Mary's previous sermons and her monthly writing for the Newsletter, entitled Mary's Musings, are available by clicking here. More of Mary’s writings are available at her local blog at http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/unitarian_universalist_voice/default.aspx or her personal blog at http://alargerfaith.blogspot.com About Mary   Mary has been Parish Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester since 2001.  She has settled comfortably into life in Manchester and the life of the Unitarian Universalist community in Northern New England.  The congregation is thriving with her as minister, deepening and broadening their ministry among themselves and in the world. Sunday attendance has increased; the program of Thursday night Adult Enrichment flourishes; a sense of warmth pervades congregational activities.     Mary represents our church in the larger Unitarian Universalist community.  Her book of poetic meditations, Admire the Moon, was published by Skinner House in 2005.  She has contributed to three other collections, For All That Is Our Life, Bless This Child, and How We Are Called. She and a colleague, Rev. Dr. Tess Baumberger, have led workshops at the General Assembly of Unitarian Universalists on using poetry in worship. She has been an officer of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers' Association chapter for New Hampshire and Vermont, serving as Vice President and Program Chair from 2002 to 2004, then as President from 2004 to 2006.  She serves on the Steering Committee for New Hampshire Faithful Democracy, an organization devoted to increasing effectiveness of issue advocacy by Unitarian Universalist congregations in New Hampshire by coordinating efforts among congregations.   Mary is single and has three grown children: her son Michael McNally, and nephews Robert Wellemeyer and Benjamin Wellemeyer, whom she raised following the deaths of her brother and his wife.  She enjoys good conversation, reading and study, and outdoor activities including camping and alpine skiing.  Her spiritual disciplines include Yoga and meditation.    For a more complete resume, click here. Some Statements From Mary On Theology: "I take an empirical approach to matters of ultimate meaning.  My experience has led me to a kind of mystical humanism.  That is, I have confidence that there is a source of meaning that lies beyond the reach of ordinary reason and emotion, accessible to some extent by human faculties.  Maybe the something beyond is essentially human, and maybe it would be appropriate to call it divine. I doubt that any of us can really know 'the truth', because I believe that all religious belief and practice are deeply enmeshed in culture.  We are all like the blind people trying to describe the elephant, feeling different parts and coming to different conclusions.  We need one another in order to get closer to knowing the elephant."  On Religious Education: "Really, that's what the whole thing is about. Each of us has a unique way of relating to questions of ultimate meaning, and each of us has a unique path to religious understanding. What church is about is providing opportunities to explore and grow, that is, opportunities for religious education. From sermon to committee meeting to discussion group, whether it's labeled 'Religious Education Class' or not, it's all about moving along your own path, coming to an ever deeper understanding of the meaning of life, developing an ever clearer focus on what makes a good life for you." On Children's Church: "We have two congregations that meet here on Sunday mornings. One gets together in the sanctuary for adult worship; the other meets either in Children's Chapel or in Circle Rooms for Sunday services appropriate for different ages. We are all worshipping, and we are all learning."  On Pastoral Ministry: "It has always been important for me to be a listening friend, someone who can be there to hear the trouble that is fresh and unresolved."  On Leadership: "Mine is a leadership of gathering people, energy, and commitments to achieve common ends.  Generally this involves listening and watching to observe where and what the energies are, reflecting on the possibilities, and forming a vision of the potential for acting together.  I am skilled in asking questions and leading group process toward evolving a common goal, although sometimes I find that it is my own vision that needs to be formed and expressed in order for things to begin to move."

Rev. Mary Wellemeyer Quote from Mary "Ministry is but the latest name for a constellation of activities that have occupied my life.  I have been a teacher, a parent, a community organizer, a worship leader in my past lives, and now I get to bring together many of the skills from doing all these in another important way of serving in the world.  I have been growing toward ministry for a long time, at first without knowing, then with resistance, and finally with acceptance and joy."