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The Ministers of the First Unitarian Church of Worcester
Senior Minister: The Rev. Barbara Merritt
Minister: The Rev. Thomas Schade
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The Rev. Barbara Merritt is the 10th Minister of the First Unitarian Church, serving as Senior Minister since 1983. A life-long Unitarian, she majored in Philosophy and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in 1971. She prepared for the Unitarian Ministry at the Starr King School for the Ministry, receiving a Master’s in Divinity in 1975. She was ordained to the ministry in 1975, and served in Woodstock, Illinois until 1983. She has been awarded honorary doctorates from the Starr King School for the Ministry and Assumption College, here in Worcester. Rev. Merritt is married to Jeffrey Merritt, a physics teacher; they have two grown sons.
Rev. Merritt maintains a web blog "The Daily Rumi".
Sermon Archive:
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"Old Churches - New Meanings"
Delivered January 24, 2010 |
"Where Love Is"
Delivered January 25, 2009 |
The Legacy
a paper for Prairie Group
November 12, 2008
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The Spirit of Adventure
Delivered September 14, 2008 |
"A Heretic's Welcome"
Delivered September 7, 2008 |
"Choosing Resurrection"
Delivered April 8, 2007 |
"Transitions"
Delivered May 20, 2007 |
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The Rev. Thomas Schade was called as the Associate Minister of the First Unitarian Church in the fall of 1999. In the fall of 2006, he was designated as the 11th Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Worcester. Also a life-long Unitarian, he received a BA from George Washington University in 1970, majoring in Political Science. After a career in Information Technology, he began preparing for the Unitarian Ministry in 1995, studying at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. In 1999, he received his Masters of Divinity and was ordained by the First Unitarian Church. Rev. Schade is married to Sue Schade, a hospital executive. They have two grown daughters.
Rev. Schade has a weblog: The Lively Tradition.
Sermon Archive:
"The Problem of Marriage"
Rev. Schade on Marriage Equality
Delivered February 21, 2003
"Hard Jolts"
Delivered January 28, 2007
"Forward Through the Ages"
Liberal Religion and Personal Transformation
January 3, 2010
"The First Struggle"
The Young Adult Journey of Martin Luther King, Jr. n
January 17, 2010
"The Freedom Series"
"The Free Mind" January 7, 2010
"The Free Church" January 30, 2010
"The Free City" February 21, 2010
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What do people say about the sermons at First Unitarian Church?
“Large messages derived from the stuff – even the very small stuff – of everyday life.”
“A Time Bomb – you don’t appreciate what’s been thrown at you until you get home.”
“I’ve had my heart moved, my hand held, my back patted and my mind opened all in a single sermon”
“Candid, honest and down-to-earth.”
“Provides that ‘light bulb’ moment of recognition: That is SO TRUE !”
“They talk about their flaws and failings now and in the past, They include humor in every service. They connect to our local lives and the entire world.”
“Think, sing, laugh. Not necessarily in that order.”
“Refreshing looks at old dilemmas from new perspectives.”
“reminds us to be open to many points of view.”
“They honor the many different beliefs and ways of worshipping.”
“Barbara and Tom are like Donny and Marie: One’s a little country, one’s a little bit rock and roll.”
“I feel much better about myself and life leaving than I did before coming.”
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