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Senior Minister
Rev. Roger Paine came to The First Parish in September, 1996. He is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, and before coming to Lincoln served parishes in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Austin, Texas. He spent 12 years working as a counselor for families and youth, and is the author of a book for parents of teenagers, published in 1975, which was a Book of the Month Club selection. He has also directed a non-profit primary care medical clinic and a holistic adult education center in Cambridge. Roger was ordained in the United Church of Christ, and has also served as president of Mass Bay chapter of the Unitarian-Universalist Minister’s Association.
“Roger represents the openness of First Parish while still challenging us to be our better selves. His intelligence, warmth and sense of humor show in every sermon and prayer.”
Associate Minister
Claire grew up in Maryland just outside of Washington, D.C. As a three-year-old, she told her interfaith parents that she wanted to go to Sunday School.They found a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation and she’s been a UU ever since.
After graduation from Swarthmore College, she attended Harvard Divinity School. During her years in divinity school, Claire did a chaplaincy internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and was a ministerial intern at the Unitarian Church in Summit, NJ. She also was twice a finalist for the HDS Billings preaching prize.
Claire was called to First Parish in Lincoln in 2006. She loves the spiritual depth and breadth of the church and feels blessed to serve such a friendly, thoughtful, and engaged congregation.
Claire serves the wider UU movement as the treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay District UU Minister’s Association, and a member of the board of directors of the UU Urban Ministry of Roxbury, MA.
Claire and her husband Ben live in Medford with their baby girl, Jory.
“Say things about Claire which will get the point across that she’s among the best: gracious, compassionate, intelligent, humorous, poised. Just leave a little doubt in their minds so nobody is tempted to steal her. “
Director of Religious Education
Ruth is new to First Parish in Lincoln but not to religious education. She previously served U.U. congregations in Ridgewood, N.J. and downtown Boston. Ruth first became involved in religious education because of her then young sons’ fascination with the sand table in the RE classroom at her first congregation. That led to volunteer teaching, committee work and eventually to Meadville Lombard Theological School and a career in religious education.
She lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband Pete and their very spoiled dog. She enjoys reading, knitting, and walks in the woods with her dog. She considers her devotion to the Boston Red Sox to be a part of her personal spiritual practice.
Administrator
 Gert McDermott grew up in Newtonville, the eldest child of Italian immigrants. After high school she settled down with her husband to raise a son, and took a job with Seaside Associates, a non-profit organization in Weston. She remained there for 11 years, assuming the role of Office Manager as the organization grew. During that time she earned an Office Management Certificate from Mt. Ida College.
After leaving Seaside, Gert spent three years with a business in Concord before returning to the non-profit world by joining the staff of The First Parish in October 1997. She enjoys serving the church community, and when she’s in the office, her door is always open to visitors.
As a member of the local chapter of the Association of UU Administrators, Gert has served as a co-chair and is currently the treasurer.
Gert and her husband live in the Nashoba Valley, and their son lives nearby. She spends part of each summer touring the nation on her motorcycle, and enjoys reading, baking bread, and doing home repairs and renovations.
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