First Parish is delighted to announce that Reverend Lauren Smith will join us in August as our new minister. She will follow Rev. Lisa Perry-Wood, who has served as our interim minister since 2024.
Rev. Smith has served as a parish minister at UU congregations in San Mateo, California and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Most recently, she has served as Director of Stewardship and Development for the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston.
The First Parish Ministerial Search Committee was drawn to her warmth and the way she builds relationships and fosters belonging; humor that brings lightness and connection; and vision that both honors our history and invites us forward. The committee noted that her words inspire reflection, resilience, and purpose, and welcomed her deep appreciation for music and its power to move and unite. In addition, her steadfast belief in the worth and potential of every child, and her commitment to shared care for one another in joy and hardship, are qualities the committee members sought in our next minister.
Rev. Smith 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 10. Her education includes a BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and continuing education at the Harvard Kennedy School that further supplemented her skills in non-profit financial stewardship. She graduated from the Starr King School for Ministry in 2007.
The First Parish community is excited to welcome Rev. Lauren as our next minister, and looks forward to joining with her to build and support our beloved community.