First Congregational Church Names Alexander Award Recipients

Press release from First Congregational Church of Westfield:

Aug. 16, 2021

The Trustees of First Congregational Church of Westfield bestowed the church’s annual Alexander Award to distinguished high school graduates and active youth members Ryan Bergh Thies and Margot Motyczka. Named in memory of long-time members Edna and John Alexander, the award is given annually to one or more high school seniors who have made a significant contribution to the life of the church.

Ryan Bergh Thies of Scotch Plains is a lifelong FCC member and a 2021 graduate of Oratory Prep School in Summit. He has participated in FCC's Church School, Vacation Bible School, Children's Choir, annual Christmas Pageants, numerous Youth Fellowship activities and service projects, and achieved his Confirmation in 2018. As a Youth Fellowship leader, Ryan spearheaded efforts to assemble cleaning supply buckets and hygiene kits for distribution to those in need following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Ryan was involved in a variety of other church activities, including the annual Advent Festival, Bridges Outreach Ministries to the homeless in Newark and New York City, Waysharers Outreach program for adults with developmental disabilities, and spring cleanup of the church grounds. He was also an active participant in multiple fundraising efforts for the church and its outreach programs, such as Tag Sales, the annual Cake Auction to support Heifer International, the spring Spaghetti Supper and Talent Show to support the annual Youth Fellowship Summer Mission Trip, “October Surprise” cabaret show and gift basket auction to support the church’s Pastor’s Fund, and “Souper Sunday” educational programming, where he helped to host the event.

Ryan served as the youth representative on the FCC Board of Outreach Ministries for two years and helped organize and maintain the church’s community food closet and the annual bottled water collection drive for Bridges Outreach. Further, he served as a lay reader during select worship services.

In addition to his activities at FCC, Ryan is an active member of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, where he was a featured speaker in 2019 presenting a program on World War II and Scotch Plains. At Oratory Prep, he served as president of the History & Politics, Quiz Bowl, and Model UN clubs, and was a Carlton Fellow student ambassador, St. Philip Neri highest honor roll member, Student of the Month (October 2019), and an active member of the Fishing Club. He recently received OP’s Career Achievement in Social Studies Award for outstanding academic performance in history.

In the fall Ryan will begin his collegiate career at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he will pursue his interest in history.

“I am so proud of Margot and Ryan,” stated FCC Associate Minister Rev. Joy Mounts, “not just for how they ably represent FCC and for all they have done during their time here, but for the hope they embody as leaders and changers. The future is in good hands!”

A lifelong and third generation member of First Congregational Church (FCC), Margot Motyczka has been involved in all aspects of church activities, including the Church School not only as a student, but also as a classroom helper and a youth representative to FCC's Board of Christian Education. She has participated in FCC’s children’s choirs from Kindergarten through Grade 6, as well as Vacation Bible School, the annual Christmas Pageant and Advent Festival, and has performed and served at the church’s annual Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show fundraiser. Margot has been highly active as both a member and peer leader of the church’s Youth Fellowship program throughout middle and senior high, participating in service with Bridges Outreach of Summit and Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) in Manhattan to feed the homeless in Newark and throughout the five boroughs of New York City, as well as other fundraisers and service projects. Margot cites the church’s summer mission trips to select locations around the country, working with underserved communities, as some of her most rewarding and memorable experiences.

During the COVID pandemic, when the church began broadcasting Sunday morning worship online, Margot took over as a camera operator, learning the system to film and broadcast live each Sunday morning. When the church upgraded to a new multi-camera, monitor and soundboard system, Margot learned the new system to enhance the weekly broadcasts live on Sunday mornings as well as for memorial and special services. She then taught three additional young adult members of the congregation to operate this system.

Margot has enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard as a Culinary Food Specialist. Her post-secondary plans include two months of Basic Training followed by two additional months of specialty training. She will then start her freshman term at Stockton University in January 2022.

The Alexander Award was also presented last year within a virtual service to two deserving members of the class of 2020: Giavanna Schifando of Scotch Plains and Zach Volz of Kenilworth.

First Congregational Church of Westfield, a member of the United Church of Christ, is a spiritual community with a long and rich history of encouraging freedom of thought and a strong commitment to supporting and serving those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. In all aspects of its life and mission, FCC welcomes people of every race, age, gender, marital circumstance, sexual orientation and expression, physical or psychological ability, economic condition, ethnic origin, and theological tradition.

First Congregational Church is located at 125 Elmer Street in Westfield. For more information on this award and all the youth and adult outreach and education programs First Congregational Church of Westfield, visit fccofwestfield.org.

This press release was produced by First Congregational Church of Westfield. The views expressed here are the author's own.