Cheryl Meachen was appointed to the First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro, Vermont in 2009. Pastor Cheryl served as pastor of Marlow United Methodist Church in New Hampshire from 2005 - 2009. She was active as a volunteer, in lay leadership, and the music ministries at Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord New Hampshire from 2001 - 2005 and was raised in the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Concord. She completed her Clinical Pastoral Education in 2008 at Havenwood-Heritage Heights also in Concord.
She currently serves the Brattleboro Community Justice Center on the Citizen Advisory Board and in a Circle of Support and Accountability to provide group mentoring to help people who have commited serious and violent offenses become productive, safe citizens upon release from prison. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center and Brattleboro Pastoral Counseling Center; and chairs the Vermont District Committee for Church Revitalization / New Church Starts. She participates in the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association and Monadnock United Methodist Clergy Cluster. She serves as a volunteer chaplain for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and previously served as Chaplain of the Blue Knights Police Motorcycle Club; as a Director of the Concord Female Charitable Society; President of the Paralegal Association of New Hampshire; Publicity Director for the Concord Chorale and Secretary of the Rumford School PTO.
Pastor Cheryl has a heart for passionate spirituality and inspired worship and brings musical gifts as well as technological expertise to her work. She is available by appointment or by chance at the church office.
Our pastor prepares and leads worship, preaching each Sunday. She facilitates a Monday Morning Quarterback discussion at 10:30am where people come to discuss the sermon, delve more deeply into the Word and consider ways to enact their faith in the world. She also leads other Bible studies throughout the year. Pastor Cheryl meets with church leaders and attends committee and council meetings and is the face of the church in Brattleboro and at VT District and NE Conference United Methodist meetings. She prays daily for each church member and constituent; spends at least one day a week visiting people in their homes, nursing homes, and hospitals and periodically spends the morning at the library or a local coffee shop, available to the public.
Pastor Cheryl lives in Brattleboro with her husband Jim, a deputy sheriff for Windham County and son, Josh. Daughter Christi is a music teacher and lives with her husband Marc Catino in Concord New Hampshire. Pastor Cheryl's hobbies include piano, singing, letterboxing, gardening, motorcycling, skydiving and crocheting.
Pastoral Care
Please contact me when you have a graduation, anniversary, or other special event that you would like me to pray for. When you are facing a difficult decision and would like someone to discuss it with, I am here to listen and to offer prayer for wisdom and guidance. When planning a wedding, I can provide premarital counseling and planning for a Christian ceremony. When anticipating a death in the family, let me pray for you and your loved one as she or he transitions from this life to the eternal. I am here to serve you and encourage you in all of life’s situations.