Archived Sermons

First Parish Chelmsford Unitarian Universalist

Archived Sermons

Sermons from previous years

Title	Description	Speakers
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2007-2008	Sermons from the 2007-2008 church year at First Parish	Bryan Grad, Dave Kaffine, and Jonathan Crockett , Carrie Little and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero , John Schneider, Sally Seekings, Ron Deschenes, and Carla Corey , Marcia Allison, Walter Cole, and Deirdre Heck , Martha Sherburne, Jennifer Almeida, and Amanda Miller , Matt Meyer Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. Sermons Series Website Matt Meyer , Nancy Banks , Rev. Amy DeBeck , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Sadie Kahn-Greene with Aleric, Zoe, and Peggy , Sally Seekings and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero , The Collins Family, Clifford Family, Mellen Family, and Taylor Family
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2008-2009	Sermons from the 2008-2009 church year at First Parish	Cyndi Bliss , Dee Halzack Sermons Series Dee Halzack , Linda Shubert, Jeanne Thompson, and Yoko Taylor , Matt Meyer Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. Sermons Series Website Matt Meyer , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Kathy Deschenes , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Rev. Jonathan Rehmus , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero, Sadie Kahn-Greene, and First Parish Families , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero, Wendla Windt, Tim O'Hara, and John Fisher , Rev. Jonathan Rehmus Sermons Series Rev. Jonathan Rehmus , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Sadie Kahn-Greene, Carla Corey, Emma Buckley, and Aine Sweetnam
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2009-2010	Sermons from the 2009-2010 church year at First Parish	Brenda Rogers , Brent Rourke and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero , Erin, Fred, Rosie, Warren Flewellen, Johan Mackenzie, Ellen Spero, Pastor Ella, & Bishop McSwain , Franklin Wolf , Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Cyndi Bliss , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Sadie Kahn-Greene , Sadie Kahn-Greene and Sally Seekings , Several Proud Parishioners
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2010-2011	Sermons from the 2010-2011 church year at First Parish	David Blackburn, John Fisher, and Clem Skorupka , Rev. Dr. Patience Stoddard , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene , Rev. Fayre Stephenson , Rev. Jonathan Rehmus Sermons Series Rev. Jonathan Rehmus , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2011-2012	Sermons from the 2011-2012 church year at First Parish	Amanda Miller, Jim Curley, and Judith Taylor , Claudia, Nina, Michael, Sierra Rose, Sam, and Ethan , High School Youth Group , Maura Snow, Richard Surko, Beverly Volicir, and Elizabeth Valentine , Rev, Ellen Rowse Spero, Jill Hayes, Erika, Niamh, Lizzy, and Alex , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Russ Menk , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero, Lynne Cole, Carla Corey, Joan Coyne, and Caroline McMullin , Rev. Ellen Spero, Ellen Mellen, Beth Benoit, and Sharon and Joe Hehn , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Russ Menk Reverend Russ Menk served as Intern Minister at First Parish from September 2011 through June 2012. Russ graduated from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California with an MDiv degree in 2013. He was given Preliminary Fellowship by the Unitarian Universalist Association with the award of his degree and he received Final Fellowship in 2016. Rev. Russ was ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County and continues to serve there. Prior to that, Russ had joined the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002 and after holding several lay-leadership positions decided to become a UU minister. In 2008 Russ retired after 29 years from his career in Aerospace, and moved to California to attend seminary. He enjoys life, people, church meetings, learning, nature, and dark beer. Sermons Series Website Reverend Russ Menk , Russ Menk, Joan Coyne, and Warren Flewellen
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2006-2007	Sermons from the 2006-2007 church year at First Parish
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2012-2013	Sermons from the 2012-2013 church year at First Parish	Bonnie Rankin and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero Sermons Series Bonnie Rankin and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero , Clementina Chéry Tina is President and CEO of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Sermons Series Website Clementina Chéry , Dee Halzack Sermons Series Dee Halzack , Karen G. Johnston Karen is a Candidate for the Unitarian Universalist Ministry Sermons Series Karen G. Johnston , Phyllis King, Bonnie Rankin, and Jim Curley Sermons Series Phyllis King, Bonnie Rankin, and Jim Curley , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and First Parish Families Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and First Parish Families , Rev. Ellen Spero, Chris, Matt, Claudia, Dolores Heredia-Wood, and John Schneider Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Chris, Matt, Claudia, Dolores Heredia-Wood, and John Schneider , Rev. Ellen Spero, High School Youth, Jayne Boissonneault Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, High School Youth, Jayne Boissonneault , Rev. Ellen Spero, Peggy Stephens-North, Suzanne Wilson, Ruth Whalen, Liz Peterson, and Jayne Boissonneault Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Peggy Stephens-North, Suzanne Wilson, Ruth Whalen, Liz Peterson, and Jayne Boissonneault , Rev. Meg Soens Meg was a parishioner at First Parish in Lexington when Rev. Ellen was an assistant minister there, and she has since joined the UU ministry. Rev. Meg Soens is a graduate of Andowver Newton Theological School, mother of four and wife of one, and former securities analyst, Chinese history student, and social justice activist. She was ordained in 2012. Sermons Series Website Rev. Meg Soens , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2013-2014	Sermons from the 2013-2014 church year at First Parish	Aaron Stockwell, M.Div. Sermons Series Website Aaron Stockwell, M.Div. , Dolores Heredia-Wood and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero Sermons Series Dolores Heredia-Wood and Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero , Jim Curley Sermons Series Jim Curley , Joan Keane, Donna Mitchelson, and Don Hayden Sermons Series Joan Keane, Donna Mitchelson, and Don Hayden , Marisha Rowse Sermons Series Marisha Rowse , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Ami Hughes Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and Ami Hughes , Rev. Ellen Spero, Sam, Sierra, Nick, Bryce, Marion, and Sally Seekings Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Sam, Sierra, Nick, Bryce, Marion, and Sally Seekings , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2014-2015	Sermons from the 2014-2015 church year at First Parish	Dolores Heredia-Wood, Rev. Ellen Spero, Michael, and Marion Sermons Series Dolores Heredia-Wood, Rev. Ellen Spero, Michael, and Marion , First Parish Chelmsford Congregation Sermons Series First Parish Chelmsford Congregation , Jim Curley Sermons Series Jim Curley , Joan Coyne, Ellen Mellen, Donna Mitchelson, Marisha Rowse, and Rosemary McMullin Sermons Series Joan Coyne, Ellen Mellen, Donna Mitchelson, Marisha Rowse, and Rosemary McMullin , Laura Nutter, Peggy Stephens-North, Deirdre Heck, Carrie Little, Dee Halzack, Carla Corey, and David Blackburn Sermons Series Laura Nutter, Peggy Stephens-North, Deirdre Heck, Carrie Little, Dee Halzack, Carla Corey, and David Blackburn , Laura Wagner - Executive Director of the UU Mass Action Network Laura has been an active volunteer and activist with UU Mass Action since 2011 and formally accepted her role as Acting Executive Director in April of 2014. She follows in the footsteps of the previous Executive Director, Jesse Jaeger, who provided three years of leadership and visioning that helped to grow UU Mass Action into a powerful organizing force. Laura has been a Unitarian Universalist for over 20 years. During this time she has held many lay leadership roles, but her passion has always been for social justice. Her work has centered on hunger and homelessness, environmental justice, ending mass incarceration and immigrant rights. Laura deepened her commitment to immigrant rights during a service learning trip with Boston New Sanctuary Movement to the Arizona/Mexican border in 2011. She states, “Witnessing the conditions at the border first hand moves one from an intellectual understanding of the situation to a deeply felt comprehension of the pain that our nation’s economic, drug and immigration policy has created.” In 2014, Laura traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of a Witness for Peace learning experience exploring the roots of migration. In August 2014, Laura participated in the Pray for Relief action in Washington DC and was arrested with over 100 other interfaith activists calling for an end to deportations. Laura has also been an active member UU Mass Action working group, EMIT (End Mass Incarceration Together) and helped to organize the buses for the Jobs Not Jails rally in April 2014. Laura balances her community activism with her work as a Clinical Social Worker. She maintains a part-time private practice helping people who are healing from trauma. She holds a Masters degree from Boston University’s School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science with a major in management from Northeastern University. Laura has been married for 26 years to Ken Wagner. Ken also has a long history in lay leadership and he is a passionate ally in Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multicultural ministries. Laura and Ken are both members of Allies for Racial Equity and are committed to anti-racism/anti-oppression/multicultural work. Laura and Ken have four beautiful children and are enjoying the recent addition of two wonderful grandchildren to their family. Sermons Series Website Laura Wagner - Executive Director of the UU Mass Action Network , Lynne Cole Sermons Series Lynne Cole , Matt Meyer Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. Sermons Series Website Matt Meyer , Rev. Allison Palm The Reverend Allison Palm is a Program Assistant at the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association. Allison is a life-long UU and Minnesota native. Now a resident of Brooklyn, NY, Allison is a minister in preliminary fellowship with the UUA and has served congregations as a religious educator, Ministerial Intern and Temporary Minister. Allison graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 2013 with a Masters of Divinity and a Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. She is passionate about religious community, spiritual development and social justice. In her spare time, Allison enjoys biking, ballet, and exploring the city with her spouse, Tristan. Sermons Series Website Rev. Allison Palm , Rev. Ellen Spero, Marion, Aggie Brennan, Michelle Hillman, Ethan Hirsch, and Carole Russell Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Marion, Aggie Brennan, Michelle Hillman, Ethan Hirsch, and Carole Russell , Rev. Ellen Spero, Sam Morse, Joan Coyne, and Ron Deschenes Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Sam Morse, Joan Coyne, and Ron Deschenes , Rev. Lilia Cuervo The Rev. Lilia Cuervo, a native of Colombia, was the first Latin American woman ordained in the Unitarian Universalist denomination. She pioneered full time ministry in Spanish in San Jose, CA. where she served for six and a half years. At First Parish in Cambridge she also made history by being the first woman (and a Latina at that!) to be installed as a Parish Minister. She just ended four years of very productive multicultural ministry there. She is a co-founder of the Latino/a UU Networking Association (LUUNA), and the initiator of, and a translator and contributor to, Las Voces del Camino, the Spanish language Unitarian Universalist hymnal. Before entering seminary, she had a career as a Demographer working in Colombia, Brazil and United States. In 1964 she was invited by the University of California at Berkeley as an exchange Visiting Assistant Professor of Demography at its School of Public Health. Later she worked as the Evaluation & Research Associate at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in New York City. Her degrees include a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry, a Master of Demography from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in Math & Physics from Women Teachers College, Bogota, Colombia. Sermons Series Website Rev. Lilia Cuervo , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend John Pastor The Reverend John Pastor is currently the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner. Rev. John G. Pastor, Jr. has served as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner, Massachusetts since 2007. He graduated with academic honors from Andover Newton Theological School where he was actively involved in the Center for Faith, Health, and Spirituality and the Reiki Ministry. During his tenure at seminary he completed a one year, full-time, chaplain residency at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston. He was ordained in April of 2006 by the First Congregational Parish Unitarian in Petersham. In addition to serving UUSG, he serves as Interfaith Chaplain for JHC Hospice of Worcester. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Clara Barton District and the UU Mass. Action Network. He is also a former member of the CBD UU Minister’s Association Executive Committee. He lives in Petersham with his spouse, Bob Hall. Sermons Series Website Reverend John Pastor
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2015-2016	Sermons from the 2015-2016 church year at First Parish	James Galasinski Sermons Series James Galasinski , Jayne Boissonneault, Sarah Manning, Suzanne Wilson, Leslie Yauckoes, Carla Corey, and Donna Mitchelson Sermons Series Jayne Boissonneault, Sarah Manning, Suzanne Wilson, Leslie Yauckoes, Carla Corey, and Donna Mitchelson , Jim Curley Sermons Series Jim Curley , Joan Coyne and Neil Harmon , Justine Sullivan and Elizabeth Valentine Sermons Series Justine Sullivan and Elizabeth Valentine , Matt Meyer Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. Sermons Series Website Matt Meyer , Neil Harmon Sermons Series Neil Harmon , Rev. Dr. Anita Farber-Robertson Reverend Anita has been a Unitarian Universalist minister for over 20 years, serving as the settled minister of Unitarian Universalist congregations in Canton, MA and Swampscott, MA, and currently serves as the interim minister in Northborough, MA Sermons Series Website Rev. Dr. Anita Farber-Robertson , Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero, Janice Tervo, and Steve Zocchi Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero, Janice Tervo, and Steve Zocchi , Rev. Ellen Spero, Betsy Beach, John Haberle, Jayne Boissonneault Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Betsy Beach, John Haberle, Jayne Boissonneault , Rev. John Gibb Millspaugh The Rev. John Gibb Millspaugh is nationally known (within Unitarian Universalism) for organizing 400 congregations to pass a UUA Statement of Conscience on food and environmental justice, for helping to develop one of the most popular TEDx Talks of all time, and for his national keynotes and workshops ranging from an hour to four days, all about the spirituality and practice of leadership. John joins us from Medford, Massachusetts, where he lives with his wife Sarah and their four-year-old son. John began his work for Unitarian Universalism serving in the office of the President from 1997-2001 as he earned a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Since then his experiences have included serving UU congregations as a UU minister in California and Massachusetts for eleven years, and as District/Regional Director of Congregational Development for New England for two years. Although John occasionally has to write about himself in the third person, he prefers amateur photography (which opens his perception to the beauty always nearby), playing guitar for his son (who is too young to let poor musical technique interfere with joy), performing magic (starting at age four and still fooling no one), meditating regularly (or at least regularly--and quite seriously--planning to meditate as soon as today, or no later than tomorrow or the day after), and most of all, authentic conversation with open-minded people who share an interest in lifelong learning and in serving something larger than themselves. Sermons Series Website Rev. John Gibb Millspaugh , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Justine Sullivan Justine Sullivan is currently serving as the interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick Maine. Justine served as our Ministerial Intern from the fall of 2015 until June of 2017 while pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. Justine was ordained in 2017 by her home congregation of Northborough, Massachusetts. Justine is a member of the UU congregation in Northborough, Massachusetts, where she lives with her spouse Dale. Justine and Dale have been together since 1986 and legally married since 2004. Justine has been a social worker and psychotherapist for the past 20 years and has worked as a congregational consultant and facilitator throughout New England. In addition to serving in leadership positions in her home congregation, Justine served as president of the Clara Barton district board from 2012 to 2015 Sermons Series Reverend Justine Sullivan , Susan Woodmansee, Andrea and Doug Long, Kathleen Cullen, and Joan Coyne Sermons Series Susan Woodmansee, Andrea and Doug Long, Kathleen Cullen, and Joan Coyne
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2016-2017	Sermons from the 2016-2017 church year at First Parish	Ellen, Justine, Dolores, Ali, Tristan, Jeffrey, and Ethan Sermons Series Ellen, Justine, Dolores, Ali, Tristan, Jeffrey, and Ethan , Joan and Dennis Keane Sermons Series Joan and Dennis Keane , Matt Meyer Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. Sermons Series Website Matt Meyer , Rev. Ellen Spero and First Parish Congregants Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero and First Parish Congregants , Rev. Ellen Spero, Dan and Tom Wight, Aggie Brennan, Ali Rubin, Olivia Hillman, and Michelle Hillman Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Dan and Tom Wight, Aggie Brennan, Ali Rubin, Olivia Hillman, and Michelle Hillman , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Justine Sullivan Sermons Series Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Justine Sullivan , Reverend Justine Sullivan Justine Sullivan is currently serving as the interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick Maine. Justine served as our Ministerial Intern from the fall of 2015 until June of 2017 while pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. Justine was ordained in 2017 by her home congregation of Northborough, Massachusetts. Justine is a member of the UU congregation in Northborough, Massachusetts, where she lives with her spouse Dale. Justine and Dale have been together since 1986 and legally married since 2004. Justine has been a social worker and psychotherapist for the past 20 years and has worked as a congregational consultant and facilitator throughout New England. In addition to serving in leadership positions in her home congregation, Justine served as president of the Clara Barton district board from 2012 to 2015 Sermons Series Reverend Justine Sullivan , Reverend Stephen Shick Stephen Shick is Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson where he served as Senior Minister. As a parish minister he has also served congregations in Haverhill, MA and Portland, ME. Stephen was instrumental in establishing Community Ministry in our Association. He served our faith nationally as the founding Director of UU Peace Network and Director of the UU Service Committee's U.S. Programs Department. Before becoming a UU minister he was the founder and host of Consider the Alternatives, a national radio program carried on 400 commercial and non-commercial stations. Stephen teaches the art of preaching with out notes and manuscript as part of a national program sponsored by the UU Ministers Association. His newest project is Momentary Meditations, a one minute nature and poetry meditation published weekly on YouTube. Stephen is author of two Skinner House books, Be the Change and Consider the Lilies. Stephen lives in Lexington with his wife JoAnn Mulready-Shick. They have three adult children, Sarah, Dora and Michael. Sermons Series Website Reverend Stephen Shick
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2017-2018	Sermons from the 2017-2018 church year at First Parish	First Parish Chelmsford Congregation Sermons Series First Parish Chelmsford Congregation , Heleena Mathew Heleena Mathew is a Community Organizer at the Merrimack Valley Project Sermons Series Website Heleena Mathew , Katherine Canada Sermons Series Katherine Canada , Rev. Lilia Cuervo The Rev. Lilia Cuervo, a native of Colombia, was the first Latin American woman ordained in the Unitarian Universalist denomination. She pioneered full time ministry in Spanish in San Jose, CA. where she served for six and a half years. At First Parish in Cambridge she also made history by being the first woman (and a Latina at that!) to be installed as a Parish Minister. She just ended four years of very productive multicultural ministry there. She is a co-founder of the Latino/a UU Networking Association (LUUNA), and the initiator of, and a translator and contributor to, Las Voces del Camino, the Spanish language Unitarian Universalist hymnal. Before entering seminary, she had a career as a Demographer working in Colombia, Brazil and United States. In 1964 she was invited by the University of California at Berkeley as an exchange Visiting Assistant Professor of Demography at its School of Public Health. Later she worked as the Evaluation & Research Associate at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in New York City. Her degrees include a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry, a Master of Demography from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in Math & Physics from Women Teachers College, Bogota, Colombia. Sermons Series Website Rev. Lilia Cuervo , Reverend Douglas Wilson The Rev. Douglas Wilson was born in Vancouver, grew up in Santa Barbara, and fell in love with the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan in the mid-sixties. He graduated from UCSB in religion and philosophy and from Starr King School for the Ministry and was ordained in Brooklyn in 1971. After hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1973, he moved to UU Rowe Camp, which was founded in 1924. Doug founded UU Rowe Conference Center in 1974, which he co-directed Rowe Camp and Conference Center, mostly with his wife Prue Berry, who is a lot nicer than he is, until 2012, when he retired. Since then, he’s mostly been doing whatever he wants to do. Sermons Series Reverend Douglas Wilson , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Russ Menk Reverend Russ Menk served as Intern Minister at First Parish from September 2011 through June 2012. Russ graduated from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California with an MDiv degree in 2013. He was given Preliminary Fellowship by the Unitarian Universalist Association with the award of his degree and he received Final Fellowship in 2016. Rev. Russ was ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County and continues to serve there. Prior to that, Russ had joined the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002 and after holding several lay-leadership positions decided to become a UU minister. In 2008 Russ retired after 29 years from his career in Aerospace, and moved to California to attend seminary. He enjoys life, people, church meetings, learning, nature, and dark beer. Sermons Series Website Reverend Russ Menk , Reverend Stephen Shick Stephen Shick is Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson where he served as Senior Minister. As a parish minister he has also served congregations in Haverhill, MA and Portland, ME. Stephen was instrumental in establishing Community Ministry in our Association. He served our faith nationally as the founding Director of UU Peace Network and Director of the UU Service Committee's U.S. Programs Department. Before becoming a UU minister he was the founder and host of Consider the Alternatives, a national radio program carried on 400 commercial and non-commercial stations. Stephen teaches the art of preaching with out notes and manuscript as part of a national program sponsored by the UU Ministers Association. His newest project is Momentary Meditations, a one minute nature and poetry meditation published weekly on YouTube. Stephen is author of two Skinner House books, Be the Change and Consider the Lilies. Stephen lives in Lexington with his wife JoAnn Mulready-Shick. They have three adult children, Sarah, Dora and Michael. Sermons Series Website Reverend Stephen Shick
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2018-2019	Sermons from the 2018-2019 church year at First Parish	Coming of Age Participants, Mentors, and Facilitators Sermons Series Coming of Age Participants, Mentors, and Facilitators , Doug Aker and Frans Janssen Sermons Series Doug Aker and Frans Janssen , Matt Meyer Matt Meyer is an artist of percussion, knowledgeable and experienced in a variety of styles, including latin-jazz, Brazilian, folk, funk, Hiphop and pop. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. Sermons Series Website Matt Meyer , Rev. Ellen Spero and First Parish Congregants Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero and First Parish Congregants , Rev. Ellen Spero, Frank Brusca, Dan Wight, and Joan Coyne Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Frank Brusca, Dan Wight, and Joan Coyne , Rev. Ellen Spero, Rosemary McMullin, Deirdre Heck, and Caroline McMullin Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Rosemary McMullin, Deirdre Heck, and Caroline McMullin , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Shayna Appel Reverend Shayna Appel, a UU and UCC minister, serves the All Souls UU Church in Brattleboro, Vermont. She also serves as chaplain to First Responders in the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains, for the Peterborough Fire & Rescue, the Townsend Fire & Rescue, the Granite State Critical Incident Response Team and the UU Trauma Response Ministry Team. Sermons Series Website Reverend Shayna Appel , Steve Zocchi Steve Zocchi has been the Music Director at First Parish since September of 2014. Steve Zocchi is a pianist, guitarist, composer and music teacher from the Chelmsford area with over 25 years of teaching experience. He received his BA in Piano Performance from UMass Lowell. He studied organ with Dr. John Ogasapian and served as his Assistant Organist at St. Anne's Church in Lowell from 1997-1999. Prior to coming to First Parish, Steve served as Music Minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lowell from 2000-2014. He has performed in numerous eclectic piano concerts at local venues, juxtaposing classical, jazz and original compositions. He studied jazz piano theory with Steve Hunt. Steve's latest release 'Piano Works and Play' as well as his previous CD 'Compositions and Improvisation' include both music composed in the classical tradition as well as improvised music in several genres. Steve lives with his wife, pianist/cellist Meghan Zocchi, and their three sons in Acton, MA. Sermons Series Website Steve Zocchi
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2019-2020	Sermons from the 2019-2020 church year at First Parish	Doug Aker and Rev. Ellen Spero Sermons Series Doug Aker and Rev. Ellen Spero , Jennifer Johnson An intern minister at First Parish for the 2019-2020 church year, Jennifer is a seminarian in her final year at Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Candidate for Unitarian Universalist Ministry. Raised in a secular family but longing for religious community, she found her spiritual home as a young adult in the freethinking, open-hearted, justice-seeking Unitarian Universalist faith. Prior to answering the call to ministry, Jennifer’s winding vocational journey included stops in literary studies, nonprofit communications, and childbirth coaching. She is delighted to be learning and growing into religious leadership with the support of First Parish Chelmsford. Sermons Series Website Jennifer Johnson , Rev. Ellen Spero and First Parish Congregants Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero and First Parish Congregants , Rev. Ellen Spero and Jennifer Johnson Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero and Jennifer Johnson , Rev. Ellen Spero, Dolores Heredia-Wood, Jennifer Johnson Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Dolores Heredia-Wood, Jennifer Johnson , Reverend Elea Kemler, Reverend Carolyn Patierno, and Reverend Ellen Spero Sermons Series Reverend Elea Kemler, Reverend Carolyn Patierno, and Reverend Ellen Spero , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero
First Parish Chelmsford Music	A sample of some music performed by our talented Music Director, Steve Zocchi.	Steve Zocchi Steve Zocchi has been the Music Director at First Parish since September of 2014. Steve Zocchi is a pianist, guitarist, composer and music teacher from the Chelmsford area with over 25 years of teaching experience. He received his BA in Piano Performance from UMass Lowell. He studied organ with Dr. John Ogasapian and served as his Assistant Organist at St. Anne's Church in Lowell from 1997-1999. Prior to coming to First Parish, Steve served as Music Minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lowell from 2000-2014. He has performed in numerous eclectic piano concerts at local venues, juxtaposing classical, jazz and original compositions. He studied jazz piano theory with Steve Hunt. Steve's latest release 'Piano Works and Play' as well as his previous CD 'Compositions and Improvisation' include both music composed in the classical tradition as well as improvised music in several genres. Steve lives with his wife, pianist/cellist Meghan Zocchi, and their three sons in Acton, MA. Sermons Series Website Steve Zocchi
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2020-2021	Sermons from the 2020-2021 church year at First Parish	Deirdre Heck, Stephanie Owen, and Susan Woodmansee Sermons Series Deirdre Heck, Stephanie Owen, and Susan Woodmansee , First Parish Chelmsford Congregation Sermons Series First Parish Chelmsford Congregation , Gail Burati, Diana Keohane, Doug Aker, and Frans Janssen Sermons Series Gail Burati, Diana Keohane, Doug Aker, and Frans Janssen , Laura Wagner - Executive Director of the UU Mass Action Network Laura has been an active volunteer and activist with UU Mass Action since 2011 and formally accepted her role as Acting Executive Director in April of 2014. She follows in the footsteps of the previous Executive Director, Jesse Jaeger, who provided three years of leadership and visioning that helped to grow UU Mass Action into a powerful organizing force. Laura has been a Unitarian Universalist for over 20 years. During this time she has held many lay leadership roles, but her passion has always been for social justice. Her work has centered on hunger and homelessness, environmental justice, ending mass incarceration and immigrant rights. Laura deepened her commitment to immigrant rights during a service learning trip with Boston New Sanctuary Movement to the Arizona/Mexican border in 2011. She states, “Witnessing the conditions at the border first hand moves one from an intellectual understanding of the situation to a deeply felt comprehension of the pain that our nation’s economic, drug and immigration policy has created.” In 2014, Laura traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of a Witness for Peace learning experience exploring the roots of migration. In August 2014, Laura participated in the Pray for Relief action in Washington DC and was arrested with over 100 other interfaith activists calling for an end to deportations. Laura has also been an active member UU Mass Action working group, EMIT (End Mass Incarceration Together) and helped to organize the buses for the Jobs Not Jails rally in April 2014. Laura balances her community activism with her work as a Clinical Social Worker. She maintains a part-time private practice helping people who are healing from trauma. She holds a Masters degree from Boston University’s School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science with a major in management from Northeastern University. Laura has been married for 26 years to Ken Wagner. Ken also has a long history in lay leadership and he is a passionate ally in Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multicultural ministries. Laura and Ken are both members of Allies for Racial Equity and are committed to anti-racism/anti-oppression/multicultural work. Laura and Ken have four beautiful children and are enjoying the recent addition of two wonderful grandchildren to their family. Sermons Series Website Laura Wagner - Executive Director of the UU Mass Action Network , Leslie Yauckoes, Beth Benoit, Carla Corey, Joan Coyne, and Diana Keohane Sermons Series Leslie Yauckoes, Beth Benoit, Carla Corey, Joan Coyne, and Diana Keohane , Rev. Ellen Spero and Farook Taufiq, Founder and Member of the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero and Farook Taufiq, Founder and Member of the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell , Rev. Ellen Spero and Rev. Janine Dailey Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero and Rev. Janine Dailey , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Jackie Clement The Rev. Jackie Clement is a recently retired parish minister who served UU churches in New England and Illinois. She now counts First Church Unitarian in Littleton as home. Before entering the ministry, Jackie worked as an engineer in the field of computer graphics. She is the author of several UU publications and when not in the studio making art she serves as co-chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, the body that grants credentials to our ministers. Sermons Series Reverend Jackie Clement , Reverend Justine Sullivan Justine Sullivan is currently serving as the interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick Maine. Justine served as our Ministerial Intern from the fall of 2015 until June of 2017 while pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. Justine was ordained in 2017 by her home congregation of Northborough, Massachusetts. Justine is a member of the UU congregation in Northborough, Massachusetts, where she lives with her spouse Dale. Justine and Dale have been together since 1986 and legally married since 2004. Justine has been a social worker and psychotherapist for the past 20 years and has worked as a congregational consultant and facilitator throughout New England. In addition to serving in leadership positions in her home congregation, Justine served as president of the Clara Barton district board from 2012 to 2015 Sermons Series Reverend Justine Sullivan , Reverend Sophia Lyons Guest Minister Rev. Sophia Lyons. Rev Lyons currently serves as the Intern/Sabbatical Minister at the UU Church of Haverhill as well as year-round Island Minister on Star Island–one of the few Unitarian Universalist retreat and conference centers off the coast of Maine. In 2019, she graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Boston University’s School of Theology–the alma mater of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and known to many as The School of the Prophets. Her life’s work, study and ministry has much to do with radical welcome and spiritual healing as a pathway towards collective liberation. She lives on the north shore of Massachusetts with her partner, Jason, and two daughters, Olive and Poppy. Sermons Series Reverend Sophia Lyons , Steve Zocchi Steve Zocchi has been the Music Director at First Parish since September of 2014. Steve Zocchi is a pianist, guitarist, composer and music teacher from the Chelmsford area with over 25 years of teaching experience. He received his BA in Piano Performance from UMass Lowell. He studied organ with Dr. John Ogasapian and served as his Assistant Organist at St. Anne's Church in Lowell from 1997-1999. Prior to coming to First Parish, Steve served as Music Minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lowell from 2000-2014. He has performed in numerous eclectic piano concerts at local venues, juxtaposing classical, jazz and original compositions. He studied jazz piano theory with Steve Hunt. Steve's latest release 'Piano Works and Play' as well as his previous CD 'Compositions and Improvisation' include both music composed in the classical tradition as well as improvised music in several genres. Steve lives with his wife, pianist/cellist Meghan Zocchi, and their three sons in Acton, MA. Sermons Series Website Steve Zocchi
First Parish Chelmsford Sermons 2021-2022	Sermons from the 2021-2022 church year at First Parish	Brian Snow Sermons Series Brian Snow , First Parish Music Community Sermons Series First Parish Music Community , Heather, Cat, Ashanti, and Rev. Ellen Spero Sermons Series Heather, Cat, Ashanti, and Rev. Ellen Spero , Joan Coyne, Diana Keohane, and Doug Aker Sermons Series Joan Coyne, Diana Keohane, and Doug Aker , Julia, Nora, Kiema, and Andrew, with mentors Jill Hayes and Emma Warila Sermons Series Julia, Nora, Kiema, and Andrew, with mentors Jill Hayes and Emma Warila , Neil Harmon Sermons Series Neil Harmon , Rev. Ellen Spero, Frances Killam, Diana Keohane, Ami Hughes, Susan Woodmansee, Caroline Snow, and Áine Sweetnam Sermons Series Rev. Ellen Spero, Frances Killam, Diana Keohane, Ami Hughes, Susan Woodmansee, Caroline Snow, and Áine Sweetnam , Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero The Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero has served as our minister since August, 2002. Ellen is a graduate of Brandeis University, University of Maryland (with an M.Ed in Special Education) and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Assistant Minister at the First Parish in Lexington, MA, and as the Interim Minister at Hope United Church of Christ in Alexandria, VA. Before entering the ministry, she was a special education teacher in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up as a Unitarian Universalist, attending the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA. Sermons Series Website Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero , Reverend Jackie Clement The Rev. Jackie Clement is a recently retired parish minister who served UU churches in New England and Illinois. She now counts First Church Unitarian in Littleton as home. Before entering the ministry, Jackie worked as an engineer in the field of computer graphics. She is the author of several UU publications and when not in the studio making art she serves as co-chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, the body that grants credentials to our ministers. Sermons Series Reverend Jackie Clement