Who’s Who
Rev. Rebecca Bryan
Senior Minister
Worship, Pastoral Care, Social Justice, Governance
revrebecca.bryan@frsuu.org
(978) 465-0602 x402
Rev. Rebecca’s schedule:
Rev. Rebecca is available for pastoral care and other one-on-one meetings in the office on Wednesday, 9:30am-4:30pm; Thursday, 10am-5pm, and Friday, 9am-5pm. Monday, Sabbath. Tuesday, sermon writing from home; office some Tuesday evenings for adult faith formation. Saturday, community and work from home. Rev. Rebecca is available any time for pastoral emergencies.
To schedule time with Rev. Rebecca, email RevRebecca.Bryan@frsuu.org.
For pastoral emergencies contact her on her cell at 860-882-9410.
The Reverend Rebecca M. Bryan joyfully accepted the call to serve as the settled minister at the First Religious Society starting in August 2018. She is the congregation’s first settled female minister.
Rev. Rebecca serves as a member of the Diversity Equity Inclusion Task Force for the City of Newburyport and Chair of the Greater Newburyport Clergy Association.
Rev. Rebecca has been a Unitarian Universalist for close to 50 years. She is committed to sharing the good news of UUism through congregational life, preaching, and denominational engagement. Some of her additional areas of focus include interfaith partnerships, addictions ministry, and spiritual direction. Rev. Rebecca aspires to live her life and fulfill her ministry guided by Love and the eight principles of Unitarian Universalism.
Rev. Rebecca is a 2015 graduate of Andover Newton Theological School where she was
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awarded membership into the Jonathan Edwards Honor Society and was the recipient of the Unitarian Universalist James Luther Adams Award for Excellence in the Study of Liberal Theology and the Gabriel Fackre Award for Excellence in Constructive Theology. She was ordained into the fellowship of Unitarian Universalist ministers after a long and rewarding career in the nonprofit sector. She worked in the field of fundraising and organizational development for over twenty-five years including operating her own consulting business helping nonprofits with capital campaigns, annual and planned giving, and organizational development.
Rev. Rebecca and her husband, Bart, live in Byfield with their rescue dog, Charlotte. Their children live in San Diego and Los Angeles, CA, West Hartford, CT, and Boston. In addition to church, they enjoy hiking, swimming, and spending time with family.
Before coming to the First Religious Society, Rev. Rebecca served as the Interim Senior Minister for First Parish in Brookline, MA and contract minister for the Unitarian Universalist Parish in Monson, MA.
Rev. Laurel Gray
Assistant Minister of Congregational Life
Membership, Programming, Adult Education
revlaurel.gray@frsuu.org
(978) 465-0602 x404
Rev. Laurel’s schedule:
Rev. Laurel is available for one-on-one and group meetings in the office Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:30am-4:30pm and in the evening. She will split her Sundays between worship and Young Church.
To schedule a meeting with Rev. Laurel, click here: https://revlaurelgray.youcanbook.me/
For pastoral emergencies, contact her on her cell at 401-932-7855.
The Reverend Laurel L. Gray is FRSUU’s first Assistant Minister of Congregational Life, a new role dedicated to supporting congregational programs, new members, and our young people and families. Rev. Laurel is delighted to be serving alongside Rev. Rebecca and all the FRSUU staff.
Rev. Laurel is a life-long UU and has been a member of both large and small congregations over the years. She began her seminary education at Starr King School for the Ministry and completed an additional three years of training at Yale Divinity School, graduating in 2018. In 2017, Rev. Laurel was granted the Edward Ashley Walker Scholarship prize by the Yale Divinity School faculty. After graduation, Rev. Laurel served as the Ministerial Intern at First Parish in Concord, MA and then served as the solo Minister in Westborough, MA for five years.
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Prior to ministry, Rev. Laurel worked in the wedding industry, overseeing staff and showrooms for a national linen rental company. She has also had roles in fashion and costuming and continues to make most of her own clothing.
Rev. Laurel now lives in Amesbury with her dog, Henry. When she’s not sewing or knitting with an audiobook, they’re often out exploring the neighborhood or local parks.
Rev. Stan Barrett
Affiliate Minister
Rev. Stan Barrett
The Rev. Stan Barrett is an Affiliate Minister of FRS. He and his wife, Leslie, have been members here for more than 20 years. Stan retired several years ago after 15 years as a hospice chaplain. Before that, he was a local church minister and a pastoral counselor in private practice. He ıs enjoying having more time for reading, playing (mostly) Bach on the piano, connecting more deeply with longtime friends, and doing housework. On his 70th birthday, he entered his 8th decade with some trepidation. His latest discoveries are Audible (if you haven’t heard War and Peace read aloud, you haven’t lived!) and a novel by 20th Century Russian author Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate.
Rev. Jane Tuohy
Affiliate Minister
Rev. Jane Tuohy is an ordained Interfaith Minister and serves as an Affiliate Minister of FRSUU. Jane was ordained in 2022 by the One Spirit Learning Alliance and Interfaith Seminary based in New York City. Since July 2021 Jane has been providing pastoral care services as a volunteer at Anna Jaques Hospital. Jane co-leads with Nancy Kidd a bereavement support group at Anna Jaques that is open to members of the community.
As an Interfaith Minister, Jane believes that each of the world’s major religions have treasures and wisdom to offer and that there are “many paths” to spiritual growth and development. As part of FRSUU’s Adult Faith Formation initiatives, Jane offers interfaith programming. For the last two years she has focused on interfaith exploration of mysticism and contemplative practices.
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Prior to her ordination, Jane was a partner of Cambridge Hill Partners, Inc., a management consulting firm based in Cambridge, MA. There she co-led the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practice and provided leadership coaching to executives in higher education and the non-profit world.
Jane is the mother of Lars Whelan of Los Angeles, California and Niki Whelan of Newburyport. She is also the grandmother of Brela, Drew, and George Pavao. Jane loves swimming in the ocean, working in the garden she shares with her daughter, and being part of the FRSUU Beloved Community.
Diane Carroll
Church Administrator
Pledges/Bookkeeping, Congregational Admin, Space Reservations
diane.carroll@frsuu.org
(978) 465-0602 x401
Schedule: Business Office, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 9am-1pm. By appointment, 1-5pm.
Diane Carroll joined the staff at First Religious Society in January 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Music Business degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She worked for Mercer Management Consulting for 15 years, first as a billing representative and then as a knowledge manager/document librarian for the transportation industry group. Later, Diane was a parent volunteer for the Triton Regional School District, serving as chair of the elementary school book fair for two years. She also worked as a substitute
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teacher/instructional assistant in the district and was a parent volunteer with the Triton Music Parents Organization, serving as treasurer for three years and as a member of the parent “pit crew” for the Triton High School marching band. Diane also served as both Trustee and Newsletter Editor for the New England Airstream Club. Diane has sung with the FRS Adult Choir, the Candlelight Chorale, and the Newburyport Choral Society.
Mara Flynn
Director of Youth and Children's Ministry
Young Church, Youth Group, Family Programs
mara.flynn@frsuu.org
978-465-0602 x406
Schedule: Office Wednesday, 9am-2pm; Thursday 9am-2pm; Sunday 8am–1pm. Work from home on Tuesday, 9am-5pm.
Mara Flynn joined the staff of the First Religious Society as Director of Children’s Ministry in 2019. She brings years of experience in theater, music, and education and is committed to fostering community, self-awareness, and empathy, and the exploration of social justice as a spiritual practice.
Mara holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to over 20 years teaching and directing arts education programs for various organizations, she joined the staff at Theater in the Open in 2021 where she currently works as Lead Educator and the Director of TITO’S Summer Arts Workshop.
Nick Place
Director of Church Music
Choir, Special Music, Instruments, Voice
nick.place@frsuu.org
978-465-0602 ext. 410
Nick Place join the staff as Director of Music in August 2024. He attended Ithaca College and Boston Conservatory for undergraduate and graduate degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano. He has served as pianist and organist at Arlington Street Church (UU) in Boston and as Director of Music at the Unitarian Society of East Brunswick, NJ. Nick has also worked extensively as a pianist, vocal coach, music director, and conductor in regional theater companies and opera houses, as well as served as music director for musical theater productions at several colleges and universities.
Don Rogers
Sexton
Maintenance, Groundskeeper, Custodian
donny.rogers@frsuu.org
540-454-7588
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9am-12:30pm; Sunday, 8:30-11:30am
Don Rogers joined the First Religious Society staff in August 2019. He maintains the church buildings and grounds, including our beautiful flower gardens that he created.