Stony Brook Community Church, Long Island NY

Elizabeth Braddon - Pastor

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Rev. Braddon was appointed to the Stony Brook Community Church by Bishop Jeremiah Park on July 1, 2007. She has served churches throughout the New York Annual Conference in both New York and Connecticut prior to coming to Stony Brook. Rev. Braddon describes her arrival at Stony Brook as a “coming home”. She grew up in Babylon, LI, but had not lived on the Island as an adult.

Elizabeth is now well settled in and is hard at work developing strong relationships with the congregation, goal setting and seeking ways to strengthen the life of the community. She would like to meet you, so give her a call or come to worship soon (contact information below).

She graduated from The Northfield-Mt. Hermon School in Northfield, MA, Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A.), Boston University School of Theology (M.Div), and The New School Graduate School of Management (M.S. in Non Profit Management).

 She actively serves the United Methodist Church as representative to The Connectional Table, the main “coordinating” body of the denomination; and as a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry in the New York Annual Conference. Theologically and politically, she would describe herself as progressive, with a strong concern for ministry with the poor, human rights, peace, and for a church that openly celebrates the gifts of all persons.

 Elizabeth's interests are varied: sailing is a passion as well as kayaking, swimming, and time on the beach. She also enjoys tennis, biking, skiing, walking, reading, cooking, and playing the violin. She also loves to travel by participation in volunteers-in-mission programs and has done so in Mozambique, Bolivia, Biloxi MS, and Nicaragua.

You can contact Rev. Braddon at:

Church office: 631-751-0574 (mornings M-F), Pastor's study: 631-751-0659, Parsonage: 631-689-2986.
Office Hours: Usually Monday - Thursday, 9-1pm or by appointment (we suggest you call first to be sure the Pastor is in).

Joan Wingerter - Music Director & Organist

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Joan Wingerter is a retired teacher from the Northport/East Northport Public Schools, where she taught music and social studies. Over the years she has played in several churches in the Northport area. Before coming to Stony Brook in 2004, she served at the Lucien Memorial Methodist Church in Kings Park for over twenty years. Joan has served as Secretary and Newsletter Editor for the Suffolk Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She played in their members' recitals and as part of their Noontime Recital Series. In September 2005, she performed in a solo recital at the Northport Presbyterian Church.

We are certainly blessed to have such an accomplished musician and dedicated organist as Joan. Come and hear her play on Sundays!

Joan can be reached at  631-544-9430.

Valerie Grehan - Choir Director

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Valerie Grehan received her B.A. in music from Stony Brook University. Professionally she has sung the roles of Pitty-Sing in The Mikado, Celia and Leila in Iolanthe, and Casilda in The Gondoliers before going on to be the music director and conductor of the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Valerie is also a singer with the South Shore Syncopators, a hot-to-trot 20's and 30's dance orchestra who have performed at the well known Bix Beiderbeck Birthday Bash, and are booked at Connecticut's Music Mountain Jazz Series this June, after which she will return to Stony Brook to be the Performing Arts Director for SBCC’s annual Performing Arts Camp. With her first year as Stony Brook Community Methodist Church's choir director coming to a close, Valerie would like to thank Joan Wingerter, Pastor Liz Braddon, all our lovely choir members, and especially the congregation for a wonderful year of music making and fellowship! 

Elizabeth Twiss - Church Secretary

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Liz Twiss came to Stony Brook from Seattle where she was office manager for a medium-size Episcopal church. Her extensive non-profit experiences include managing all food events for a large Seattle city church; co-chairing what was then the largest annual rummage sale in the country (grossing over $250,000 in five days); serving as executive vice-president for the multi-orchestra Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras; and spending 30 years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, representing children whose parents were accused of abuse. Liz has graduate degrees in oceanography and philosophy; a term as coordinator of international meetings and publications for a large medical association; a fondness for baking, music, and history; and — most importantly — three grandchildren, one of whom lives in Stony Brook (explaining the move from Seattle).