About Us

Embracing Diversity, Affirming You

We are a congregation committed to justice.

All are welcome into our full life and ministry regardless of age, race, abilities, economic or marital status, gender, sexual orientation or gender identification. We are a church that is open and affirming of all people, as we are each made in the image of God,

An Open and Affirming congregation since 1995

Our History

In 1789 a group of six men and three women gathered together and agreed to establish a Congregational Church closer to their homes in an area they called "Old Mans." Thus, on December 23, 1789, those nine people, farmers and sailors, "Covenanted with each other to walk together with the Lord as he had Directed In his most holy word." At subsequent gatherings the group, now formally a "church," called the Reverend Noah Hallock as minister and began to accept new members. Outgrowing their small gathering space, the Church took a collection to build a new "meeting house." Land was purchased, and in 1807 they built the sanctuary that our congregation worships in today.

Our Heritage & Historic Roots

In the mid-1600s

In 1789

Nine residents of the farming community of Old Man's -- 6 men and 3 women -- met to discuss forming a church. Prior to that, if residents wished to attend church, they would need to go to Setauket or Wading River which wasn't easy with horses and buggies and inadequate roads. Soon after the church was formed, a building was constructed. The Rev. Noah Hallock from Rocky Point became the first minister.

In 1807

In 1840

As time passed, there were so many Millers living in one area that it became Miller’s Place, and “Old Man’s” referred to the area we now call Mt. Sinai. The old records of our church meetings refer to the Parish of “Old Man’s, Millers Place and Rockapoint.” In 1840 Old Man’s becomes Mt. Sinai. It is not until the meeting of 1857 that the parish is referred to as “Mt. Sinai, Millers Place and Rocky Point.”

In 1851

In 1841 & 1890

“In 1841 it was resolved to establish a burial ground.” Prior to this period families had their own private plots on their land. Church members cleared the land and erected fences for the new cemetery. Many of the early headstones do not mark actual graves, but honor those who were buried in family plots. At the Annual Meeting of 1890, members voted to transfer the cemetery grounds to the private Sea View Cemetery.

In Late 1950s

In 1960s

In 1970s

In 1980s

Chartered the Suffolk County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Church members raised funds and helped to build the first Habitat house in Suffolk County.
Church members and youth traveled to Honduras with Rev. Bill Briggs, the NY Conference Minister, to assist with the construction of a school and medical center.
Church members participated in the 20th anniversary of MLK's march, riding a bus to the anniversary march in Washington, D.C.
Under the guidance of Director of Christian Education Peg Witmer, the church helped to establish the Parish Resource Center, which continues to serve all religious communities on Long Island. It was renamed the Practical Resources for Churches
The exterior of the church was chemically stripped of paint down to the original cedar shakes and repainted.
1990s? the house, garage, and barn next to the church came up for sale. After some debate, the church bought the property. The house was rented to a youth rescue non-profit agency, while apartments constructed in the barn were rented to individuals who needed low-cost housing. The purchase became known as the “Mission Property."
New organ installed (1985) thanks to generosity of [first name] Davis

In 1990s

In 2010s

Sold Mission Property (Madsen House). Property was split with the church retaining the barn and the house being sold. Hallock building sold to the Rocky Point Fire Department.
2014 to the present – The thrift store run by church members for the Mt. Sinai/Miller place Historical Society moves into The Red Barn and becomes a successful fundraiser and community outreach activity for the church. Shuttered by Covid, the barn was reopened in 2022 and continues to be a well-loved community resource to this day.

Meet The Team

Bill Kovacsik

PASTOR

We are very happy to announce that the Reverend Bill Kovacsik has joined Mt. Sinai Church as our settled pastor.

Kevin Martin

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Kevin Martin, our Office Administrator, is here to assist and support you. Feel free to reach out to Kevin with any questions or needs you may have.

Caroline LaVopa

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Caroline Lavopa, our Sunday School Coordinator, nurtures young minds and hearts, providing a nurturing environment for our children's spiritual growth.

Linda Preuss

MUSICIAN

Linda Preuss, our talented Musician, fills our worship services with melodious tunes that uplift our spirits and enrich our worship experience.

Jane Carter

ORGANIST EMERITA

With her invaluable expertise, Jane Carter, our Organist Emerita, continues to inspire us with beautiful music and melodies.

Janice Flaiz & Laurel Weresnick

ISLAND HEART FOOD PANTRY

Janice Flaiz and Laurel Weresnick, co-directors of the Island Heart Food Pantry, head up our efforts to support and serve essential food needs in our Middle Island location.

June Kelly & Diane Murphy

CHURCH FOOD CUPBOARD

June Kelly and Diane Murphy are co-leads for our Church Food Cupboard, providing vital support to those in need within our immediate community.

Mike Dionisio

CUSTODIAN

Mike maintains the cleanliness of our church building, making sure it is sanitary and ready for all activities.

Rooted in Tradition, Open to Growth.

Our beliefs are rooted in a faith that's been around for 2,000 years, yet we're open to new ideas.

We believe in God's ongoing story. We think it's important to understand ancient stories in new ways and to see how they relate to our lives today. We believe that both science and religion have value, and we encourage thinking with both your head and your heart. Here, we prepare our members to be part of the church now and in the future. We welcome different communities and new ways of thinking because we believe that God is always guiding us.

Where Everyone Finds a Home

"NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR LIFE'S JOURNEY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE."

We believe in God's extravagant welcome into the community of faith. That's why we keep Christ's Communion table open for everyone and believe Baptism's gift is forever. We stand for equity and advocate for justice. Our church community is open and friendly to show God's love for everyone. We think sharing God's message is about supporting those in need. And, believing all are children of a loving God, we welcome working with people from other faith traditions.

Changing Lives; Changing The World

We believe the church's job is to make a difference in people's lives — one by one, both close to home and around the world.

We work to make change possible while trusting in God's guidance. That's why we think churches should be lively places where people worship, learn, and speak up for what's right. We're committed to an equitable and sustainable world, and we believe that meeting people from other cultures changes lives. Why? Because we believe God is still speaking.

Our Sacred Commitment

As a Congregational Church affiliated with the United Church of Christ, our bond is both sacred and communal.

We are a community in covenant with each other and with God to be a vibrant and nurturing congregation. We promise to journey together to grow in faith and serve with humility.

Our church's constitution echoes our belief in democratic participation in the tradition of the early Congregationalists whose autonomous structure influenced the country's founders. Our members are responsible for the actions of the church collective. We call our pastors after careful search and discernment by a team of lay people. While rooted in this tradition of independence, as Christians we recognize our call to participate in a wider tapestry of faith. Through our covenantal relationship with the United Church of Christ (UCC), we extend our effectiveness in sharing God's love locally and globally.

Contact Us

For any inquiries or assistance, please contact us via this form. We're here to serve and support you!

Email

mscc1@optonline.net

Phone

(631) 473-1582