Rev. Gregory Sakal, Bridge Minister
Pastor Gregory Sakal is a native of New Jersey. He holds a BA degree in Music History, and a Masters of Library Science Degree, both from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. After a career in and around academic libraries and information systems that took him to Wisconsin and later California, Greg moved to Cambridge in 1992 to attend Episcopal Divinity School. He obtained his Masters of Divinity degree in 1995.
In September 2009, Greg accepted an invitation from Hill Memorial Baptist Church in Allston as “Bridge” pastor and then as settled pastor in March 2010. Pastor Greg retired from The Hill in May 2019, and is now serving as an Affiliate pastor here at FB Medford. On a denominational level, Greg served on the board of the Boston Southwest Association from 2015 through his retirement in 2019.
Dr. Holly Zagaria, Director of Music
The First Baptist Church of Medford is delighted to welcome back Dr. Holly Zagaria to serve as our Director of Music.
Holly led the music programs of FBC from 2022 to August 2024, and is returning to FBC after a season as the Director of Music of St. Mary's Parish in Winchester.
About returning to FBC Holly wrote:
I am so delighted to be part of this beautiful parish!!! I have missed rehearsing and laughing with the members of the Music Ministry. I have witnessed such love and support that the members of this community offer each other freely and authentically. The sermons at First Baptist are stirring, and a privilege to hear. I may give up chocolate for Lent this year, thanks to Pastor Greg's sermon about it last year!
This Parish is so stunning that I feel like being baptized every week! :)
Thanks so very much!!!
Dr. Holly Zagaria serves as a singer (Mezzo-Soprano), pianist, organist, music director, adjudicator, clinician, educator, and vocal pedagogue, and performs regularly in all capacities.
Holly is grateful to have been a student of former FBC Director of Music, Miss Eleanor Babikian, who introduced Holly to madrigal singing at Wakefield High School in the 1980s. Early Music is Holly's first love in singing, and the influence of "Miss B" has played no small role in her musical life. Miss Babikian played a recital for Holly in her senior year, and anyone interested in hearing Miss Babikian play again can watch the VHS tape! Holly could not be more delighted to be serving as a music minister at the First Baptist Church!
She received a full scholarship for her undergraduate degree in Music Performance (Voice) from the University of New Hampshire, and earned her M.M. (Master of Music) and D.M.A. (Doctorate of Musical Arts) from Boston University. She teaches Voice, Fundamentals of Theory, Ear Training, and Opera Ensemble at Salem State University, and has taught Introduction to Music in previous semesters. Dr. Zagaria joined the Voice Faculty at Gordon College in September, 2019 and has also served on the faculties of Suffolk University, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts/Boston and New England Conservatory/DCE.
Gina Picerno, Director of Choral Fellows & Scholars
Ms. Picerno studied at New England Conservatory in Boston receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She has been involved in performing sacred music in churches throughout Rhode Island and Massachesetts from a young age, working with many renowned directors and organists. She was a member of the Rhode Island Civic Chorale, and as also appeared in opera performances with Artist’s Internationale in Rhode Island and in musical theatre productions at Giordano’s Dinner Theatre in Massachesetts.
Ms. Picerno has attended the McClosky Institute for Voice and continues to study vocal technique. She has been singing and coaching the choir in vocal technique at First Baptist Church for over 20 years as well as teaching piano and voice privately. Ms. Picerno also holds a Masters of Education in Early Childhood from Lesley University and teaches at The Centre School in Milton, where she has implemented a music curriculum for toddler and preschool age children.
She has studied voice with Susan Clickner and Bonnie Pomfret. She has sung under the direction of and in collaboration with Lorna Cooke DeVaron, Donald Polumbo, Ronald Morris, and Alexander Peloquin.
The Rev. Dr. Rand Peabody, Affiliate Pastor
The Rev. Dr. A. Rand Peabody and his wife, Sally, have been Chestnut Street neighbors of First Baptist Church since the 1990's. Though members act Old South Church in Boston (UCC), they have been attending services at First Baptist quite regularly during the past few years, enjoying the warm personal fellowship of the congregation, the worship leadership of the the Rev. Matthew Rasure, and the excellent series of concerts that the church has been hosting, and hopefully will soon be able to offer again.
Rand had a long career in pastoral ministry, beginning with an ecumenical ministry-at-large focused on the youth culture of a town in New Jersey, continuing with a Pastorate in Flushing, Queens, and followed by a new-church start in Connecticut. After completing graduate work in pastoral counseling, Rand embarked on a career as a specialized Interim Pastor, serving with fifteen different United-Church-of-Christ congregations in Maine and Massachusetts. He focused on the spiritual, systemic, and structural dynamics of churches passing through times of pastoral transition.
