First Parish Church Staff

The Rev. Mary E. Baard officially became Senior Minister on May 10, 2009. A Maine native, Mary grew up in Waldoboro and attended the University of Southern Maine. After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1983, Mary served churches in New Jersey, California, and Arizona.

Mary is married to The Rev. Dr. Ron Baard who is Imes-Lowry Professor of Pastoral Studies at Bangor Theological Seminary. Mary and Ron have two adult 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. In 2007, 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, Spain, France and Ecuador. He has performed concerts at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the National Cathedral in Washington DC, the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia and The Spreckles Organ Society in San Diego. 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 of 2000 as Office Administrator and is a member of First Parish Church. Jane is a bell-ringer, playing with our Parish Ringers. Jane is responsible for compiling and publishing the weekly newsletter, "The Pilgrims' 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, the Christian Ed Director and the Minister of Music!

Jane and her husband Frank, live in Bowdoinham. They have two grown children. A son, Miles and his wife, Dina, live in Newport, Rhode Island. They have one son, Jadon, who was born in 2006. Their daughter, Abbie, and her husband, George, live in Brunswick. George is the father, and Abbie the step-mom, to three boys, 18, 16 and 11.

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, Accompanist

Pam Lambert, Collector: fpcaccounting@firstparish.net