Rev. Beth Lefever was called to Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church in May of 2012, and began serving there July 1st.

Beth brings a strong leaning toward humanism into her ministry, and an appreciation of Life’s Mystery, understanding that nothing is certain and all things are possible in things of the spirit, and appreciating both the mystery and the potential.

She seeks to nurture the spiritual lives of members and friends by calling on a variety of spiritual and secular resources, as well as her own personal experience, or “life passed through the fire of thought,” as Emerson put it.  She also seeks to uplift the commonality of the human journey, and nourish that journey through meaningful fellowship, pastoral care of and with parishioners, and participating in, and promoting community service and social justice efforts.

Beth believes that humor is healing, and laughter a spiritual practice, and she is intentional about the use of humor in her services and in her life.  She feels the same way about music.

Before coming to Neshoba, Beth was the half-time religious leader of the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in St. Joseph, Michigan.  She also was active in prison ministry, doing poetry workshops for county jail inmates in her hometown of Elkhart, Indiana.  She studied sociology at Indiana University South Bend and earned a Master of Divinity degree at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago.  She did fieldwork in Muncie, Indiana and Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Beth’s home church was the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart where she was ordained in October of 2011.

Beth is an animal lover who shares her home with two lab mixes, Shae, the “old soul”, and Harper, the “eternal adolescent.”  Beth enjoys reading, writing, theater, and occasionally watching trashy television.  She enjoys walks with her dogs, and though not a sports fan, does enjoy the Grizzlies. 

Her office hours are very approximately Tuesday through Friday 9:30 to 12 and 2:30 to 5, though it’s best to make an appointment.  Saturday is her sermon-writing day, and Monday is her Sabbath.  Contact Rev. Beth at [email protected].

Director of Religious Exploration

Rev. Sarah Osborne (she/her) is the part-time Director of Religious Exploration for Neshoba Church. She is a member of the collaborative design team for Beloved Conversations- Within: Unlearning/Learning for Liberation with the Fahs Collaborative at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, IL. She is a Good Officer for the Liberal Religious Educators Association and an Our Whole Lives facilitator.

Rev. Sarah is also the part-time minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford, MS.  Theologically, Sarah believes in the grace of Love that holds us all. She believes in the power of mirth and reverence. She finds inspiration in the rhythms of nature and in the good storytelling of spiritual traditions from around the world.

Sarah nurtures spirituality at Neshoba by creating and supporting open spaces for curiosity and learning for the whole family through lifespan faith development opportunities.  She earned her MDiv from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and holds a B.S. in Education from Auburn University Montgomery.

In her free time, Sarah loves to travel, do water aerobics, attend sound bath meditations, and read lots of books. Rev. Sarah lives in Bartlett, TN with her husband, children, and puppy.

Our Staff