Newsletters
September 2025 News
June 2025 News
Stonebridge Press June 13, 2025 Issue #24 features an article on our Groundbreaking Ceremony (Page A1 and A11)
June 1, 2025: The Congregational Church of Eastford’s Groundbreaking Ceremony at 54 John Perry Road, Eastford was held after our worship service. A “Prayer Wagon” and golf carts were used as transportation to the site and many walked from the school to the site. The Groundbreaking Ceremony began around noon. Pastor Mike reminded the congregation of a verse the Lord impressed on him for the new year in 2016 (Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.“) and offered that this new site offers plenty of room for current and future generations. Prayers were offered from 6 generations (Silent Generation through Alpha Generation) and all joined in songs of praise. Eric Payer, project manager from Church Development Services, led the groundbreaking portion of the ceremony. Associate Pastor Evan Burgess closed the service in prayer.
April 2025 News
October 2024 News
Evan Burgess officially joined the Congregational Church of Eastford as Associate Pastor on October 1, 2024.
July 2024 News
The members of the Congregational Church of Eastford voted unanimously on Sunday, July 21, 2024 to appoint Evan Burgess as our Associate Pastor. The call was extended by telephone and the answer is “yes”. God is good, and we give Him praise and thanks for His abundant provision. Pray for the whole transition. They will join us in October.
Associate Pastor: Evan Burgess
Evan is 32 years old and married to Chelsey. They have a four-year-old son, Roman. Both Evan and Chelsey grew up in Manchester, CT. They met during High School and while attending Trinity Covenant Church in Manchester. Evan and Chelsey were married in 2015.
After their marriage they began training with Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes Missions) to become missionaries to Papua New Guinea. About halfway through their training, in June 2020, they had their son, Roman. Shortly after Roman’s birth Chelsey was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This resulted in a big change in their plans and direction in life – toward pastoral ministry and Connecticut.
Evan’s preparation for mission work gives him many pastoral skills – and with experience and further education his portfolio will be complete. His situation is a great fit for the plan the Congregational Church of Eastford has been working – to have an associate join the work alongside Pastor Mike, and after a season of preparation, take the lead.
Evan has been working as the Dean of Men at the Ethnos360 Bible Institute in Waukesha, WI since 2022. Evan, Chelsey, and Roman will join us in October 2024.
May 2024 News
May 22, 2024: The Congregational Church of Eastford’s membership voted overwhelmingly to relocate to a new site as they rebuild following the loss of their building last year to fire. The new site is on John Perry Road. The decision was driven both by our vision to bless our community and by our expectation of future growth. The new location provides abundant space both indoors and out for a new building for worship, programs for children and adults, space to host community events, and future growth potential. The beautiful old building served the church and Eastford for nearly 200 years, and we will all miss it. While the old hilltop location on Church Road was beautiful, the space was too small. On a new site and in a new building we intend to provide for another century or two of blessings. It is hoped that the new building will be ready by late 2026.
April 2024 News
https://linpub.blob.core.windows.net/pdf/2/d0554eef-cf39-49dc-af7d-3b7a2c2349ac.pdf (Page 1 and 11)
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/minors-arrested-fire-destroyed-eastford-church/3276456/
https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/teens-arrested-fire-destroyed-eastford-church-19425193.php
https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/windham/2-juveniles-arrested-for-2023-eastford-church-fire/
https://www.facebook.com/winyradio/posts/972253310915751?ref=embed_post
2024 04 18 WINY Radio telephone interview with Pastor Mike
March 2024 News
https://thedanscottshow.podbean.com/ Pastor Mike’s interview begins around 4:35.
December 2023 News
2023 12 11 WINY Radio interview with Pastor Mike
2023 12 08 WINY Radio Facebook post – Pastor Mike scheduled for interview on Monday, Dec 11, 2023
https://www.wfsb.com/2023/12/08/worshippers-prepare-christmas-after-devastating-fire/
April/May 2023 News
The Congregational Church of Eastford’s building at 8 Church Road in Eastford burned to the ground in the pre-dawn hours on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Sunday Worship Services are held in the Eastford Elementary School Gym, 12 Westford Road, Eastford. Church offices are at 4 County Road in Eastford (next door to the post office)! News articles appear below. For those wishing to help us rebuild, visit https://cceastford.org/give/.
https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/windham/eastford-firefighters-try-to-save-historic-church/
https://patch.com/connecticut/across-ct/fire-destroys-historical-connecticut-church-eastford
https://www.wfsb.com/2023/04/25/conn-community-rallies-after-historic-church-burns-massive-fire/