Hi, I'm Khaleigh!
Khaleigh Laicher (she/they), pronounced “kay-lee” “lay-shr”.
“I was born in New Jersey, and raised in North Texas by my parents with my younger (yet taller than me) brother, in a myriad of faith traditions. I converted to Christianity when I was a teenager, and soon became involved with my home church in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a sister denomination to the United Church of Christ, of which FCCOG and 2CC belong!
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After participating in church camp, helping out in Sunday School, and more while in high school, I first heard the words “seminary” and “vocational youth ministry” at age 16. I quickly followed that by asking “Wait, I can go to school for this and do this as my job?” After graduating, I saw a number of kids and young families in attendance at church, but with no Sunday School teacher or events intended for them. I shared these thoughts with my mentor saying, “Why is there not someone here doing this?” He said, “Well, why don’t you do it?”
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And … Here we are, seven years later! After moving to New England, I served as the Interim Director of Christian Education in Providence, RI. I was then called to serve as the Minister of Youth and Family Programs in Chicopee, MA. Sadly, as COVID-19 affected so many people, it also affected many churches. In late 2020 I began to serve the 6th-12th grade students of First Congregational Church and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church both in Longmeadow, MA. I have been solely serving First Church Longmeadow since January 2022.
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As a faith formation leader, I care deeply about the role the church plays in the lives of the children and youth in today’s local church setting. I believe that we are called to be a people who are joyful, caring, and justice driven. Those who share meals together, are supportive of one another, questioning together, fun, and affirming. In the Gospel of Luke, we read the Parable of The Lost Sheep: “Suppose someone among you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the pasture and search for the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he is thrilled and carries it back home…”
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The foundation of my ministry lies in the relationships we build with each other, and a faith that keeps me grounded in my calling. We read in the story that the shepherd is thrilled when each sheep makes it back home. We are taught not only to invite people in, but to prepare a way for them – to celebrate every single member. I look forward to being able to do this, getting “to care for others in the way that God would so that each and every person knows their true worth.”
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Moving to Greenwich with me is my dear wife, Julianna, who goes by Julie! We were married in 2020, but had our ‘big’ wedding last September. We are often followed promptly by our 5 year old Rat Terrier named Ollivander “Ollie,” our 15 year old calico named Temprance “Tiny,” and our nearly one year old silver kitten Daphne “Daph.” I love being outside, coffee, talking to people, hiking, my family, NCIS, Gray’s Anatomy, Harry Potter and Star Trek Voyager. Fun Fact: I collect Bible interpretations, I also played golf in high school and some in college!”
