral activities to grades 7-9 for five years in Southington Public Schools.
Gwynne studied organ under the University Organist, a graduate student at Yale University, and took lessons on the fine organs on the Yale campus. Her first job on the organ bench was at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Kensington, the year her now 40-year-old son was born! Next, she spent nine years as Minister of Music at First Lutheran Church in Southington with two singing and bell choirs and, over time, an orchestra with string and wind students. Concurrently, she served as director of the adult and children’s choirs at Zion Lutheran Church in Southington. During her last several years in Southington, she established a group consisting of children from both churches called The Southington Lutheran Players, which performed musicals.
Subsequently, Gwynne served for 14 years as Minister of Music at Cheshire Lutheran Church, directing the adult, youth and handbell choirs. She brought with her a Christmas pageant that she directed, expanding it every year by adding more actors, dialogue and songs. Gwynne is particularly proud of and fond of a group of youth choir girls that she was able to keep singing together into their early college years. To this day, some of them will remark, “Good Friday just doesn’t seem like Good Friday unless we can sing Handel’s Surely He hath born our griefs from The Messiah.”
Fifteen years ago, Gwynne became the Minister of Music at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Bristol. She is continuing on as the Minister of Music at Faith Lutheran Church. Gwynne joined the ranks of rostered leaders in the ELCA as an Associate in Ministry 35 years ago, a title that has been renamed Deacon. Gwynne finds it rewarding and motivating to lead congregational song for a congregation who enjoys singing! Gwynne’s other passion is in instructing Faith Lutheran’s voice choir that strives to sing expressively. In the hope of encouraging an appreciation for choral music, Gwynne has been instrumental in sponsoring guest choral groups: The Spizzwinks, Lycoming College Choir, plus two of the groups in which she participates – CitySingers of Hartford and her own group, the Southington Chamber Singers.
Professionally, Gwynne has been an active AGO member for over 25 years. Without a doubt, their chapter’s most notable projects are the Choir Festivals held for church choirs to come together to rehearse and perform concerts, each choir (including members of Faith Lutheran’s voice choir) performing individually and en masse. A great time is had by all!
If you are interested in learning more about musical opportunities at Faith Lutheran Church, please speak with Gwynne or seek out a voice choir member or a bell choir member!
Administrative Assistant
Karen Alers
Karen, a Bristol resident, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from CCSU. Besides working with Faith Lutheran she is a co-owner of United Rhythms Dance Studio in Meriden. It is here that she teaches many styles of dance to children thru adults of all levels. She has performed at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch and has been a backup dancer for with renowned artists like Gilberto Santa Rosa and Miss Betty Dee of Sweet Sensation. Her dance credits include television commercials, movie projects, and live performances. Her dance career has allowed her to perform at venues ranging from Foxwoods and Mohegan to sold out arenas in California, Arizona and Miami to name a few. She enjoys her time at Faith Lutheran and looks forward to meeting everyone!