Our Staff

Pastor
Rev. Emily Carle

Office: (508) 529-3192, Option 2
pastor@unitedparishupton.org

Pastor Emily Carle grew up in Central Connecticut where she and her family attended various UCC churches. Drawn to Mount Holyoke College in Western Massachusetts, she found her calling from participating in the various interfaith activities on campus. Pastor Emily graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Sociology. She then went on to attend Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky for her Master of Divinity with a Certificate in Educational Ministry. In seminary, she received accolades for preaching and her involvement in the community.

Throughout her college and seminary years, Pastor Emily was involved in many different ministries and church settings. She has served in youth ministry, street ministry, urban mission work, and trauma chaplaincy. She is the author of the UMC United Women in Faith’s 2026 Mission u Curriculum, Experiencing Emmanuel. Pastor Emily recently became a certified 7-9th and 10-12 grade Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education Facilitator.

Pastor Emily understands her calling to center around connecting people to themselves, each other, to God, and to resources, so all of God’s creation may thrive. Knowing that many people have been hurt by institutions and harmful theology, she values preaching healthy and responsible approaches to religion. As a pastor, her goal is to meet people where they are at on their life journeys to find healing and wholeness. You will hear her reminding the congregation that God loves them, and there is nothing they can do about it!

Pastor Emily finds herself at the intersection of many varying interests, from crocheting and cleaning gravestones, to playing The Sims and watching sitcoms. Her partner, Rev. Sean Amato, is the pastor at Slatersville Congregational Church in North Smithfield, RI. They dote over their two cats Dozer and Maisie.

Pastor Emily is available at the church Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-in visits are welcomed!

Church Administrator

Ryan Harrison

(508) 529-3192, Option 1

office@unitedparishupton.org

Office Hours

Tuesday-Friday 9 am-2:30 pm

Ryan grew up in Tennessee as the son and nephew of two United Methodist pastors. After college, he studied theology at Boston University where he focused on Religion and Conflict. He has spent many years serving churches as both a youth director and office administrator. He currently resides in Rutland with his partner, one energetic toddler, and one cute-but-barky dog. Ryan's interests include walking, cooking, giving piggyback rides to his son, and ensuring everyone he works with is supported and happy.

Music Director

Susan Bonito

(508) 529-3192

MusicDir@unitedparishupton.org

Susan has been the Music Director at the United Parish of Upton since May 2001. She is an active performer, voice teacher, and music director and serves as Chair of the Voice Department at Groton Hill Music School in Groton, MA. She also teaches private voice lessons in the Mendon/Upton area, as well as in Harvard, MA. Her professional affiliations have included the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA). Susan enjoys cooking, gardening, writing/arranging music, planning worship, and meditation, as well as choral and solo singing. One of Susan's favorite hymns is: When in our Music God is Glorified:

"When in our Music God is Glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride, it is as though the whole creation cried Alleluia! How often making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia! Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always, Alleluia!" - Fred Pratt Green (Mk. 14:26)

Organist/Pianist
Susan Gilleece Reilley

An accomplished accompanist, Susan has performed with multiple choruses and orchestras over the last thirty years, including Bridgewater State University Alumni Choir, Choral Arts Society of the South Shore, The Quincy Symphony Orchestra and the Bel Canto Opera Company. Susan has been with Braintree Choral Society for 30 years, as accompanist until 2019, and now serving as Director. She also served as Music Director for dthe East Bridgewater Community Covenant Church until April 2022

Classically trained, Susan studied piano with Marlene Dubois and Robert Brown, conductor emeritus of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. Notable piano performances include Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, Poulenc's Chanson Gaillardes, Brahms' Vier Gesänge Op. 70 and a childhood solo performance for then Vice-President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.

For 20 years Susan taught hundreds of students in one-on-one piano instruction. She retired in 2010 as instructor from the Piano Conservatory Program of the Braintree Public Schools.