Pasto
r Monica graduated from the Community College of Rhode Island with an A.A. degree in December 1997. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from Rhode Island College in May 1999. Then in May 2004 she graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, MA with a Masters of Divinity degree. She was the Student Pastor at First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Sharon, MA for two years, served one year as Student Chaplain at Steere House Nursing Home in Providence, RI, then served for 13 months as Interim Assistant Pastor at Newman Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in East Providence, RI.
Pastor Monica was ordained by the Rhode Island Conference on January 16, 2005. She served as Associate Pastor of First United Church of Christ in Carlisle, PA from February 1, 2005 until September 30, 2009. She began serving as the pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ on October 5, 2009.
She has three grown children, Celina, Ernest and Thomas, and three grandchildren, Matthew, Michael and Lily. They all live together in Centre Hall, PA with their dog Dolly May. Pastor Monica’s passions include reading and quilting.
Office Manger: Marieta Smith
Marieta Smith began working part-time at St. John’s on October 17, 2007 as Office Assistant. On October 15, 2009, she became the Office Manager. Marieta grew up in Centre Hall and is a graduate of Penns Valley Area High School. She has been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Centre Hall for more than 30 years. On July 30, 
1993, she married John D. Smith and they live in Potters Mills. Her hobbies include camping, boating, tubing, canoeing, counted cross stitching, making jewelry, painting, scrapbooking, swimming, card playing, photography, shopping, mowing grass and spending time with the ones she loves.
