First Congregational United Church of Christ
2810 West 7th Street, Hastings, NE 68901
402-462-4136
Our Pastor
I served as Pastor of First Congregational UCC for 16 years before I retired in 2015. Serving this
church was an amazing experience for which I am truly and deeply grateful. I have recently come
out of retirement to help out while the church is “between pastors”, following the exciting
ministry of the Rev. Jessica Palys.
I invite you to worship with us in person or remotely on Facebook. What is said frequently in the
United Church of Christ is true: No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you
are welcome here. I hope I have a chance to meet you!
May peace be with you,
Barry Rempp
Our Office Staff
Linda Dilley, our church secretary, fit right in with us as she is acquainted with most of the congregation. She retired from Dutton-Lainson Showcase, after 14.5 years and, prior to that, worked for Eagle Plastics for 14 years. She feels she was meant for this job, as she was looking for something part-time and when the position came open, she knew it was the job she wanted. Linda lives in Harvard, NE, is married to Merlin (Wizard) Dilley and has three fur babies and four feather babies. She and her husband are big NASCAR fans, Husker fans, and KC Chiefs fans. Linda loves her job working for FCUCC and being a part of church activities and interacting with members of the congregation, whom she considers a part of her family.
Our Organist
Kathy has been a church organist since age 14! She started lessongs at 9 and prior to being Organist, she played the piano for Sunday School and the junior choir (which her mother directed). Kathy remembers sitting at her grandmother’s upright player piano when very young and getting a penny stuck between the keys. When the “handyman” removed the penny, he prophetically told her grandmother that Kathy would play the organ in their church someday, and in fact this has been her longest running job. The oldest item of clothing she owns are her organ shoes. Kathy grew up on a farm south of Hastings, graduated from Adams Central High School, and from the University of Nebraska at Kearney twice: first for her bachelor’s degree and then, years later, for a master’s degree in Community Counseling. Her 'other' work has taken her to various employers: J. M. McDonald Headquarters, Farmland Industries, Hastings Industries, Adams County Senior Services, General Counseling, and Midland Area Agency on Aging. Kathy and her husband Fran, retired, have one daughter Ashley, who lives in Boulder, Colorado. Kathy enjoys reading when she can find the time and has an impressive cookbook collection.
Our Choir Director
Deb has been the choir director since 2006. She loves working with the choir to expand their voices with a variety of music styles and arrangements. She also shares her musical talents for area funerals, weddings and other gatherings. When not working with the choir, Deb is the Executive Director of Leadership Hastings, an educational and community awareness program in Hastings that focusses on Leadership training and the diversity of the area. Prior to working with Leadership Hastings Deb worked as a licensed insurance professional and the Director of Housing at Good Samaritan Society, Hastings Village. Deb is a certified trainer with Sertoma, Inc. serves as President of the Friends of the Library Board of Directors and is a member of the Board for the
Hastings Noon Sertoma Club. Her husband, Jim, is the Inside Sales Rep for Phoenix Casting & Machining, Inc.
in Juniata. Their daughter, Jenny, is the First Five Coordinator for Family, Inc. in Southwest IA and lives
in Omaha. Deb has a Bachelor's of Music Degree from Hastings college and in her "free" time, chan be found reading and cooking.