Who’s Who
Rev. Connie Simon
Interim Minister
Worship, Pastoral Care, Social Justice, Governance
revconnie.simon@frsuu.org
(978) 465-0602 x402
Rev. Connie’s schedule:
Tuesday: 9am-9pm (onsite at FRSUU 9am-2pm)
Wednesday: 9am-9pm (onsite at FRSUU 9am-2pm)
Thursday: 9am-5pm (onsite at FRSUU 9am-12pm)
Friday: Limited availability (administration/writing)
Saturday: As needed
Sunday: After service until 2pm
Monday: Off – available only for emergencies
To schedule a meeting with Rev. Connie, click here: https://calendly.com/revconnie
First Religious Society is delighted to welcome the Rev. Connie Simon as our Interim Minister for the next two years, as we prepare together for our next settled ministry. Rev. Connie goes by “Rev. Connie,” “RC,” or “Rev C” — please use one of these rather than her first name alone. She is typically in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays are her sabbatical day and set apart from congregational ministry, so she’s not available for church matters then.
Rev. Connie is an Accredited Interim Minister who focuses her calling on intentional transitional ministry, work she finds genuinely meaningful. She loves accompanying congregations through periods of change — helping them reflect on their history, clarify their identity, strengthen their leadership, and step intentionally into their future. Her ministry has taken her from Pennsylvania to Ohio to California to Maryland, and now to Newburyport.
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Rev. Connie came to ordained ministry in her 50s, after earlier careers in law, telecommunications, political training, real estate, caregiving, and nonprofit leadership. The most formative chapter of her life came when she stepped away from her career to serve as primary caregiver for her two disabled siblings, a season that taught her about presence, patience, and simply showing up. It was through deep involvement in her home congregation, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia that she recognized her call to ministry. She graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School and has since served UU congregations in both settled and interim roles, bringing deep experience in organizational culture, governance, and conflict navigation, along with her work as a Conflict Engagement Coach with the UUA’s Hope for Us Program.
Rev. Connie’s commitment to Unitarian Universalism extends well beyond any single congregation. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Meadville Lombard Theological School and the UU Studies Network, the UUA’s Bylaws Renewal Team, is co-chair the Transitions Review Task Force and Editor of the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography.
Outside of ministry, Rev. Connie is an avid tennis fan, a devotee of fountain pens and beautiful stationery, and an enthusiastic genealogical researcher — tracing both her own family history and the history of the African Union Methodist Protestant Church. Her dog Ridley keeps her grounded, as does being “Aunt Connie” to her nieces and nephews.
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 in 2019. She brings years of experience in theater, music, and arts 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 the Director of Education.
Nick Place
Director of Church Music and Events
Choir, Special Music, Instruments, Voice
nick.place@frsuu.org
978-465-0602 ext. 410
Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-5pm; Thursday 12-9pm; Sunday worship
Nick Place joined the staff 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.