Reverend Abbey Tennis
Lead Minister
A life-long Unitarian Universalist from the Boston area, Rev. Abbey Tennis is passionate about vibrant, robustly spiritual, urban ministry in a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-generational setting. Her great loves in congregational ministry include worship leadership, collaborative leadership development, institutional anti-racism and anti-oppression work, and the building of resilient networks of pastoral care. A graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry, she was ordained at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC, where she served as Intern Minister. In 2015, Rev. Abbey completed service as the Interim Advancement Director at Starr King School for the Ministry, overseeing the seminary’s fundraising and Institutional Advancement work, and served as the Minister for Worship and Pastoral Care at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland in Oakland, California from 2015-2016. She is honored to currently serve as the settled minister at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
You can learn more about Rev. Abbey Tennis on her personal website: www.abbeytennis.com. You can email her at revabbey@philauu.org.
Rev. Alexandre da Silva Souto
Minister for Faith Formation
Rev. Alexandre da Silva Souto [they+brown+Latine] is a person of the “in-between space.” They are a soul+tender, intersectional justice advocate, interdisciplinary+artist, and liturgical curator in love with All That Is. Rev. Alexandre is a non-binary immigrant of color. Earlier in their ministry, Rev helped to lead the formation of the United Methodist Queer Clergy Caucus, UMForward, and LMX (Liberation Methodist Connexion). They have served Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalists, in California since August 2021, and have just begun partnering in the unfolding of the “Beloved Community” with the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia starting on August 2024.
You can reach Rev. Alexandre at revalex@phillyuu.org and/or schedule a meeting with them at calendly.com/revalex/time
You can learn more about Rev. Alexandre on their personal social media accounts: bio.site/revalexation
JOHN B HEDGES
Music Director
John B Hedges is a composer based in Philadelphia. He has written works for the concert hall, stage, film and digital media. As a musician and producer, he has recorded in pop, jazz and classical genres and his arrangements and orchestrations have been performed throughout the world. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and University of Pennsylvania and served as an assistant to Academy Award winning Tan Dun, as well as composers Oliver Knussen and George Tsontakis. He won awards from the Theodore Presser, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Independence Foundation and the Corporation of Yaddo and New Music USA and served as composer-in-residence of both Fort Worth and Richmond symphony orchestras. John B lives outside Philly where he homeschools his son, Bran, with his wife, visual artist Lynn Palewicz, a dog (Boo Boo) and a rabbit (Rose Tyler).
If you are interested in making music at First Unitarian Church – either in one of our choirs or as an instrumentalist, contact John B. Email him at musicdirector@philauu.org or call him at (215) 563-3960 x 111.
norman fouhy
Business Administrator
Email Norman at administrator@philauu.org or call him at (215) 563-3980 x 101.
Building Superintendent
Bill is a Philadelphia native, living in Point Breeze. He loves fixing things, organizing, and lending a helping hand. He also runs Music Family Hour, a weekend music class for babies and toddlers, and hosts music classes for the two preschools that run out of the church.
Email Bill at superintendent@philauu.org, or call him at (215) 563-3980 x 103.
LAUREN TROOP
Communications & Administrative Coordinator
Lauren brings her experience working in communications and fundraising at grassroots and non-profit organizations in Philadelphia over the past 10 years. She graduated from Temple University in 2016. Outside of work, she loves gardening, making art and building people power.
Email Lauren at communications@philauu.org or call her at (215)563-3980 x 102.
jonathan blount
Sexton
Jonathan was born in Philadelphia, PA. He began to pursue his artistic inclinations during high school. At first he sought to develop his creativity by becoming a pastry chef, but soon realized that he needed to change from cake to canvas. In 2006 his works were featured at a Philadelphia LGT/Pan exhibit at the Aphrodite Gallery in Queen Village, Philadelphia, and at the Liberty Bears’ LGBT art exhibition. When not painting, you may find him baking cakes – a whole art unto itself, and a big part of Jonathan’s family through his mom and grand mom. He has been working with the church for ten years. Orville (Lee) Gumm recommended Jonathan for the position. Lee was the head sexton at the time, and also his partner. Jonathan now lives with his current partner, Braheem.
Chris Boecher
Sexton
Jean Wiant
Spirit+Ed Teacher
Amara Malik
Spirit+Ed Teacher
Amara (she/they) is a childcare provider from Philadelphia. She runs an art and nature-based in-home childcare program in West Philly called Woodland Hill Kids. She is a visual artist with a focus on painting and mixed media collage and loves to read, cook, dance, travel, and listen to music from all over the world. Amara is also a 200-hour certified yoga teacher.
Visit woodlandhillkids.com for more information on her infant and toddler program!
Joy
Spirit+Ed Teacher
I am an artist and early childhood educator living in West Philadelphia. I fell in love with education a few years ago teaching brass music to trans youth in northern PA; since then I’ve taught as a preschool teacher and an independent childcare provider. My art practice takes many forms including mural work, printmaking, illustration, and animation. I have introduced a couple of these mediums to former preschool students of mine through collaborative activities, and I hope to bring a similar creative energy to the First Unitarian Church. In my free time, I like to cook, read, bike, and skateboard. I’m excited to meet the community here and to further my relationship to the divine.
Olivia Knotek
Spirit+Ed Teacher
Olivia grew up just outside of Philadelphia, in Cheltenham. She is currently earning her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education at Temple University. She discovered her passion for working in childcare and education early on from her experiences babysitting her neighbors and spending her free time involved in the special education spaces at her high school. In addition to completing her student teaching at a School District of Philadelphia elementary school, she currently works at the Beacon Center for Children, one of the preschools that operates in the church building, and is well acquainted with the building and its wonderful staff!