The First Congregational Church of Riga welcomes Susan Lancaster Garofalo as its new pastor. To celebrate this event, the church will hold an open house on Saturday, January 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 7057 Chili-Riga Center Road. This will provide everyone in the community to get to know Pastor Susan.
Having grown up in Irondequoit, Pastor Susan studied music education at SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music, where she majored in piano. Following her studies, she joined the workforce and began building a long, successful sales career that continues today.
Finishing her undergraduate degree was important to Pastor Susan. She began researching degree programs that would allow her to consolidate her music education studies with her professional experience. Her research paid off. After two years of coursework, Pastor Susan received her undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
After much discernment, Pastor Susan began her post-graduate studies at Northeastern Seminary, earning her Master of Divinity degree in June 2012.
Pastor Susan’s interest and call to ministry began at a very early age. She was baptized and confirmed at Asbury First United Methodist Church. As a youth, Pastor Susan participated in the Sunday School program, youth choir, bell choir and youth fellowship. During her formative years at Asbury, Pastor Susan became keenly aware of God’s presence in her life, and in the world. In retrospect, she understood her experience as a youth to be God’s call to pursue pastoral ministry, a call that has continued to form and change throughout her life.
In 2008, Pastor Susan joined Webster Presbyterian Church, where she was ordained as an elder and lovingly served the congregation through the utilization of her gifts of preaching, teaching and music. Perhaps her greatest gift, however, is her love for people; a gift that translates well into her new role as Pastor for Riga Church.
In addition, Pastor Susan serves as a staff Chaplain of the Rochester Regional Health System and continues her full-time sales position at Transcat, Inc. She enjoys her relationships with her family and her friends.
An accomplished musician and budding theologian, Pastor Susan spends much of her personal time in study.
Come join the church at the open house on Saturday, January 9 or visit for worship at 10 a.m. any Sunday.
Provided information
