There are many reasons Rev. M. Lara Hoke feels she is a good fit for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Locke Street. Along with the congregation's open-minded membership, toward the top of Hoke's list is their love of pot-luck meals.
"It's a mystery meal, you never know what you're going to get," said Hoke. "But it always end up being surprisingly delicious."
Pot-lucks are a good metaphor for church congregations, she says, with a mix of personalities, talents and backgrounds coming together.
Hoke will lead her first service as a part-time minister of Andover's UU congregation on Sept. 13. She has been attending Andover pot lucks throughout the summer, getting to know the members of her new congregation.
"There's a real warmth there, they are always happy to grow and see new people," said Hoke. "They're a diverse congregation, with lots of different philosophies. A very bright congregation, very free thinking, and I really like that about them."
In addition to her work in Andover, Hoke will continue as a part-time minister of the First Congregational Parish, Unitarian, in Petersham, Mass., traveling every other Sunday between the two congregations.
On Sundays when Hoke is away, the Andover congregation will be lay-lead, as it has been for the past year, with congregation members or guest speakers leading services. Rev. Ralph Galen, the congregation's previous minister, left the church in the summer of 2008.
"I love that they're so strongly lay-lead. I think that's the way it should be. An ordained professional can only do so much. At the end of the day, a congregation will only be a strong as their lay leaders," said Hoke.¬ "They grew a lot in terms of the lay leadership, and taking on responsibilities (in the past year). In many ways the (Andover) congregation is stronger after learning what they can do. The ministry is for everyone, not just professionally ordained ministers, and they proved that."
The Andover UU congregation has a membership of about 60 adults, said Hoke.
A Pennsylvania native, Hoke served with the U.S. Navy in Italy, as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Hoke's four years with NCIS does translate to the ministry, she says.
"They always say in the Navy it's not a job, an adventure, and I have to say that was true," said Hoke. "In the ministry you just never know what any given day will bring. That's very much like being a special agent with NCIS. That sense of adventure feels strangely familiar."
Hoke also worked in the nonprofit sector before going to Harvard Divinity School. After Harvard, she has worked as a parish minister and hospital chaplain.
Hoke says her favorite part of the ministry is "watching people and congregations transform and grow. Working through tough times in their lives, either individually or as a congregation, and finding out they have inner strength and support, and support from the beloved community."
Hoke has an undergraduate degree in government from Cornell University. She lives in Worcester with her wife, Emily Ferrara.
For more information on the Andover UU Congregation, visit www.uuandover.org
