First Congregational Church installs new pastor

First Congregational Church in Crystal Lake held an installation ceremony for the Rev. Eric C. Fistler Sept. 18.

An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has served churches in Illinois, Missouri, Massachusetts and Connecticut. He is originally from St. Charles, and was baptized and confirmed at the Congregational United Church of Christ in St. Charles. He attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., where he met his wife, Nina. His seminary studies were completed at Eden Theological Seminary, Webster Groves, Mo. In addition to his passion for local church ministry, Pastor Eric has been actively involved in peacemaking in Israel-Palestine for which he was awarded the Blessed are the Peacemakers award from the World Council of Churches in 2005. In 2011, he co-founded Cathedral in the Night, an emergent street church in Northampton, Mass., which all people: the homeless, the housed, the church-less, the churched, the student and the resident to explore, question and live out their spiritual beliefs.

In 2013, Rev. Fistler joined the Rev. Robb McCoy of Two Rivers UMC in Rock Island to start the "Pulpit Fiction Podcast," a weekly discussion on the weekly scripture readings. Eric and his family reside in the Chicago area.

For information, visit www.fcc-cl.org or call (815) 459-6010.