FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Congregational and Community Engagement
Cynthia Walsh, she/her, joined the staff of First Religious Society in 2020 as Director of Congregational and Community Engagement. Cynthia is a lifelong community organizer, specializing in social justice advocacy and program and leadership development. Cynthia holds a Master of Science in Dispute Resolution from the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security and Global Governance at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Cynthia served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea, West Africa and has traveled extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, and Africa. She is a self-described backyard farmer and loves to experiment in her kitchen lab! Cynthia and her partner live in West Newbury with their three sons, two dogs, and rabbit.
Diane Carroll joined the staff at First Religious Society in January 2019 as the Office Administrator. Her role at FRS includes desktop publishing, bookkeeping, publicity, editing, scheduling room reservations and rentals, and managing the business office. Diane 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. After stepping away from the work force to raise her son during his early years,
Job Titles:
- Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration
Julie Parker Amery joined the staff of the First Religious Society as the Director of Religious Education in 2000 and moved into the position of Director of Faith Formation and Spiritual Exploration in 2019. In this capacity, she works in both youth (teenager) and adult ministries, ensuring a robust selection of faith formation offerings that include opportunities for spiritual growth, UU identity formation, social justice learning, and community connection. She has worked within the denomination in various capacities since the late 1980s and is also trained as a spiritual director, working both with individuals and with groups. Julie and her family live in Amesbury, where she covers lots of ground on walks with their dogs. She loves to cook, eat, jog, write, read, hike, and sing along to musicals with her daughter.
Justin Murphy-Mancini joined the staff of the First Religious Society as Director of Church Music in 2019. He joyfully oversees the church's musical offerings, directs the Adult Choir, and performs on the organ, harpsichord, and piano.
Justin balances a commitment to building community through church music with an active performing and composing career. Over the past 15 years, he has served UU, UCC, and Episcopal congregations from Western Massachusetts to San Diego, wearing a variety of hats from choir director to vocal coach to concert impresario.
Job Titles:
- Director of Children 's Ministry
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 workshops for various organizations (Tannery Arts Camp, Theater in the Open) she was co-director at Acting Out in Newburyport, MA where she taught improv-based theater and performance workshops for 15 years. As a singer-songwriter, Mara has released three solo albums on Burst and Bloom Records; her last album, "Good Hands," was released in 2016.
Helen Murgida is called to serve as Community Minister Affiliated by Rev. Rebecca Bryan. She is an Ordained Interfaith Minister from the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME). She is a member of the Pastoral Care Associates and Parish Friends and has delivered sermons entitled "Neurodiversity and Self Compassion" and "Diverse Ability, Ableism, Allyship." She is currently engaged with a small group to discuss ways to foster greater inclusion of people with disabilities in the activities of FRS. This group watched the award-winning film Crip Camp and shared in discussion of the book Sitting Pretty by disability author and activist Dr. Rebekkah Taussig. Rev. Helen continues to work as a Consultant for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Approved Special Education Schools (OASES). As an Interfaith Chaplain, she provides memorial service rituals at funeral homes and at gravesides for people wishing to celebrate the lives of deceased family members.
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.