Director of Religious Education

Dianne received her Bachelor's Degree in early childhood education from Framingham State College and her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College. She has worked with children and their families for over 20 years in various settings.

Dianne and her family have been members of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Milford since 2004. Dianne and her husband were looking for a warm, welcoming community in which to raise their children. They found that community here. She became active in the Religious Education  program as a Friendship Club teacher.

Dianne became the Director of Religious Education at our church in January 2006. She has continued her education by participating in ongoing religious education trainings, meetings and conferences. Dianne says, "Like all Unitarian Universalists, I am continually learning, re-evaluating and evolving my spirituality, my faith and my philosophy.  The children and the families in our program are the biggest source of energy to help me on my spiritual path."

Therese came to us from an extensive accounting and office management background.  Laid off after more than twenty years of office work, Therese chose to take the opportunity to return to school, something she was unable to do as a single working mother.  She is currently working on her Bachelor’s Degree and hopes to graduate in 2011.  Now a grandmother, Therese has been a Unitarian Universalist since 2003, speaking from the pulpit when the opportunity presents itself, volunteering when time permits, and actively participating in the Prison Ministry. 

 “Walking into a UU church for the first time, I knew that I’d found a place to explore who I was from a spiritual perspective. Until that point in my life, I had felt spiritually ‘homeless’. I knew only what I didn’t believe.  Being a UU has helped me to focus on what I do believe and, in the process, has encouraged me to be who I am, only better.”

Steve, a Milford native, has been a life-long member of the church.  He is proud of the fact that both his father and sister's father-in-law both worked as previous sextons. 

Along with the Building and Grounds Committee, Steve has the full responsibility for the oversight of the facilities, which includes the sanctuary, two social halls, two sitting rooms, classrooms and a nursery—all on three levels of quite a large complex with a front and side garden as well as a parking lot.  Steve has been instrumental in the many improvements of the facility which, include the recent addition of a lift for handicap accessibility, the creation of additional classrooms, a youth room, two sitting rooms, as well as the facilitation of the needed ceiling repair in two areas of the church.

In addition to those responsibilities, Steve is in charge of the rental use of the building.  He has been quite successful with this pursuit; we now rent rooms and social halls to four AA groups, a Women's Center for Wellness, Girl Scouts, Crossroads Coalition, and several other community and school organizations at various times of the year.

Steve says he really likes the job and all the challenges it offers.  Even though he says he likes "being his own boss," the truth of the matter is that he knows full well that he has many bosses here in the church!