Our new Minister of Faith Formation
In June of 2022 the UPA Board of Education began a search for a new Director of Religious Education. During this process we wondered if it might be more fitting to UPA’s vision to find an ordained minister to fill this role opening the position to the possibilities of pastoral guidance and care for all members of UPA regardless of age.
And then we met Matt! (Full disclosure, Matt and I worked together for two-plus years in several ministerial capacities. When I saw that he was again considering church pastoral leadership I reached out.)
Here’s a little about Matt:
Rev. Matt Carriker is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor serving a new UCC church in Waltham called Agape Spiritual Community, http://www.agapewaltham.org. Matt finds joy in leading mindfulness and contemplative practices opportunities in the Waltham community and in the church at large. Through the SNEUCC, Matt co-facilitates confirmation, youth retreats, and adult spiritual formation retreats. The title of his newly released book is “Giving Christianity back to Agape Love.” More info about Matt, his book and meditation work can be found here: https://www.achristianyogi.com/
Matt’s first day with us in the office will be January 24th. If you’re around you’re welcome to pop in that morning to say hi and introduce yourself.