We at Island United Church are very pleased to announce that on Sunday, January 18 we chose the Rev. Carol Barriger to be our new settled pastor. Carol is no stranger to the Peninsula, having lived for many years in Redwood City. Rev. Barriger has been a pastor for over 20 years. IUC will be the 6th congregation she has served in the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC. She has also been a hospital chaplain, and served as our Associate Conference Minister for Ministerial Authorization for six years. Currently she is a member of the NCNC Committee on Ministry. Carol is in her 5th year teaching UCC polity to students at Pacific School of religion in Berkeley and is embarking on a Doctor of Ministry program.
To quote Carol, she said, “Aspects of local church ministry I most enjoy are preaching and worship preparation, blending traditional and progressive elements, and small group teaching, especially Bible studies and spiritual sharing. Most of all, I treasure relationships with people of all ages in the congregation, and feel privileged to hear and hold their stories. I am excited to be part of a small, diverse community at IUC – part of the diverse community which is Foster City. I hope to remind Foster City what a ‘gem’ IUC is in their midst and attract new energy to our ministries.”
Carol has a great smile, an open and listening heart, and a sometimes zany sense of humor and fun. We are looking forward to her beginning her service with IUC on February 8, with her first Sunday in the pulpit being Sunday, February 15.
