Photo by Herb Couch
Meet the Staff
Pastor Bill Guise and his
wife of 24 years, Julie, and two boys, Liam and Zachary, came to First
Congregational United Church of Christ from Prescott, Arizona, where he
served as pastor for almost seven years. Prior to that, he served
churches in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. He brings a passion for
ecumenism and social justice. He also believes that worship must always
“push the envelope” in such a way that tradition is honored and the
future embraced. Children have always been central to his ministry, and
he has been unwavering in his commitment to include children in every
aspect of the life of the church. He extends an extravagant welcome to
all who seek to know the presence of Christ and be in fellowship with
other disciples of Jesus, “no matter who they are or where they are on
life's journey.” 
Melanie Richards has been
working in church music most of her life. She graduated from Barnard
College and has a master's degree in musicology from the University of
North Texas. She also studied at the School of Sacred Music, Union
Theological Seminary, New York. She studied organ from age 15 with Paul
Lindsley Thomas, then in New York, with Marilyn Keiser and Alec Wyton
at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. She worked as both organist
and choir director for many parishes in Texas and the New York area
before moving to Flagstaff in 2005 with her husband Lucian, an artist 
Julie
Guise currently serves as the choir director. In addition to her duties
at the church, Julie works as a staff accompanist for NAU School of
Music and teaches piano privately. Her career has included work
with vocal choirs of all ages in addition to youth and adult handbell
choirs as well as organist. However, her favorite job is being a
mom to Liam and Zach and caring for the family's growing array of pets.