First Parish in Framingham
24 Vernon St
Framingham, MA 01701
tel: 508-872-3111
Church staff | |
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Rev. Kathleen Hepler - Senior Minister Rev. Kathleen
Hepler has been at First Parish as the Senior
Minister since 2007. Before coming to Framingham ,
she served UU Churches in Maryland, Pennsylvania,
and New Jersey. She is a graduate of Starr King
School for the Ministry and was a social worker
before she entered the ministry. Rev. Hepler lives
with her husband, Don and children Jake (21) and
Kimmie (15) in Framingham.
Contact Rev. Hepler by email, or by phone at 508-872-3111, ext. 205. |
 | Michael F. Hall - Intern Minister Michael Hall is a recent graduate of Andover Newton Theological School (with an M.Div degree), and resident of Middleborough, MA where he is a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society. He lives in the Rock Village section of town with his wife, Jill, their three children, Lilia 14, Jonah 10, and Sylvie 3, and his mother, Patricia. Michael’s household includes a veritable menagerie of cats, a bunny and several free-ranging hens. Michael works as a case manager at High Point Treatment Center in Plymouth where he counsels and leads group therapy programs for people trying to overcome their substance abuse issues. Prior to that, he spent 18 years at Plimoth Plantation as part of their role-playing ensemble cast. His life as a Pilgrim has also included television appearances on Scientific American Traveler, NFL Live, and C-SPAN’s American Writers Series where he performed as Plymouth’s historian and second governor William Bradford. As an independent contractor Michael still dons his “Pilgrim Clothes” to portray members of the original Plymouth Colony in churches and classrooms across the country. Contact Michael by email, or by phone at 508-872-3111, ext 203 |
 | Julie Porter - Director of
Religious Education
Julie has a B.A. in Sociology from Pitzer College and a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College. Before becoming the DRE, Julie worked for twenty-one years as a dance/movement therapist with special-needs children in educational and medical settings. She designed and implemented a movement program to support the curriculum in public-school settings. Julie has been a member of First Parish since 1987. She directed the Youth Choir for nine years and served on the Religious Education Council for six years. She now works closely with an active Religious Education Council to oversee the R.E. program for about 200 children and youth. Contact Julie by email, or by phone at 508-872-3111, ext. 202. |
Beth Walton - Religious Education
Assistant
Beth implements the hands-on part of the religious education curriculum. She purchases and stocks books and art materials and creates and provides appropriate recordings, crafts and instructions weekly for volunteer teachers. She also supports activities sponsored by the Religious Education Council, including Intergenerational Service and UnDecorate the Tree. | |
 | Thomas Berryman - Music Director A member of the St. Mark’s faculty since 1983, Mr. Berryman teaches classes in AP Music Theory, and Music Studio. He directs the School’s choral groups and oversees the entire music program. Mr. Berryman also serves as School Organist and assists with planning music for the Chapel. He has served as a Reader of the AP Music Theory Exam and is on the convention planning board of the American Choral Directors’ Association. He sings with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Mr. Berryman holds the Evill-Glavin Teaching Chair at St. Mark’s.
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 | David Moore - Church Administrator
David joined our staff in December
2007. He has spent most of his professional life as an
educator
in the Newton Public Schools teaching history at Newton North High
School. Upon his retirement he joined Historic New England for five
years as Site Manager of the Walter Gropius House in Lincoln,
MA. David, his wife Lynne and son Daniel are members of First Parish UU
in Needham. David oversees church office operations Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Contact David by email or by phone, at 508-872-3111, ext. 201. |
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Sara Morrison-Neil - Membership Development
Coordinator Sara Morrison Neil is
the new Membership Coordinator as of January 2011.
Her passion to help people and improve nonprofits
has lead her to work in the nonprofit sector for
twenty years, and she currently works part-time at
the Massachusetts Council of Human Service
Providers. She lives with her husband and three year
old son in Framingham, and loves being part of the
Framingham Parish. She moved here with her family in
2009, and joining UUF was an important part of
connecting with the community. Sara earned a
bachelor's degree in English Literature at Earlham
College in Indiana, and a masters degree in public
administration at UMass Amherst. |
 | Alma Gould - Wedding / Rental
Coordinator Our beautiful Meeting House is available for weddings. Alma Gould, our Wedding Coordinator, is responsible for all facilities rentals. For more information or to schedule an event, please contact Alma by phone at the parish office, at 508-872-3111. |
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Dean Arvidson - Director, Children's Choir, Chimes Choir, and Adult
Bells Choir.
Dean is a long time member of First
Parish, and a former member of the First Parish
Senior Choir. He and his brother Doug used to
direct the Children's Choir many years ago and he's
been accompanying the choir under Trish Ramey's
direction for several years. The age groupings
for the kids' choirs will remain as Children's Choir
grades one to six, Chimes Choir - Grades four
through eight, Christmas Choir grades one to twelve. Contact Dean by email. |
The Rev. Dr. Charles Gaines -
Minister Emeritus of First Parish
Rev. Gaines served First Parish as Minister from 1967 to 1984. In 1996, our church conferred Emeritus status on the Rev. Gaines.
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 | Carol M. Greve - Director of
Religious Education Emerita Carol retired in 1998, after thirteen years as DRE at First Parish, and served as Interim DRE in 1999. |