Ernie says that he knew he wanted to be a pastor since he was a teenager. But, being from a military family, he decided to join the Air Force first. While serving in Spain, he met the woman who would become his wife, Joan Peters. They married in 1980. They now boast of 3 sons, all of whom served in the military, and 6 grandchildren (the 6th one born while Ernie and Joan were moving into the parsonage in Lunenburg). Ernie's military career spanned 3 decades. Joan served 4 years as a Medical Service Specialist. Joan works as a seamstress, does a variety of crafts, and is active in the community in many ways. Ernie graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a degree in psychology then moved on to the United Theological Seminary. He received his M. Div. in 1991.He has pastored multiple churches in Maine and Massachusetts. He also served as a Navy Reserve Chaplain serving assignments with the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, retiring in 2016. As a pastor, Ernie states his vision is to "get to know the church and its community so that I may effectively seek and make disciples of Christ. This means caring for people where they are and helping them walk toward whatever it is God wants them to be." He is interested in how people express the presence of God differently. "Celebrating our diversity is important," he says, "God created us to be unique."
The Lay Pastors
The Lay Pastor shares in providing pastoral care.
We currently only have one Lay Pastor, Ellen Gale but that could change at any time. Ellen is also our Parish Nurse.
Additional Staff Members
Jo Tree Keyboards
Fred Longenecker Treasurer
Nancy Weber Financial Secretary
Maureen Dupuis Custodian
Sharon Kimball Director of Music Ministry
With a very recent exception of 3 years away, Sharon is a life-long member of UPL. She was raised in its Church School, Junior Choir (by Leonard Gaskins) and Senior Choir (by Donald Adams). Sharon taught foreign languages (French, Spanish & Latin) for 37 years but her true avocation was always choral music. She has returned to the position of DMM, previously having led the choir and junior choirs, and occasionally sacred dance, from 2008-2015. Sharon has previously served as member most UPL committees and on COM, she taught church school and was a longtime Lay Pastor. Even so, she feels a need to reconnect and learn the new direction and pulse of UPL so that she may help make music an integral tool in its mission and vision. At present, UPL has a “no-fault” (come when you are able), no-audition Senior Choir which meets Wednesday evenings at 7:00 for weekly rehearsal and whose purpose is to enhance the worship services at UPL, bringing glory and praise to God through its offerings. Sharon finds music integral to her faith journey as a way to study scripture, express prayer, meditate and center, and be challenged to grow, question, affirm and accept the unknown. Sharon lives in Lunenburg with her husband, Charlie, and extended family. When not at UPL or with grandchildren, she can be found working at Cherry Hill Farm. This year, Sharon will attend “Spirit of Wonder”, a week of Music and Worship Arts at Lake Junaluska, NC. It is presented by the Fellowship of UMC in Music and Worship Arts and serves as both education and inspiration for worship leaders.
After Tai Chi class
Meg Smith, Office Manager and Nursery Attendant Meg has been with UPL since 2000 when she became our Nursery Attendant. Three years later she took on the Office Manager position. From 2009, to 2015, she also served as custodian too. In 2015, the Office Manager Position took a reduction in hours (-10). Meg took on a position outside of UPL and the office hours shifted to accommodate. In 2018 UPL found itself in need of a bookkeeper. It was agreed to increase Meg's office hours (+5) so she could take on these duties. A real "Jill-of-all-trades." 2020 brought changes of all kinds. For Meg it meant losing her morning job (not UPL) and needing to find another position. She landed in the Wachusett Regional School District as a Paraprofessional. (teacher's aide). She reports that working with children again brings her joy and having a job that offers benefits lifts a large financial weight off her shoulders. She thanks UPL for being so flexible in her schedule to allow all the changes. Meg lives in Fitchburg with her husband Hal and is the mother of three and grandmother of one. She volunteers with the Taoist Tai Chi Society as a session leader (instructor) in Westford.