Pastor ~ Rev. David Anderson
Rev. David Anderson first connected with First Baptist North Adams when he worked as Camp Director for Camp Ashmere the summer of 1993. Over the winter after this summer, the church was in the process of hiring a Director of Christian Education and Dave became their choice. On February 7th, 1994 he was hired as the Director of Christian Education for First Baptist North Adams.
Dave continued on in this role, coordinating all Christian education aspects at the church during the school year and running Camp Ashmere during the summers, through 2005. In May of 2006, Dave took over as Pastor of First Baptist North Adams and was ordained in May of 2007 by The American Baptist Churches of Massachuestts (TABCOM).
Pastor Dave's ministry passions include discipleship, fellowship and church renewal. He currently serves as the Berkshire Baptist Association's moderator and as the TABCOM Association Coordinator for the Berkshires. In the community, Pastor Dave serves as Chaplain of the North Adams Fire Department as well as volunteering as a Hospice Chalpain. Pastor Dave lives in North Adams with his wife Jennifer and their daughter Abigail. In his spare time he enjoys watching the Red Sox and gardening.
To reach Pastor Dave, please call the church office at (413)663-3780 or email him at davezone68@hotmail.com
Dave continued on in this role, coordinating all Christian education aspects at the church during the school year and running Camp Ashmere during the summers, through 2005. In May of 2006, Dave took over as Pastor of First Baptist North Adams and was ordained in May of 2007 by The American Baptist Churches of Massachuestts (TABCOM).
Pastor Dave's ministry passions include discipleship, fellowship and church renewal. He currently serves as the Berkshire Baptist Association's moderator and as the TABCOM Association Coordinator for the Berkshires. In the community, Pastor Dave serves as Chaplain of the North Adams Fire Department as well as volunteering as a Hospice Chalpain. Pastor Dave lives in North Adams with his wife Jennifer and their daughter Abigail. In his spare time he enjoys watching the Red Sox and gardening.
To reach Pastor Dave, please call the church office at (413)663-3780 or email him at davezone68@hotmail.com
Minister of Music ~ Dr. Matthew McConnell
Joining us at FBCNA in November of 2013, Dr. Matthew McConnell holds a B.A. degree in Music from Bennington College, a M.M. degree in Musical Composition with Distinction in Performance (and Academic Honors) from the New England Conservatory of Music, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree from the same institution. His composition instructors have included Stephen Siegel, Allen Shawn, John Heiss, and Hollywood film orchestrator Erik Lundborg. Matt studied organ with Dr. Dwight Killam, piano with Ann Cain, Jane Jenkins, and John Van Buskirk, algorithmic composition with Paul Burdick, sacred music with Daniel Pinkham, and choral conducting with Janet McGhee. He is a member of ASCAP and AGO.
Matt co-founded The Toyland Band, a Boston-based award-winning instrumental ensemble that specialized in performing arrangements of classical and popular music for children on over 28 diverse toy instruments. He was the principal organist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chapel in North Adams, MA for seven years, and served at several churches in the New England and Greater Boston areas. He has been a guest organist at churches throughout the commonwealth, and was a Teaching Fellow at the New England Conservatory of Music. In addition to teaching composition, piano, organ, orchestration, keyboard harmony, and music theory, Matt is a Joseph Schillinger scholar and teaches The Schillinger System of Musical Composition to students in Berkshire County. He is also a professional Composer Mentor at Music-COMP (formerly the Vermont MIDI Project).
Matt's compositions include symphonic works, choral pieces, concerti, music for plays and events, chamber music, works for solo instruments, and song cycles. He is particularly fond of his Concerto for Toy Piano and Orchestra that was premiered in Boston in 2004. His choral music publisher is E.C. Schirmer, and his digital music distributers are NewMusicShelf.com and ForgetMIDI.com.
To reach Matthew, please call the church office at (413)663-3780 or email him at drmattmc@gmail.com
Matt co-founded The Toyland Band, a Boston-based award-winning instrumental ensemble that specialized in performing arrangements of classical and popular music for children on over 28 diverse toy instruments. He was the principal organist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chapel in North Adams, MA for seven years, and served at several churches in the New England and Greater Boston areas. He has been a guest organist at churches throughout the commonwealth, and was a Teaching Fellow at the New England Conservatory of Music. In addition to teaching composition, piano, organ, orchestration, keyboard harmony, and music theory, Matt is a Joseph Schillinger scholar and teaches The Schillinger System of Musical Composition to students in Berkshire County. He is also a professional Composer Mentor at Music-COMP (formerly the Vermont MIDI Project).
Matt's compositions include symphonic works, choral pieces, concerti, music for plays and events, chamber music, works for solo instruments, and song cycles. He is particularly fond of his Concerto for Toy Piano and Orchestra that was premiered in Boston in 2004. His choral music publisher is E.C. Schirmer, and his digital music distributers are NewMusicShelf.com and ForgetMIDI.com.
To reach Matthew, please call the church office at (413)663-3780 or email him at drmattmc@gmail.com
Office Administrator ~ Lora Peck
Lora joined the staff of First Baptist Church in July of 2012. She came to us with many years of church experience, after having worked at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield for 8 years. She is currently undergoing the immense task of re-vamping, updating & modernizing all things office.
Lora graduated from Hoosac Valley High School in 1995, where much of her time was spent in the Art Department – what else would you expect of someone who began receiving private oil painting classes in 3rd grade!
After graduation, Lora went on to earn her diploma in Writing for Magazines from the Institute of Children’s Literature in West Redding, CT. Although ‘life’ took her away from her true passions – drawing & writing – she has found her own unique way to serve God here in our church and to add these touches of creativity to all that she does. As Pastor Dave says, “sprinkle your pixie dust on this”.
Lora has been a member of FBCNA since 2000, where she served as a Young Adult Youth Leader. Her ministry passions include Christian Education, the nursery, and connecting with other Christian families. Outside of the church, she enjoys reading, cross stitching, and travel (although with 2 young kids, she finds this hard to do).
Lora is the proud mother of two sons: Ashton, born in June of 2006; and Boden, born in November of 2007. She has been married to James Peck since October 2002. They reside in Adams.
To reach Lora, please call the church office at (413)663-3780 or email her at office@firstbaptistnorthadams.org
Lora graduated from Hoosac Valley High School in 1995, where much of her time was spent in the Art Department – what else would you expect of someone who began receiving private oil painting classes in 3rd grade!
After graduation, Lora went on to earn her diploma in Writing for Magazines from the Institute of Children’s Literature in West Redding, CT. Although ‘life’ took her away from her true passions – drawing & writing – she has found her own unique way to serve God here in our church and to add these touches of creativity to all that she does. As Pastor Dave says, “sprinkle your pixie dust on this”.
Lora has been a member of FBCNA since 2000, where she served as a Young Adult Youth Leader. Her ministry passions include Christian Education, the nursery, and connecting with other Christian families. Outside of the church, she enjoys reading, cross stitching, and travel (although with 2 young kids, she finds this hard to do).
Lora is the proud mother of two sons: Ashton, born in June of 2006; and Boden, born in November of 2007. She has been married to James Peck since October 2002. They reside in Adams.
To reach Lora, please call the church office at (413)663-3780 or email her at office@firstbaptistnorthadams.org
