Rev. Janet Stoddard started her life down the street in Newington and grew up on a small farm off of Fenn Road with her sister and two brothers. She showed steers in 4-H and went to Newington Schools. Church of Christ Congregational was foundational in forming her faith as were her parents and attending Silver Lake Conference Center. She attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and graduated with a BA in History.  Working at the Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Ivoryton during the summers (now Incarnation Camp) after graduation and camp she traveled to England and worked as a nanny in Stoke Ferry for six months and then backpacked with a friend from camp for 6 weeks around Europe. Janet attended Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Center, MA and quit to work for two chiropractors and then a dentist finally returning to Andover Newton to finish her Master of Divinity degree after a number of years working. Soon after graduation Janet began working as the Protestant campus minister at CCSU in New Britain and Ordained October 1999. While working at CCSU she began doing per diem chaplaincy at the Hospital for Special Care (HFSC) which is a long term acute care facility in New Britain. That moved into part time work and she has now served therefor 21 years. After finishing her 4th unit of clinical pastoral education Janet started working part time at Avery Heights as a contracted Chaplain while continuing to serve part time at HFSC. Janet likes to read, watch PBS, visit with friends, travel, (especially cruises with her sister but not during COVID) and take walks with her dog Toby. Janet is enjoying getting to know the people of Elmwood Community Church and providing support and discernment while sharing the Love of God with all people