We welcome the following new members to our community.

Beth Adams - Lisa Cashin - Deb Gilburg and Andrew Grimes - Tom and Beverly McCarthy - Marsten Parker - Leslie Raymond - Stephen Langlois - Sue and Mike Wondolowski

BETH ADAMS

Beth Adams grew up in North Reading.  She and her husband, Craig, just moved back to North Reading last year with their dog, Lucy, and two cats.  Beth and the animals love it there, and Craig is slowly warming up to the idea of living next door to his in-laws.  Beth graduated from Boston University with a degree in Hospitality Administration.  She has worked in numerous hotels, restaurants, and most recently managed several apartment complexes throughout Massachusetts.  She now has a much less stressful job at nearby BAE Systems in Burlington, MA and has realized that you can actually enjoy working for a living.  Beth participated in the UU Basics class this past winter and is enjoying the monthly hikes with the UUCR Hike of the Month club.  She hopes to continue to find groups and events to enjoy in this UU community.

LISA CASHINS

I have spent most of my life in Reading, MA.  I did leave occasionally to earn a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Sc.D. in industrial hygiene/work environment from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.  Although I envisioned becoming a college professor, I am extremely happy being home with my four beautiful girls.  I was raised Roman Catholic but never quite fit in or believed its basic doctrines.  I had many issues with the Catholic faith and knew that I wanted to raise my children in a different religious environment.  Here at the Unitarian Universalist Church, I feel that I have finally found a community that shares my beliefs, values and ethics.  I have already met many wonderful individuals in the Mothers Group and through the religious educational activities. I am very grateful to Sheryl Cunningham-Love for holding my hand as I slowly became familiar with the congregation.  If it hadn't been for her and our fateful meeting in a local supermarket, I don't think that I would have found the courage to be here today.  I am also grateful to the entire congregation for kindly welcoming me, my husband Michael, and our four daughters Allison, Robyn, Noel and Amber.  I know that here we are always in good hands and in good company.

DEB GILBURG AND ANDREW GRIMES

Andrew (a New Jersey native) and Deb (from Buffalo, NY) met while attending graduate school in Boston. They now live in Reading with their daughters Alice (9) and Rachel (6).  They love travel, outdoor adventures, art, music, and any event that brings family, friends and neighbors together.

BEVERLY AND TOM MCCARTHY

Tom and Beverly live in Reading with their two daughters, Natalie who turns 7 in June, and Natasha, age 5.  As the son of a military officer, Tom grew up in many different states, received his BS in Management from the United States Air Force Academy, and has spent 19 years as a pilot in the US Air Force.  Tom is currently attending the Fletcher School, Tufts University to obtain his PhD in International Relations.  Beverly grew up in Dayton, Ohio, received her BS in Aerospace Engineering from St Louis University, and served for 11 years as a pilot in the Air Force.  She is currently taking care of the girls at home and working part-time for the Air Force Reserves as an Air Force Academy counselor.  Tom and Beverly have decided to join UU because of the congregation's welcoming atmosphere and the church's inclusive approach to exploring and teaching spirituality.  It is the first time they have ever enjoyed the overall church experience and they look forward to sharing it with their daughters.

MARSTEN PARKER

I have lived in Reading since 1986 and have been coming to this church, mostly to play violin, but sometimes for other purposes, for about 15 years. I finally decided to become an official member after hearing Tim's sermon on May 17 and being moved to cast a vote in favor of expanding to two services - I quickly signed the book during coffee hour that day! My wife, Lori, has been a member here for many years and our children, Kristin (20) and Julia (12), have enjoyed the religious education programs.  As a teenager, my two main interests were violin playing and computer programming. A pair of summers at a chamber music festival in Blue Hill, Maine, swayed me towards violin, so I went to the Mannes College of Music in NYC and emerged with a degree in violin performance and a clear knowledge that music was not going to be my profession. Turning back to computers, I was lucky enough to find employment as a software engineer despite no formal education, and ended up having a fruitful 13-year career working for Cortex Corporation, Softbridge Microsystems and Segue Software. After Segue's IPO in 1996, I became interested in the stock market, and decided to make a go at trading full-time, which I have now been doing for 12 years with good results. As for the violin, besides playing here whenever asked, I'm also the concertmaster of the New Philharmonia Orchestra in Newton.  You can see the theme: practicing violin, writing code, analyzing market data - I've tended to favor solitary pursuits. But, as age 50 approaches, I'm becoming more aware of the importance of connecting with other people. So, having now finally joined the church, as long as my introverted personality doesn't get in the way too much, I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better!

LESLIE RAYMOND

I was born in Newton, MA 44 years ago.  I was raised in an inter generational matriarchal home by my mother and grandmother after my father died when I was 2 years old.  In hindsight, I realize how much these strong women, who defied social convention, shaped my views of what it is to be a woman and a mother.  I attended private school through high school.  After several formative (and nerve-racking for my mother I'm sure) years following high school, I returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health from Lesley College in Cambridge.  My professional life has included work as a psychotherapist in an inner-city community health center in Boston working with clients struggling with trauma and addiction, teaching and supervising graduate Counseling Psychology students as well as maintaining a small private psychotherapy practice in Cambridge.  Currently, my most important job is being a mother to my son Aymon and my daughter Vivi.  I have had the good fortune of being married for the past 19 years to the sweetest and funniest man I know.  I love to read, garden and knit, depending on the season and my mood.  I have a long-standing interest in Eastern thought and philosophy, particularly Buddhism.  I am so grateful to have found UUCR and the wonderful people here.  I look forward to raising my children in such a welcoming, caring and socially conscious community. 

STEPHEN LANGLOIS

I was born in New York State and grew up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as the 4th child in a family of 5 children.  We were regular Catholic Church attendees until my early teen years.  After a brief stint in the United States Air Force Academy I moved to Boston in 1981 to attend Boston College where I graduated with a BA in Mathematics.  I met my wife Leslie while working in Newton MA.  Our first date was a Red Sox game in the bleachers in 1986.  We have lived in Brighton, Arlington, Medford, Wakefield and most recently Reading.  We found the Reading community in general and the UUCR in particular to be most welcoming and are here to stay.  I have worked at a Boston based Insurance company for the last twenty years, most recently in the actuarial field.

SUE AND MIKE WONDOLOWSKI

We met at Bentley College, and got married in November of 2007.  After moving to Reading in April of 2008, we began attending church shortly thereafter.  Currently, our son Michael is 9 months old, and we are expecting our second child in early December of this year.