Rev. Laurel Gray, Minister

Rev. Laurel is a lifelong UU and has experienced lots of different UU congregations both growing up, and as a minister. She did her ministerial internship at First Parish in Concord, spent five years as the Solo Minister in Westborough, MA, and most recently served as the Assistant Minister for two years in Newburyport, MA. She has a degree in sociology from Middlebury College and a master’s in divinity from Yale.

Before ministry, she lived and worked in San Francisco, CA in the wedding industry, overseeing showroom operations for a national linen rental company that specialized in sequin tablecloths. She had a brief stint working for a costume study in New York City and in the editorial crafts department at Martha Stewart magazine.

Now her creative practices are things she does for her own spirit, not for work – she always has a knitting project on hand and sews the majority of her clothes. She also loves to read and run and spend time with her silly and very opinionated goldendoodle, Henry.

Ayanna Hines, Executive Director

Ayanna Hines is an experienced non-profit leader who has worked for mission-driven organizations anchored in health-related social needs (HRSN) and/or focused on individual and professional development. Non-profit sectors in which she’s worked include athletics, community and economic development, education (K – 12 and higher education), faith-based, housing (affordable and homelessness) criminal justice and workforce/youth development. Harvard University, Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC), the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Myrtle Baptist Church have been among her professional homes.

An engaged community member, she aligns her interests to serve the greater good. Most recently, she served as President of the MPDC Board of Directors of which she was a member for 10 years. She is a member of the Physical Education/Physical Activity Subcommittee of the Boston Public Schools District Wellness Council. Ayanna is most proud to have founded O.M.E.G.A. (Organization for Minority Enrichment Growth and Advancement), the first affinity group at Thayer Academy.

A graduate of Howard University, she was born in Greenville, MS and reared in Roxbury, MA. She is a wellness content creator and a creative at heart who enjoys color, working with paper (especially gift wrapping), interior styling and making artisanal cranberry sauce in 3 different flavors. Of the titles she’s held, Mom to her daughter is her most important and treasured.

Contact: [email protected]

Melissa Martin, Congregational Care & Connection Manager

Melissa Martin joined the UUCR staff in September 2013 and serves as our Congregational Care & Connection Manager. She works alongside our Membership Team to welcome visitors and new members, build meaningful connections within the congregation, and help people make UUCR their spiritual home. Melissa also coordinates congregational care, offering compassionate support to members through life’s joys, challenges, and transitions while fostering a caring and connected community. She previously served as our Member Services & Volunteer Coordinator, and her role has grown to include expanded congregational care and pastoral support.

Melissa holds a variety of professional certifications in different areas, including as a Life-Cycle Celebrant, Grief Educator, Conscious Dying Coach, Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula, Sacred Death Care Guide, and Reiki Master Teacher. She lives in Saugus, where she enjoys time spent with her husband, their five adult children, their partners, four grandchildren, and their Goldendoodle, Teddy!

Contact: [email protected]
Facebook: MelissaMartin UUReading

Dr. Bonnie Anderson, Music Director

Dr. Bonnie Anderson is thrilled to join the staff of UUCR as Music Director/Pianist. Bonnie has a multi-faceted career as church musician, pianist, flutist, and teacher. She is principal pianist of the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra and flutist in the Metropolitan Flute Festival Orchestra. Bonnie is an Adjunct Instructor of Music at Phillips Andover Academy. Bonnie loves sharing her passion for music with people of all ages. If you love to sing or play an instrument, please join us for rehearsals on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings and share your music with the UUCR community. An avid indo-rower and certified yoga instructor, she lives on the North Shore with her husband, two teenage daughters, and two golden retrievers. www.bonnieandersonpiano.com

Contact: [email protected]

Kerri Sullivan, Communications & Operations Associate and Religious Exploration Coordinator

Kerri Sullivan joined the UUCR staff in August 2025 and serves as our Communications & Operations Associate and Religious Exploration Coordinator. She coordinates communications, supports church operations and staff, and manages short- and long-term rentals of UUCR’s spaces.

As a Unitarian Universalist herself, Kerri is passionate about the welcoming spirit and values of the UU faith and brings that passion into her everyday work at UUCR. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and enjoys putting her creativity, organization, and love of community into practice.

She lives in Lowell with her husband, their four energetic boys, and their four cats. In her free time, Kerri loves swimming, singing along to Broadway musicals, reading, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Contact: [email protected] | [email protected]

Melanie Hoggard-Perley, Bookkeeper

Contact: [email protected]