Reverend Thia Reggio, Pastor
The Reverend Thia Reggio began serving Astoria First Presbyterian Church in October 2012. With a Master of Divinity and a Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, its clear that Rev. Reggio has a heart for the city and a passion for connecting ancient texts to current events and the challenges facing our world today. Rev. Reggio was awarded the Hansen preaching prize at Union for her ability to relate Scripture to relevant social and philosophical issues, as well as current events in her sermons.
Prior to entering seminary in 2009, Thia had a lengthy career as a management and communications consultant with Siegel + Gale in New York. Thia also served in lay leadership at Rutgers Presbyterian Church in NYC and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Clifton Park, NY, as well as receiving a Bereavement Certificate from Maria College and serving in Saratoga Community Hospice. Thia has three children, Anna, Sam, and Ben.
A strong believer in the connectional church, Thia has served as Moderator of the Synod of the Northeast since October 2014, and will be assuming the duties of Moderator of the Synod’s Mission and Ministry Commission this fall. Seeing a great potential for the Synod to strengthen the bonds among presbyteries and churches, to be a good steward of resources, a convener of constituencies, and to provide a uniquely valuable perspective that is neither too locally entrenched nor too remote from relevant regional issues, Thia is eager to participate as the Synod continues to listen for God’s call into a future of service and mission.
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Thia is also actively engaged with the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, and is a past fellow of the Kairos Center (Poverty Initiative), and deployed with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to serve the Northeast.
Jane Burgess,
Community Liasion
Jane Burgess is a New York City-based singer/actor/instructor. She has performed throughout the United States and Italy. She received her B.M. and Artist Diploma in vocal performance at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA). Jane has appeared on opera, musical theater and cabaret stages.
Most recently Jane has made a home for herself teaching for and co-directing a 501(c)3 non-profit music and arts organization. In 2009 Jane and her husband co-founded Art House Astoria with a mission to provide affordable, quality music and art education to the Astoria, Queens community and surrounding areas. Art House has grown from 5 students to over 95 in 5 years. For more information about Art House Astoria visit www.arthouseastoria.org
After living in Astoria for only 7 years Jane is very much a part of the community. Having grown up in a small town, Jane has longed to create a similar feeling in her Astoria neighborhood. In 2013 the Astoria First Presbyterian Church hired Jane to be a Community Liaison where she reaches out to people through the church and her music and arts organization to help others obtain a sense of responsibility and pride for their community.