Who We Are

We believe that with great frequency the Bible teaches us that God is making all things new. Exodus is a story of homecoming, but to a new one. The gospel Jesus preached spoke of a new birth. And the church was a new expression of God’s people giving voice to his desire for a world characterized by righteousness, justice and peace.

At Somers Congregational Church we affirm the National Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ but that doctrinal statement, above all has a human face in those who enter our doors. For above all we believe that whoever and wherever you are on life’s journey you are welcome here.

Why? Simply put, we believe our diversity enriches each of us by opening us to explore new expressions of God’s love, mercy and compassion. We are therefore, not defined by tests of faith but in our testimonies of faith and our faith stories.

Our faith, or shared beliefs and core values at Somers Congregational Church, isn’t for us a noun, or an idea to talk about. Faith is a verb that enlivens us in joyful service, warm fellowship and an extravagant welcome.

Somers Congregational Church is almost 300 years old but we haven’t forgotten that God in and through us is...making all things new.

The Rev. Don Francois (Pastor Don) was raised in Prospect, CT. He received his B.A. in Sociology/Psychology from the University of Hartford, an M.A. in Religious Studies from St. Joseph College (now University of St. Joseph) and his M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School in 1998. He served as a Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister in the Roman Catholic Church for seventeen years. In 1993, he joined the United Church of Christ and began ministry at the Ellington Congregational Church the same year. He served as Director of Christian Education (1993-95), Student Minister (1995-96), Associate Pastor (1996-2003) and Senior Pastor (2003-2017). He was ordained in June 1998. Following retirement he has served as Bridge Pastor at the Enfield and Columbia Congregational Churches and Interim Pastor at the Second Congregational Church of Coventry (2021-2023) which is where he holds Ministerial standing. Don provided pulpit supply at The Somers Church from September 2026-March 2026 after which he was called as the Designated Term Minister. He began his ministry at Somers on April 1. Don served many years as a dean at Silver Lake and as a volunteer on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota.

Don is married to Laurie Francois and has two children and one grandchild: Danielle and her husband, David and their daughter Maeve; Jonathan and his partner, Sinclaire; and two stepchildren, Aaron and his partner, Tessa, and Amanda and her partner, Devon. Don and Laurie live in Ellington.

Don enjoys windsurfing, disc golf and mountain biking but, alas, only from the comfort of his recliner. Instead, he loves history and is an avid philatelist with particular interest in Franklin D. Roosevelt, the US Bicentennial, the sacred art of Christmas, and tiny countries (Vatican City, Christmas Island and Pitcairn Island). He also enjoys cruising with Laurie and all things Harry Potter.