Hi, I’m Rev. Joanna Lubkin, a New England-based wedding officiant and ordained Unitarian Universalist minister with Jewish roots. My perspective on life and ministry is one of wonder, gratitude, joy, and connection.

The heart of my ministry, both within the parish and beyond its walls, is companioning others on their journeys. Through creating vulnerable spaces where deep sharing can happen, through reaching out when times are tough, and through taking time for joy, it is my deepest honor to support and travel alongside my spiritual companions.

In parish ministry, I love collaboration, weaving together music and words to create powerful worship experiences, and building radically welcoming and accessible communities. 

Day-to-day, I serve as the Minister for Lifespan Learning at the UU Area Church at First Parish in Sherborn, MA. I am an affiliated minister at Arlington Street Church in Boston’s Back Bay, and I sing in their choir on my Sundays off. I’m also a musician and Worship Arts Lead at The Sanctuary Boston, a community of worship and connection grounded in Unitarian Universalism and open to seekers of all kinds. I previously served as Interim Minister at Theodore Parker Church in West Roxbury, MA,   Minister at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree,  Communications and Digital Ministry Associate for First Church in Jamaica Plain, and as the Summer Minister for Pastoral Care for First Parish in Needham and the Winchester Unitarian Society. I also delighted in serving as the UU Chaplain at Wellesley College for five years, part of an interfaith team of religious and spiritual professionals who supported the whole college.

Growing up deeply connected to Judaism, I always wanted to learn from all faith traditions and seek wisdom wherever it could be found. I was a Jewish Studies major in college, I did a community organizing fellowship with the Jewish Organizing Initiative, and I even studied at Hebrew College Rabbinical School. When I first found Unitarian Universalism, it was the open, pluralistic community I had always sought. It wasn’t long before I saw that I could best serve the world as a UU minister, and I transferred to Andover Newton Theological School and graduated with my Masters of Divinity. After a long journey, I was ordained on May 1, 2016.

Couples have found that my own multi-sourced faith background has been a great match for their multi-sourced backgrounds. Weaving together what’s meaningful to you as a couple — be it religious backgrounds, cultural traditions, or even a shared love of Dr. Who — is a beautiful way to honor you and your love authentically. And it would be my honor to be there alongside you.

 

Assistant to the Minister

Since September 2021, I have been accompanied by Service Dog Sully — a very special Assistant to the Minister. Sully was trained by NEADS World Class Service Dogs and is certified by Assistance Dogs International. When not assisting me, he naps behind me in the pulpit while I preach and officiate lifecycle events, loves to meet people and shower them with doggy kisses when he’s given the “say hello” command, and loves to romp around with other dogs when he’s off-duty.