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Interim PastorFormally, I am the Rev. Robert Wang – but try to say that ten times fast and your tongue will certainly get tangled. So, let’s keep it simple and establish a comfortable and informal relationship – just call me Pastor Bob, P Bob, or if you really want to be daring, just call me PB.
A few things about me. I grew up in northern Ohio and earned a music degree from Mount Union College and taught music for five years before enrolling in seminary. I met my Judy, my wife of 35 years, while attending Chicago Theological Seminary where we were married. I have served churches in Illinois, Ohio, and for 20 years in Wisconsin, with our home base being in Bristol, WI.
We have a 32-year-old son, Josh, who is working full-time in music ministries with Catholic parishes in the Twin Cities, and who (with his wife, Evy) gave us our first grandchild on 9.4.24, Allen Joseph. We also have a 29-year-old daughter, Mollie, who after completing her doctorate in Occupational Therapy has been working as a traveling OT, just finishing in Denver, and will be soon heading to southern California for her next post. And we have an eight-year-old Boston Terrier named Karl. Most of you know that Judy is also a pastor and is currently serving as the interim pastor of St. John UCC in Arlington Heights.
My favorite task as a minister is leading worship and preaching, often with my six stringed sidekick, Taylor (my preferred brand of acoustic guitar). A few of my hobbies, aside from music, I enjoy woodworking, horticulture, model railroading, camping, canoeing, biking, hiking, and browsing antique malls.
I think it goes without saying that I am very happy to have the opportunity to serve as interim pastor of the Congregational Church of Algonquin; the very congregation where I began my ministry 35 years ago. And how fitting that I will celebrate my 35th anniversary of ordination in the United Church of Christ during the CCA’s 175th year as a local church in Algonquin, Illinois.
I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you in the coming weeks and months as we work together through a challenging transition and as we prayerfully consider what new thing God may be doing in preparation for a settled pastor. May God’s richest blessings be upon you as we forge a new path for mission and ministry in Algonquin, IL. See ya’ in church. Pastor Bob
Sherry Severing,
Administrative Assistant
I grew up in Rockford, IL where I married my high school sweetheart. Jarrod and I met in Orchestra where we shared a music stand playing the violin. We started dating in November of 1985 and the rest is history. We were married in July of 1993 after he graduated from college.
We have two daughters. Our oldest daughter Stephanie was born in 1994 at 24 weeks and 5 days gestation and weighed 1 lb. 3-1/2 oz. By age 2 she was completely caught up with no health issues. She is now married to a wonderful man that she met when she was just 2 years old. We were neighbors for a while, then we moved to Wisconsin and lost touch with them. After a year we moved back to Rockford, but we didn’t run into his family again until she ran into him in high school where they begin to date. They were then married in 2020, yes during covid! They don’t have any children yet, but they do have a dog and a cat that I lovingly call my grand-dog and grand-cat. The dog is a Golden Retriever and very spoiled. He is the light of my life. His name is Gooseberry but we call him Goose!
Our youngest daughter Jessica was born in 2001. She was a surprise as we thought we were not able to have any more kids. She also was born early, but not as early. She was born at 32 weeks gestation and weighed a whopping 2 lb. 12 oz. She is not married, but does have a special someone in her life that makes her very happy. She loves everything hockey!! And her boyfriend plays recreational hockey! She currently is in school taking art classes, contemplating teaching art. She also works part-time teaching gymnastics, another thing she has loved doing since she was 2 years old. She still lives at home with us.
As for me I love crafting, spending time with my family, serving on a Walk to Emmaus, and camping (even though we don’t get to do much of it). My husband is a pastor at Journey of Hope in Elgin, so he is very busy. I enjoy working in a church office. I worked for 10 years in a United Methodist Church office and 4 years in a Lutheran Church Office. I feel this is where God has called me to be, doing his work in a church office setting. I’ve worked in offices in the medical field since high school and was never really happy until I started in the church office. God is good and I have always believed that He puts us where we need to be!!
