On Sunday February 8, 2004 the UUAC at First Parish in Sherborn Installed as its 39th settled Minister the Rev. Nathan Detering. The photo above shows (L to R) Rev. Tim Ashton, the Mass Bay District Executive, Rev. Nathan Detering, and Rev. John Buehrens, currently minister in Needham, before that President of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

SHERBORN --

For the Rev. Nathan W. Detering and the Unitarian Universalist Area Church at First Parish, there is plenty new.

More than 300 attended the celebration of installation held yesterday at the church honoring Detering as its 39th minister.

Shortly after Detering, 33, officially became minister at the church, his wife, Karen, gave birth to their second child, Ella, on Sept. 3.

"We had the baby the first Sunday I started in early September," said Detering. "There's all kind of new life, both literally and figuratively. Both in the congregation and in my life.

"In the congregation there's an increase in energy, new people are coming to the church, which frequently happens with a new ministry and also there's a revitalization of the church."

The walls, primarily in the meeting spaces, were painted, Unity Hall was refurbished last year in preparation of a new minister, this past summer all the classrooms were repainted and the preschool has a new space.

"The emotions are all really soaring," said Detering. "It's wonderful to see people excited and share in the excitement. My wife and two kids are excited about being brought into the congregation in such an inviting way. It makes it seem like a family affair."

No stranger to the Boston area, Detering, who hails from St. Louis, after graduating from Beloit College, in Beloit, Wis., moved to Boston to attend Boston University School of Theology.

In her two years as interim minister, Deborah Pope-Lance asked questions of the congregation to find out about the church, what it wanted for the future and how the congregation could prepare for a new minister. Prior to the arrival of Pope-Lance, the Rev. Rosemarie Smurzynski was the minister for 10 years.

The congregation was looking for a sense of community, a connection to each other and a stronger spiritual connection," said Detering.

And that selection was confirmed yesterday at the mutual rite of installation.

"No right is more precious to a free congregation than that of choosing its own minister," said church member Pat Manley. "By the same token, no right is more precious to a Unitarian Universalist minister than of choosing the congregation he will serve.

"I stand before you all to declare that we freely choose Rev. Nathan Detering to minister to our congregation as an ordained member of the Unitarian Universalist clergy," added Manley. "Our choice is not only based on our heritage, but also upon the hopes and aspirations we hold for the future."

For Detering, it was a wonderful event and everything he hoped it would be.

"It was a wonderful expression of all that I am looking forward to and the congregation is looking forward to in our new relationship together," said Detering.