Senior Minister
The Rev. Lisa Perry-Wood began her ministry at First Parish in Brookline as our 17th called minister on August 1, 2018. Rev. Lisa is a native New Englander, who recently served as Acting Parish Minister at First Parish in Bedford, MA (2018). She also served as summer minister at First Parish in Lexington (2017) and Winchester Unitarian Society (2016) and completed her two-year student ministry at First Religious Society in Carlisle, where she also served as Interim Director of Religious Education (2014-16).
Rev. Lisa is animated by a deep, long-time commitment to social justice with a particular focus on racial justice, prison ministry, immigration justice, and class inequity. She was a founding member of Lexington’s Coalition for Racial Equality and served as Executive Director of the MA Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth. She is a Workshop Facilitator for UU Class Conversations and served as a chaplain for the UUA’s Beloved Conversations.
Rev. Lisa has a rich and varied work history to draw on for her ministry. Before entering seminary, she was a mental health counselor, trainer and community mediator; a charter school leader in Lynn, MA; a consultant and trainer in grant writing and fund development; and interim executive director at Boston area non-profits.
Rev. Lisa lives in Lexington, MA with her wife, Zoe, a school psychologist and artist-photographer. Rev. Lisa has three adult children, and she and Zoe are grandparents of three (including twins). For the past eight years, they have also supported a great niece, who is now in college.
Rev. Lisa draws on a wide range of spiritual traditions and experiences in UU communities; she identifies as a Buddhist-mystic, and finds inspiration in nature walks and time spent on, in or near water.
Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 am-5 pm.
Contact: revlisa@firstparishinbrookline.org or call 781-883-3411 (cell)
Rev. Lisa has resigned. Her last day will be April 14, 2023. Read her message to the congregation.
Tiny Spiritual Practices Podcast
Ministerial Intern
Erin Scott (she/her) is a self-described “playful, soulful, singing, dancing, plants-lady.” She is a seventh-generation Unitarian Universalist (on the Universalist side). Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Erin has lived in Western Massachusetts for most of the last 17 years. When not in NY or MA, Erin traveled extensively within the United States and beyond. She holds a Bachelor’s degree Environmental Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Currently earning her Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard, she receives the Jenkin Lloyd Jones Scholarship. Erin and her spouse, Nic (they/them), currently live in Holyoke, and will be moving farther east to be closer to the Brookline Parish. Erin is both honored and thrilled to be joining us for this exciting new chapter in the life of our congregation!
Contact: erin@firstparishinbrookline.org
Music Director
Keith Kirchoff has been the Music Director at First Parish for about a decade. He is a pianist, composer, conductor, concert curator, and teacher. He has appeared with orchestras throughout the U.S. and played in many major cities across the world. Read his full bio
Contact: keith@firstparishinbrookline.org
Religious Exploration Assistant
Paige Belfield has moved around a lot but considers herself a Boston native. She graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Human Rights in Society and Pre-law. She’s been working with youth since the age of 15 and just finished a service year with AmeriCorps as a Community Organizer in the Roxbury area.
Temporary Parish Adminstrator
Jeff Fogelman (he/him) is from Brevard, North Carolina, and moved to Boston in 2009 to study at the Berklee College of Music. He graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in bass performance, and has taught and worked in the Boston area for the last 10 years. Jeff still teaches, and hopes to continue working for organizations which benefit the local community.
Contact: jeff@firstparishinbrookline.org
Other Staff
|
Parish Administrator | Ebiere Omoregie ebiere@firstparishinbrookline.org |  |
| Custodian | Oppong Serebour |  |
| Bookkeeper | Adam Berman adam@firstparishinbrookline.org |