First Parish Church Staff

The Rev. Mary E. Baard Mary is an experienced pastor most recently serving for the past four years as co-pastor of the Shepherd of the Hills Church (UCC) in Phoenix, Arizona. She served as Associate Pastor of this congregation for eight years prior to this and also as the Minister of Education for two additional years.

Mary is a native of Maine (Waldoboro). She has been very active in the UCC since receiving her Master of Divinity in 1983 from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is married to Ron Baard who is currently serving as Associate Professor of Mentored Practice at the Bangor Theological Seminary. Mary and Ron have two daughters, Lauren and Karin.

Mary can be reached by email at mbaard@firstparish.net.

Ray Cornils began serving First Parish Church as its Director of Music in 1987. Recently, the church celebrated Ray's 20th anniversary and changed Ray's title to Minister of Music. He directs and oversees the church's extensive music program of five vocal and two handbell choirs and its more than 150 participants. In 1990, Ray was appointed the tenth Municipal Organist for the City of Portland and plays the Kotzschmar Organ . He is also a member of the music faculties of Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine.

Ray received his Bachelor of Music degree at Oberlin Conservatory and his Master of Music degree at the New England Conservatory. He has done additional organ study with Dame Gillian Weir.

Ray has concertized throughout the United States and in Germany, Russia, New Zealand and France. He has performed concerts at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and the National Cathedral in Washington DC. He has been a featured recitalist for conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. He appears frequently as soloist with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He also performs regularly with Musica Tricinia, a group of two trumpets and organ.

Email for Ray can be sent to rcornils@firstparish.net.

Susan Fitzgerald, our Director of Christian Education, has been on staff since August 1998. Her ministry with children and families focuses on celebrating the spirit of awe and wonder.

Over the past twenty years, she has been a church school teacher and superintendent here at First Parish. From 1995-1998, she served St. Paul's Episcopal Church as Education Director. Her ecumenical perspective has spawned cooperative, multi-church children's activities including raising $5000 for a Heifer Project ark.

She holds a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of Montana and she also is a graduate of the two year Maine Conference UCC program, "A Community of Christian Teachers". Susan is one of Maine's "PIE"s - Partners in Education, providing workshops and consultations on Christian Education issues to churches in the Maine Conference, UCC.

Susan and her husband, John have two college aged children who are "away" and their beagle, Daisy, who is very present.

Susan can be reached by email at sfitzgerald@firstparish.net.

Jane Connors joined the staff in June, 2000 as Executive Secretary and is a member of First Parish Church. Jane is a bellringer, playing with our Parish Ringers. Jane is responsible for compiling and publishing the weekly newsletter, "The Pilgrim's Progress". She also schedules the use of FPC facilities, compiles minutes from boards and committees, provides publicity to local media, coordinates the volunteers who staff the phones and assemble mailings, and tries to keep track of our two pastors, and the C.E. and Music directors.

Jane and her husband, Frank, are in high demand throughout the spring, summer, and fall catering one of the best "we-bring-it-to-you" lobster bakes in MidCoast Maine. They have two grown children: a son, Miles and his wife, Dina, who live in Rhode Island, and a daughter, Abbie, currently working on an advanced degree in social services.

Email messages to Jane can be sent to jconnors@firstparish.net.

Homer B. Kenison came to First Parish Church in 1989 along with his wife, Prisca. Shortly thereafter, he assumed the position of part time bookkeeper on a volunteer basis and served in that capacity for about ten years.

In 2000, he became Business Administrator retaining his duties in the accounting area along with taking on responsibility for maintenance of Church facilities and personnel administration. Most recently he has shared responsibility as Owners Representative in connection with the Landmark Restoration Project.

Homer is a graduate of University of Nebraska with a degree in Business Administration, holds a CPA certificate from the State of Nebraska, and is retired from a 30 year career in financial management working for General Electric and the Pratt & Whitney Group of United Technologies. He also served six years in the United States Air Force as jet fighter pilot.

Homer can be reached via email at hkenison@firstparish.net.

Additional Staff Members

Karen Leland, Chapel Ringers Director

Carol Elowe, Junior/Cherub Choir accompanist

Jack Bauman, Treasurer

Carol Doele, Collector: fpcaccounting@firstparish.net

Robert Rowe, Custodian