The Rev. Rali M. Weaver

Biography

Rev. Rali Weaver has served the First Church and Parish in Dedham since August 1, 2007.

Prior to accepting the call as our minister, Rali served as the Assistant Minister at King's Chapel in Boston from 2005-2007 and Parish Ministry intern and then interim Director of Religions Education at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco from 2003-2005

Rali graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in May of 1987 with a degree in Special Education and was a teacher for children with Emotional and Behavioral impairments serving in both public and private -not for profit schools in Maine and North Carolina from 1987 until attending Bangor Theological Seminary from 2000 until 2003.

Rali grew up in towns from Birmingham, Alabama to South Salem, New York.  Her parents instilled in her a love of church and a deep desire to serve the community.

Rali believes that the purpose of religious community is to provide us each with witnesses for our life's journey and that at their best churches can be counter cultural institutions that provide a healthy balance to an imbalanced world.

If you have a pastoral concern or would simply like to get to know our minister better please proceed to the contact page.  

Words of Welcome

From our Minister 

It is difficult to find adequate words to welcome you to our website.  Please don't get me wrong- I am glad you are here. It is only that I find computer screens one dimensional and impersonal because I am much more accustomed to interacting with people face to face.

I think about how much time is spent in front of a computer screen or television screen or listening to the radio or watching movies and what that does to our brains and how it has effected the quality of our lives.

I promise I am not chastising you for sitting in front of a computer screen. I write my sermons on a computer, I spend a great deal of time responding to email, and I am sitting in front of my computer screen right now -- writing this.

I am simply curious about how this relatively new fangled electronic interaction effects our brains and am convinced that setting aside time for individual peaceful reflection and gathering together in communal worship each week is more important than ever.

At First Church and Parish in Dedham we gather each week on Sunday mornings from September until June for a time of thoughtful reflection and praise of life. As Unitarian Universalists our worship resembles a protestant service in form but we read from a variety of religious and secular texts.  As the preacher I am offered a free pulpit to share my individual truths and listeners are offered a free pew to listen using their own reason and experience to find their own truths.

If you haven't already, I hope you will join us on Sunday for worship. 

If this computer screen is as close as you can get to worship with us I hope that you will find the sermons you read here to be food for your spirit and in the wayside pulpit (blog) inspiration for your soul.

I welcome all of your thoughts and questions and wish you strength for your journey and joy in your heart.

Many blessings to you,

                               Rev.  Rali Weaver