Parish Minister

Reverend Claire Feingold Thoryn (781-862-3805 x1002, minister@follen.org)

Reverend Claire Feingold Thoryn (she/her) has been serving Follen since September 2013.

Rev. Claire was raised Unitarian Universalist and grew up in the Washington, DC area. She studied religion at Swarthmore College and received a Masters of Divinity from Harvard in 2006. Before coming to Follen, she served First Parish in Lincoln, MA. She lives in Lexington with her husband and 2 daughters.

Rev. Claire is available for pastoral appointments on Wednesdays and Thursdays, usually a few weeks out from the request. Mondays are reserved for staff supervision and worship planning, Fridays are reserved for sermon writing, and Tuesday is her day off. Email her directly to make an appointment.

Congregational Administrator

Angel P.  (781-862-3805, x1005, admin@follen.org)

Music Director

Chris E. (781-862-3805, musicdirector@follen.org)

Chris (he/him) is a classically trained composer, choral director, and intergenerational music inspirer. He has been commissioned to write original works for ballet companies, theatre companies, choruses, orchestras, universities, and more. Working at the intersection of folk, contemporary, classical, and popular idioms, his music has won an international composers’ competition and been performed to acclaim from New York’s Carnegie Hall to the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Chris wrote the orchestrations for the evening-length touring show Piano Men–The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John, which became the highest-selling Pops show in Portland Symphony history and has played to sold-out audiences with professional orchestras around the country since 2011.

As a choral director and educator, he enjoys working with people of all ages. He is also the artistic director of the Family Folk Chorale for the past 23 years, has written over 600 choral arrangements, and collaborated on performances with Grammy-award–winner John Carter Cash, saxophonist Glenn DaCosta (of Bob Marley and the Wailers), Martin Sexton, Rani Arbo, and many other recording artists. Chris considers himself a musical omnivore and loves conducting music ranging from Palestrina to the present.

Chris lives in the NW corner of Arlington with his spouse Jane, their son Quinn, and 3 cats: George, Maple, and Mr. Floof.

Director of Community Engagement

Meagan C.  (781-862-3805, x1001, DCE@follen.org)

Meagan (she/her) is a third-generation Unitarian Universalist who grew up in Alabama. Her grandparents were founding members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Huntsville, Alabama in the 1950s. Before joining the Follen staff team in September 2021, Meagan worked in various roles within the government and nonprofit sectors. The common thread in all of her roles over the years has been supporting children, youth, families, and communities in reaching their full potential through creative programming and impactful services. Meagan holds a BA in Human Services and an MS in Nonprofit Management. If Meagan’s friends and family were asked to describe her, they would say that she has a logistical mind and a creative spirit. She enjoys creating and analyzing spreadsheets and Google forms as much as designing an event flyer in Canva and decorating for a community event. Meagan loves good BBQ and Krispy Kreme donuts and has been known to drive 2 hours for both. If you were to check Meagan’s DVR you would find a combination of movies from the 80s and 90s and reality TV—it’s her guilty pleasure.

Assistant Music Director

Shaylor L.  (musiccoordinator@follen.org)

Shaylor (she/her) has been the Adult Choir accompanist for over 15 years and more recently has been Follen’s Music Coordinator and choir director. She brings all of that experience to her role as Assistant Music Director. Outside of Follen, Shaylor teaches piano at her home studio in Lexington and at the Waring School in Beverly, where since 1981 she has also conducted a high school–age Madrigal group, coached chamber ensembles, taught music theory and appreciation, and helped organize school curriculum and performances. When she’s not teaching or making music at Follen, you may find Shaylor singing with the Concord Chorus or participating with the Lexington Music Club.

Children’s Program Manager

Jody GL (jodyre@follen.org)

Jody (she/her) is honored to return to Follen as the children’s program manager. She previously served for 5 years as the early childhood coordinator and is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. As the parent of 4 children raised in Follen’s religious education program, Jody brings a deep love for this community and a passion for nurturing inclusive, joyful spaces where children can grow in spirit and connection. She looks forward to working with families, volunteers, and staff to support the faith journeys of our youngest members.

Communications & Data Coordinator

Bethany R.  (communications@follen.org)

Bethany (she/her) grew up in Massachusetts, but it took her a 3-year stint in the Midwest to become UU. She is excited to bring her 2+ decades of marketing and communications experience to Follen. With a strong preference for nonprofits and service-oriented work, she finds working for a church to be a perfect fit.

Bethany lives in Arlington with her taller half, no pets, no kids, and lots of chocolate and books.

Ministerial Intern/Youth Program Coordinator

Sam M. (intern@follen.org)

Sam holds a BA in Religious and Theological Studies from Merrimack College and a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. She recently moved back to Massachusetts from Maine after working as the program coordinator for the Multifaith Chaplaincy office at Bates College and as a religious educator for the First Universalist Church of Auburn.

Sam is passionate about Unitarian Universalism, spiritual formation, religious literacy, and uplifting the narratives/stories of others. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she can often be found spending time with her dog or partaking in nature photography.

Minister Emerita

Rev. Lucinda Duncan

The Reverend Lucinda Duncan (she/her) was Follen’s Senior Minister for 18 happy years, 1993–2011.

She graduated from Lawrence University with a major in third-world political science, served as a Peace Corps volunteer with her husband Bob in Honduras, raised 3 sons, and served UU congregations in Concord, Jamaica Plain, and Cambridge. She earned a Masters in Religious Education from Meadville Lombard and her Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. She now lives in Colorado near family.