Our newly called minister, the Reverend Sylvia Stocker, is a life-long Unitarian Universalist. Sylvia comes to Brunswick from Massachusetts where she has been Assistant Minister of the First Parish in Bedford for the past four years. She received her Masters in Divinity with honors from the Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Centre in 2003, during which time she completed a two year internship at First Parish Church in Brookline. She was ordained in Bedford in 2004 and received her final UU Fellowship in 2006.
Sylvia grew up a student of the religious education programs of her childhood churches where her parents were also active members. Before going to seminary she was an adult lay leader in her home church and taught children’s religious education for several years. Her son, David, has participated in UU Religious Education programming his entire life. As Assistant Minister of the Bedford church, Sylvia has helped to guide the congregation in its growth from a congregation of 305 to 345 (and still growing). She has developed programs and policies to reach out to and welcome new members; led the initiative to develop a successful Small Group Ministry program; offered a series of well received adult education programs; worked closely with the Director of Religious Education to develop intergenerational worship services; and has been alert and responsive to formerly unrecognized pastoral care needs.
-Life long UU - Born into Abington, MA church; member of churches in Canton and Stow, MA
-B.A., with honors, English and American Literature, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 1975
-Master of Divinity, with honors, Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, MA 2003
-Internship First Parish in Brookline, Brookline, MA 2000-2002
-Clinical Pastoral Chaplaincy, Westboro State Hospital, Westboro, MA 2002-2003
-Preliminary Fellowship 2003
-Ordained 2004, First Parish, Bedford, MA
-Final Fellowship 2006
-Assistant Minister, First Parish, Bedford, MA 2003-2007
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