Dan Weyand-Geise
Pastor
firstunitedchurchofchrist@gmail.com
Pastor Dan is in his 23rd year as pastor of the First United Church of Christ. Congregants find his openness to all of God’s people to be a blessing and a challenge to traditional experiences of Christian pastors that they sometimes encounter. Dan not only is quite comfortable in ecumenical dialogue and partnerships, he also is prophetic in his call for interfaith cooperation and respect. He moderates an adult-learning class called “Religion Beyond Dogma” that brings together Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Islamic perspectives on a wide-range of topics. He has served as president of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, Churches Active in Northside, and Christ's Community in College Hill.
Dan's 10 years as a hospital and hospice chaplain were excellent preparation for the pastoral care of the congregation. He and his beloved wife Amy are a blessing to the congregation and to the city. Their four children have literally grown up in the church. As the church has loved the Weyand-Geise family through the years, the relationship between the church and its pastor has been a gift for both. It is exciting and a hopeful future for both to see how God continues to work through Dan and through the church family and the ministry at First UCC.
Jimmy Wiederhold
Director of Music, Media, and Faith Formation
Jimmy started performing at First UCC during the summer of 2016 as a special guest musician, joining the previous music director, Tricia Lenhof, for monthly musical extravaganzas! Tricia retired in September of 2020 and Jimmy started as Director of Music the following month. In July of 2021, he proudly took on a full-time position as the Director of Music, Media, and Faith Formation.
Jimmy holds degrees in Multiple Woodwinds Performance from Xavier University and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, studying flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon extensively at both institutions. He has been playing piano since he was five and organ since 2009. When he isn't playing music for the church, you can catch him performing for musicals in pit orchestras all over southwestern Ohio. Jimmy married his best friend, Gary, in 2018 and they reside in Lebanon.
Kim Ogden
Pastoral Administrator
firstunitedchurchofchrist@gmail.com
Kim has worked at First Church for over 16 years. She's been a member of Fleming Road United Church of Christ for nearly 40 years. She feels as if she’s come “full-circle” by both attending and working at United Church of Christ congregations. Kim and her husband Mike enjoy their rescue Beagle-baby, Maggie.
Kim loves music - she sings in her church choir and does solos, duets, etc. In the summer, while on break from her own choir, she has been a frequent contributor at First Church through the years. She also took piano and violin lessons for several years. Kim has a real passion for gems and gemology - she’s learned a lot from the gem shows on QVC and JTV - her favorite places to shop! She also loves to read - she most recently read "House on the Forgotten Coast" - written by her aunt, Ruth Coe Chambers.