In August, Rev. Lauren Smith joined First Parish in Wayland as our new minister. In her nearly 20 years as a Unitarian Universalist minister, Rev. Lauren has also served congregations in Portsmouth, N.H. and San Mateo, Calif.
“Our congregation is excited to welcome Rev. Lauren as our new minister,” said Susan Keyes, chair of the Parish Committee, which is the elected governing body of the church. “In a few short weeks, we have already been impressed by her complete commitment to the importance of community, and of living out our deeply held values in the ways we treat each other and in the wider world. Rev. Lauren brings a new voice and a unique perspective to Wayland’s tapestry of faith communities, and we are already energized by the prospect of growing into the future with her.”
Prior to joining First Parish, Rev. Lauren served as Director of Stewardship and Development for the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston. She studied theater arts as an undergraduate at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and attended seminary at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, Calif.
Rev. Lauren is married to the Rev. Chris Holton Jablonski, a UU minister who serves the First Church in Belmont. They have three children, ages 18, 15, and 11.
The First Parish community warmly welcomes Rev. Lauren, and looks forward to joining with her to build and support our multi-generational religious community.