Elisabeth Hammer has been the Child and Youth Ministry Coordinator at Mountain Rise United Church of Christ since 2023. She has been a member of the church since 1989 and has supported and taught in our child and family programs for many years.

Elisabeth’s education includes a BA in Psychology, and a License in Therapeutic Massage. She is a Certified Pet Loss and Grief Specialist. Her career has included 16 years of work in the Healthcare/Mental Health field, and 20 years in the Veterinary field. Her work treating and caring for both people and animals has given her the experience needed to be comfortable working with people of diverse backgrounds, ages, personal experiences, challenges and needs. She has taken Master’s level classes in Education and Social Work and has recently participated in webinars covering topics such as“Kids in Worship,” “Gifts Children Bring to our Faith Experience,” “Youth and Mental illness,” and “The Binary Church.”

What motivates Elisabeth to work with children in church is her belief that living a spiritual life, whether it be Christian or another faith tradition, makes life much fuller and more meaningful for each of us while also helping us to incorporate compassion, acceptance and empathy for others into our approach to life. She wants to make a difference, be a light, and offer a safe and welcoming space while teaching, engaging and helping children, youth and families explore their pathways to Faith/Spirituality. Through creative, supportive, compassionate activities, prayer, scripture, stories, and service projects, Elisabeth encourages an inclusive, growth-filled learning experience.

In her spare time she loves to ride horses, spend time with any animal (often her dogs), relax by any body of water, write, play her guitar and sing, enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, and walk anywhere, anytime out in nature.