Rev. Cynthia Snavely, Minister

Hello, I am Cynthia Snavely, the minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Somerset Hills. If you are an adult, please call me Cynthia. If you are a child or youth, please call me Rev. Cynthia. While I have used Cindy and Cyn as well as Cynthia at various times in my life and will also answer to these honorifics, I currently prefer Cynthia.

I was raised in the Protestant Christian tradition at Kochenderfer’s Evangelical United Brethren/United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I taught Sunday School and served as the secretary of the Youth Fellowship in my teen years. The minister Rev. Yoder encouraged my call to ministry and my childhood congregation was my sponsoring congregation as I entered seminary at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey.

I served as a United Methodist minister to a small two-point charge in Weatherly and Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania and as assistant minister in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania before making the transition to Unitarian Universalist ministry. As I began that change, I would have called myself a Unitarian and Universalist Christian. I did not believe Jesus believed or taught that he was God incarnate, thus I was Unitarian, not Trinitarian. I did not believe a loving God would condemn anyone to eternal damnation, thus I trusted in universal salvation and was universalist in my Christianity.

My first requirement in becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister was to belong to a Unitarian Universalist congregation as a member for a year. In order to do that, I enrolled in a Clinical Pastoral Education residency program at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, PA and joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley. At UUCLV I was quickly welcomed to the regular gatherings of the neo-pagan women’s group and was introduced to a member who identified as Buddhist. By the end of my year with UUCLV I described myself as a humanist with a respect for the Christian tradition in which I was raised.

Today, I still identify as a religious humanist. I continue to honor some of what I was taught in my childhood. I learned to sit quietly and wait for the holy to make itself known in my heart. In my childhood I was told it was Jesus speaking. I would name it differently today, but the practice is the same. My favorite spiritual teacher is the Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, now gone from among us, but still teaching through his communities and writings. I also resonate with the strong connection to nature within the Pagan tradition. In other words, my personal spirituality is drawn from an eclectic mix of sources.

I have served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Florida.

I have not set regular office hours, but you are always welcome to contact me to set up a meeting time convenient to both me and you, [email protected] or 908-927-0601.

I look forward to ministering together.

Please click here to watch Rev. Cynthia Snavely’s Welcome to UUCSH video.

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Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Minister Emerita

Rev. Craig Hirshberg is a UU minster who retired after serving for five years as the Executive Director of UU Faith Action NJ (formerly the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ). She has a wealth of experience in the pulpit and in the community. She is Minister Emerita of the UU Congregation of Somerset Hills, where she served as the founding minister. She brought to her ministry extensive non-profit experience including training, planning, community organizing, and program development. She is a spiritual director and hosts meditation classes, retreats, and other spiritual development activities. Craig is a graduate of Drew Theological School, and a lifelong student at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. She received her spiritual direction training at the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC and from the Rowe Spiritual Direction Program. Rev. Hirshberg currently serves as an adjunct consultant with the UU Central Eastern Region and serves as a UUA Transitions Coach for congregations seeking new ministers. She serves on the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Trauma Response Team board, and has been deployed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. She currently lives in Easton, PA with her husband Dominick De Pinto, and has three grown children.

Staff

This vibrant team of professionals helps the congregation to deepen their spiritual connections and put their faith into action.

Stephanie B, Office Administrator

Stephanie has been with UUCSH since 2019. Her work experience includes editing, educational book distribution, and business management. She loves crossword puzzles, cooking, language learning, dogs, and spending time with her family and friends.

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Jennie Stilwell Belmonte, Religious Education Coordinator

Jennie has been attending UUCSH with her family since 2008. Prior to engaging in a staff role as Religious Education Coordinator, she has volunteered in various roles within the UUCSH community, including RE Lead Teacher, and member of RE Vision Team, Committee of Shared Ministry, and Choir. In the larger community, she has also served as a Cub Scout leader and as a co-leader for 4H Robotics club – Somerset Servos. She currently co-leads Girl Scout Troop 61144. Work experience includes roles at Raritan Valley Community College, Sanofi, and Johnson & Johnson. Her passions include gardening, reading, crafting, camping, and gaming, as well as spending time with her spouse, Greg, and their two children, Evan and Grace.

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William Magalio, Music Director & Accompanist

Will has been working for UUCSH for over 13 years. He has played piano for 36 years, but has also studied violin, tuba, and voice. During the week, Will serves as the Marching Band Director and Director of Orchestras at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. His bands and orchestras consistently earn superior ratings and high scores in competitions and festivals throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Will received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and his Masters in Music Technology from the University of Newcastle, Australia.

Will is also very active in local community theater. He serves on the Board of the Readington Community Theatre where he and his wife, Cindy, have participated in the cast and have served as music director and choreographer for many musicals over the past decade.

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Julie Buehler, Choir Director

Julie joined UUCSH as Choir Director in May of 2023. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Puget Sound, a Masters in Education from the University of Houston, and an Associate Degree in Music from Bucks County Community College. She currently sings with Voices Chorale NJ where she serves as Alto Section Leader. Prior to joining us, she served as the Operations Manager for the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County and a substitute conductor for the Hopewell Valley Chorus. She enjoys reading, gardening, cuddling her cat and chickens, and of course making music, including choral singing, playing the piano, conducting/teaching, and arranging. She lives in Frenchtown, NJ with her family.