Pastor/Vestry

  Bio

Rev. Bruce Shipman

bruceshipman@sbcglobal.net

(860) 446-2238

Don Hubert – Warden

Don and his wife Nancy have been members of Holy Advent since 1966. They have two daughters, Robin and Wendy, both of whom were raised in and married in our church. Rounding out the offspring are grandchildren Rebecca, Benjamin, Jonathan and David.

Don is now semi-retired from a long career in the electrical insulating materials industry, where he continues to perform volunteer chores for several trade organizations.

Don has, over the years, served on the vestry, as treasurer and as warden at Holy Advent.   A long time advocate of outreach both spiritually and materially, Don’s desire is for Holy Advent to grow in those fields which he sees as  The Church’s primary mission 

Bill Russell -Warden

Bill has lived in Clinton with his wife, Joyce for over 30 years.  Their four children have “left the nest”, but live in the area except for one attending college in Charleston. Bill spent his youth in Virginia and upstate New York as an Episcopalian. He obtained an engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with studies at the City University of London.  He is employed as a consulting engineer serving the aviation/aerospace industry. Bill’s hobbies and interests include sailing, soccer, water sports, and carpentry.

“We were drawn to the Church of the Holy Advent by the inspirational preaching of Father Bruce and warmth and welcoming of the parishioners.  I truly feel that it is a special place and I am thrilled to have been asked to serve as Warden and member of the Vestry.  I consider it a privilege and will work hard to continue the fine job that has been done by my predecessors in the last few years.”

Barbara Zettergren

Barbara was baptized, confirmed, and married in Our Saviour Church in Plainville, Connecticut.  She moved to New Britain Connecticut to raise her four children John, Craig, Greta & Kevin and joined St. Mark’s Church.  She was a Sunday school teacher, member of the adult choir, member of the women’s groups and Treasurer while attending St Mark’s.  She has lived in Clinton and been a member of Holy Advent for 10 years.  Ask Barbara about her 10 grandchildren, the lights of her life.  Barbara is the Business Manager of Incarnation Center in Ivoryton Connecticut.  Her interests are reading, enjoying her grandchildren, &cooking. 

The call to serve came through a luncheon meeting with Father Bruce.  Who can say no to Father Bruce???  I thought it was my time to serve and use my talents for Holy Advent.

Debbie Ambrogio

Debbie has been a member of Holy Advent since 1987.  She was baptized, confirmed and married at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Ansonia.  Debbie and her husband Jim live in Clinton and have one married daughter who lives in Durham.  Lisa and her husband Brian have blessed them with two beautiful granddaughters, Alyssa age 4 and Megan age 8.  Prior to retirement in 2008, Debbie worked as a manager for the United States Postal Service Processing Facility in Hartford for 29 years.  Her hobbies are traveling, reading, gardening and enjoying “quality” time with her husband and granddaughters.

She is a member of the Altar Guild, Lector/Intercessor and recently Chalice Bearer.

When asked what called her to serve as clerk of the Vestry, she responded with “I have served on the Vestry in my former parish and at Holy Advent.  Retirement has given me the opportunity to give back for all the blessings God has bestowed on me.

Martha Tolan-Wilbur 

After moving from Glastonbury to Clinton in 2006 Martha started attending services at Holy Advent. She was delighted the first time she came because Alice Flanagan was a familiar face to see. Alice had been the real estate agent for the seller of the house Martha purchased, and she extended a warm welcome to her.  She works for the State of Connecticut as a Clinical Social Worker. 

Why join the vestry? I consider it both a pleasure and a privilege to be asked to participate in this important work as the church moves forward to even greater accomplishments.  

Michele (Shelly) DiAcri

Michele (Shelly) DiAcri has been a member of Holy Advent for the past seven years.  She has lived in Clinton for the past 33 years with her husband Frank (a member of Holy Advent Facilities Committee).  They have two children, who were adopted from Colombia, Kendra (married) and Marc DiAcri (deceased).  She has three grandchildren (Dontrell, Kenyin, and Sadie) who attend Holy Advent Church School.  Shelly is a retired corporate officer of a local utility and currently works part-time as an instructor at Albertus Magnus College’s New Dimensions program.  Her interests are travel, gardening, cooking, and reading.

When asked what called her to serve on the Vestry at this point in time, she responded with: “The call to serve did not come out of the whirlwind.  Rather, the call came over the phone from the nominating committee.  I am surrounded by others at Holy Advent who do more than a share of the work necessary to keep our community vibrant.  I simply thought it was my turn to serve the parish as warden.”

Penny Chittenden

Bill and I moved to Clinton in 1961 when our first daughter was 1 1/2.  She and her 4 sisters attended Sunday School at Holy Advent and I taught for several years and also served on the vestry. Various town committees and the Board of Education kept me out of trouble, as well as serving on the board of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in various capacities.  I managed to work as a travel agent and tour guide after the children grew independent and travel is certainly still of great interest.  Free time, which seems scarce, I spend painting and exhibiting with other shoreline artists.

 When asked to serve on the vestry by someone so persuasive and charistmaticv as our vicar, I could not say "No".  He has done so much to reinvigorate Holy Advent that I feel honored to be asked and a responsibitlity to step up and serve again.     

Jim Van Cott

This is my second year as a full-fledged parishioner in Holy Advent.  For my wife, Patricia, and me, this was our church-away-from-home for several years as we moved in stages from Maryland to Clinton.  We were instantly enamored to Holy Advent by the warmth and genuineness of the congregation and Fr. Shipman. OK, - the quaint exterior of the church ("curb appeal") also pulled us.  Further, Holy Advent reminds me of the little Episcopal church in the upper Hudson River Valley town of Kinderhook, NY where my mother's father was the rector in the 1890s - early 1900s.   Patricia and I have been married for 53 years, and we have had five children.  I am a retired U. S. naval officer. I also am a retired executive recruiter, and I was the director of scouting for scouts with disabilities in the Washington, D.C. area for The Boy Scouts of America. I still like to tutor students in math.  I had the pleasure of being on the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, MD and on the school board of the church's day school. I also served as chairman of the acolytes corps.  My full time job now is being a grand dad to our four grandsons, and being my wife's "husband on duty".

 We think it was meant to be that we found Holy Advent.  Here, happy, unusual circumstances converge: 1., we were married in St. John's Episcopal Church by the Sea in West Haven, CT, and our rector there later became rector here; 2., Fr. Shipman's high school in Maryland is near where we formerly lived; and 3., next to our church is a statute of my alma mater's first president. (How often does that happen?)  

When Fr. Shipman called to ask me if I would stand for the vestry, I felt honored.  I volunteered comfortably because of a feeling that I could help, that it was my turn to "pull an oar", and that it was time to give back to God and the church for all the blessings our family has received.  I look forward to helping Holy Advent grow spiritually and onward in its mission.

Dan Mahier

Dan, his wife Carol, and sons Matthew and Stephen have been members of Holy Advent since they moved to Clinton in 1988.  Dan has served on the Vestry as Treasurer and as a member of the Finance committee, and off and on as a computer support person for the Church office.  He has worked in the Information Technology department for various companies for the last 30 years and is currently pursuing National Security studies at the University of New Haven . 

Cathy Moore

Cathy grew up in Old Saybrook   and has resided in Clinton for 11 years.  She has 2 wonderful boys, Tucker who is 11 and Griffin who is 7.  She is employed by Nucraft Furniture as the Eastern Regional Sales Manager which allows her to takes her love of commercial interior design and her years of sales experience and combines them.  Cathy began attending Holy Advent 3 years ago with her children on the suggestion of her good friend Mary Luchuk.