First Congregational Church welcomes new pastor on Jan. 1

The new year brought a new pastor to First Congregational Church in Port Washington.

The Rev. Scott McLeod led his first service at the church this weekend.

It was an online service, necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic — something that will make it more difficult for McLeod to get to know his new congregation.

“That’s part of the challenge of starting a ministry now, how do we creatively seek ways to connect with people,” McLeod said.

So far, he said, the congregation has been creative. When he started his new job on Jan. 1, he received a video from the parish council welcoming him.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I’m very excited to be in Port Washington. This is a great church. They’re already doing a lot of wonderful ministry here.”

McLeod comes to Port Washington from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elkhorn, where he has served as pastor for 25 years.

He said he decided to look for a new ministry after his youngest child, Henry, graduated from high school last year.

He also has a daughter, Ruth.

The Port church, McLeod said, has a great reputation.

“It’s known as a very strong and good church,” he said.

“The search committee was impressive in the love it had for the church, for the community and the way they want to put their faith into action in the Port Washington community. We found a lot of agreement.”

McLeod, 54, who is from Connecticut, went to college in Pennsylvania and met his wife Laura while attending Andover Newton Theological School in the Boston area.

His wife is an ordained minister who has been with Brookfield Congregational Church for the past three years.

The couple own a home in Elkhorn and plan to eventually move closer to their ministries, but they don’t know exactly where they will end up, he said.

McLeod said that in his free time he enjoys baseball — he’s a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan — biking and reading.

He’s also a home brewer, something that he gained some fame for in Elkhorn. There, the congregation started Barley Ministries Brewing, a group that met regularly in the church basement and brewed enough beer to distribute among members.

McLeod said he picked up the hobby from congregation members, noting the church has a long history of making beer and wine. In the 1500s, Protestant theologian John Calvin, he noted, was paid, in part, with kegs of beer and casks of wine.

Whether he continues the brewing tradition with congregation members in Port remains to be seen, he said.

“Each church is different,” he said.

For now, he’s busy unpacking, setting up his office at the church and greeting the few people who stop in.

 “I’m excited about this. I’m looking forward to getting to know Port Washington and the people here.”