First Parish marks installation of new minister on March 6

The First Parish Church of Lincoln (FPL) will formally welcome the latest minister in its history of more than 250 years with the installation of Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti as FPL’s new Senior Minister on Sunday, March 6 at 3 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 4 Bedford Rd.

In this time-honored tradition, the installation ceremony honors the understandings that will guide the congregation’s new ministry. “According to the installation ritual, the minister and the congregation honor the path they have chosen to walk together publicly, acknowledging in ceremony and in celebration the values and understandings that will guide the ministry they now share,” says Mishra-Marzetti. “I am looking forward to the events of this Sunday.”

The church’s parishioners anticipate a new chapter with Mishra-Marzetti at the helm. “These are exciting times,” said Peter Pease, chairman of FPL’s Parish Committee. “Rev. Manish has so many skills and interests, and so many paths and bridges to the universe of people and religious expression. He will continue our tradition of engagement in the important issues of our time. We had 18 wonderful years with Rev. Roger Paine that enrich us still, and our new era is off to such a promising start.”

Mishra-Marzetti has preached at First Parish since September 2015, succeeding Paine. He came to Lincoln after serving a decade in congregational ministries, including churches in New Jersey and Florida. Following graduation from Harvard Divinity School in 2005, Mishra-Marzetti was ordained a Unitarian-Universalist minister.

Mishra-Marzetti’s early years in Pittsburgh introduced him to many religious beliefs, setting the stage for his future career. He was, in his words, “raised Hindu, in a Jewish neighborhood, in a predominately Christian country—religious pluralism and cultural bridge-building are inherent to who I am.”

Following college at Georgetown University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the School of Foreign Service, Manish entered the U.S. Diplomatic Corps. Serving in Oman, Finland, Switzerland and Washington, D.C., he acquired a deep understanding and appreciation of cultures shaped by Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.

First Parish’s Sunday morning service at 10 a.m. will be led by the Rev. Ken Beldon, Lead Minister of the Wellsprings Congregation located in the metro Philadelphia area. Following the 3 p.m. installation ceremony, there will be a reception in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.). All are welcome.

First Parish of Lincoln was officially formed in 1942 by the union of the then-existing Congregational and Unitarian-Universalist churches. Today it is an open and welcoming community church, comprising more than 30 distinct theologies and spiritualities. Services each Sunday are at 10 a.m., with Sunday School and childcare offered concurrently. Information about the church, as well as audio files of Rev. Manish’s sermons, may be found at FirstParishInLincoln.org.