First Parish Church is the site where I pursued my exploration of ministry. First Parish is
located right in Harvard Square, the busiest part of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is a Unitarian
Universalist Church that draws people from a number of diverse backgrounds. For six weeks, I
served as the Summer Assistant, working closely with Rev. Fred Small to help lead worship services
and provide administrative support –– all while cultivating a broader understanding of ministry
service. This gave me the unique opportunity to develop personal and professional ties within a
vibrant congregation. I will assist the worship team in planning and leading Sunday service. My
internship included shadowing opportunities. Shadowing Rev. Small exposed me to the roles
ministers are expected to fulfill in their service to others, and gave me a intimate glimpse into the
day-to-day workings of Parish ministry. My responsibilities also included assisting in the local food
pantry, which serves meals and provides services to over on hundred homeless men and women in
the Cambridge area. For a portion of my internship, I also had the opportunity to outreach to a
prison inmate, and briefly became involved in community-organizing projects – working the
immigrant task force sponsored by First Parish. In the end, this site was well suited for my
discernment, since it provided a place for honest sharing, questioning, and spiritual reflection.