Who We Are

Rev. Elizabeth “EB” Bukey Saunter

Rev. EB joined the UU church in Jamaica Plain as its minister in August 2017. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Rev. EB has a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and is in full fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Ministerial Fellowship Committee. She is from Seattle originally, but joined First Church from San Diego, CA where she served Chalice UU Congregation.

Rev. EB is a proud lesbian, and lives in Malden with her wife, her rambunctious rescue dog, Lyuba, and two brave cats, Doppler and Houdini. She is sustained by prayer, singing, and plenty of chocolate.

Rev. EB works Tuesday-Friday and on Sunday.

Andrei B.

Andrei is excited to be Music Director here in Jamaica Plain and loves the First Church choir community. As a pianist, Andrei has performed internationally as soloist and chamber musician. Notable venues include Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall and the Caramoor Festival. Currently living in Providence, RI, he performs regularly with members of Community Music Works. Recent collaborations have included programs with the Newport, RI dance group Island Moving Company. He teaches locally at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School and in West Roxbury, MA.

Helene M.

Helene is our Office & Facilities Administrator. She takes care of many aspects of keeping the church running, including issues related to the building and rentals.

Rev. Marshall Hawkins

Marshall is our Affiliated Community Minister. He is also a community minister who works as a hospice chaplain. He came to this congregation as a ministerial intern in 2001 and never left! The congregation ordained Marshall in 2003, and voted to endorse his ministry and accept his affiliation. Marshall works as a hospice chaplain. Marshall often provides ministerial coverage for the congregation when Rev. EB is away and loves to work on spiritual deepening and retreats.

Ellen M.

Ellen was Music Director and organist at this congregation from 1979 to 2019. She joined the church in 1980, and was church clerk for ten years, and a member of the Standing Committee. The music program changed a lot during that period, like the Church itself. “When I started, we had a paid soloist but no choir, only one committee, no minister, and the average Sunday attendance was 18,” she reports. “The services were mostly led by students at Harvard Divinity School who were interns at First and Second Church (now First Church) in Back Bay. We heard a lot of first sermons.”

In forty years, Ellen joined many volunteers to create the Adult Choir, the Fellowship Dinner, the Christmas Pageant, Lenten Musical Meditations, Medieval Feasts, and the Children’s Choirs. “Making music with talented amateurs is a great pleasure. And where else but in religious settings do most people regularly have the opportunity to hear the magic of live music?” Substantial work also was done on the historic E. & G.G. Hook organ (1854).

Ellen holds an M.Mus. in Organ Performance from New England Conservatory of Music, and an A.B. in Music from Smith College. She is the widow of Rev. Terry Burke, minister of First Church for 31 years; their three daughters grew up in the church. Her current interests include spinning, weaving, and natural dyes, as well as researching the membership of this congregation in 1858.

Benjamin G.

Benjamin joined First Church’s staff in summer of 2025. Originally from Milwaukee, Benjamin moved to Boston in 2019 when he and his wife began pursuing PhDs in History. The Family Life Coordinator plans Our Whole Lives (a lifespan sexuality education program), organizes educational and fun events for families, interfaces directly with the minister to address the needs of the congregation’s families, and advocates with church committees to grow family life in the community. Outside of work, Benjamin enjoys biking around Boston, encouraging his plants to grow, and cooking with an utter disregard for measuring spices.