The Dr. Rev. Ruth Merriam - July, 2002
Email: rmerriam@roadrunner.com

The Reverend Ruth Merriam succeeded Interim Pastor Bill Gardei on July 1st, 2002. Ruth comes to Cape Porpoise from North Central Massachusetts where she served two churches in Pepperell and Townsend (1996 - 2002). She is no stranger to the Kennebunks however. Her sister lives in the area so this has been her home away from home for the past 11 years.

Ruth earned a B.A. from Schiller International University, a Masters in Education from Lesley College, a Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Boston University (1987).

Prior to her present assignment, she served in Everett, Massachusetts (1987-1993), and before that she served a 3-point charge in Madison, Bellingham, and Odessa Minnesota (1978-1983).

She worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta for nine weeks. She has also participated in Volunteers in Mission projects in Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and in Dominica. Following the devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, she led a mission group from our church that worked with Partners in Development at their clinic outside Port au Prince.

Her favorite pastimes include climbing and travel (for which she has an insatiable appetite). She is also the Chaplain of the Kennebunkport Fire Department, donning her fire helmet and driving with her flashing light 'on' when duty requires.

She and her husband, Dick, have been married for 22 years, and they have a daughter Julie who is 16. She also has 3 stepchildren, Priscilla, Scott, and Lillian.

Pastor Emeritus William P. Gardei - Interim Pastor
November, 2000 - June of 2002

Preferring to be called 'Bill,' his first service at our church was October 29th, 2000. At that time, he was a retired United Methodist pastor of the New England Conference. He began his ministry 40 years ago in western Pennsylvania, came east to attend and graduate from Drew Theological Seminary and remained to serve churches in New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

His wife Gayle is an active member of the First UMC of Portsmouth, N.H. They are parents of Lisa Angwin and Christopher Gardei and grandparents of Benjamin and Sara Angwin.

His presence was focused on walking the journey of faith with all who wished to do so through the love made visible in Jesus of Nazareth. It was a fruitful journey.

Pastor Emeritus Sherwood Treadwell - Pastor 1993 - 1998

Sherwood Treadwell as been in the ministry for forty-five years with pastorates in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Indiana, New Hampshire and Maine. From 1979 to 1985 Sherwood served as superintendent of the Northern District of the New Hampshire Annual Conference.

Following retirement in 1993, he was invited to become part-time pastor of the Church on the Cape where he served for nearly six years. On November 4, 2001, the congregation honored him by dedicating the "new addition" as the Treadwell Wing.

He holds degrees from American International College and Boston University's School of Theology. He served on many conference boards and for five years as a member of the World Methodist Council.

His wife Nancy has been at his side for more than 45 years and they have traveled widely in the British Isles, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Kenya. They have five children and ten grandchildren and live in Kennebunk.

Beryl Samia - Music Director and Organist
Email: Beryl Samia

Beryl has a Bachelors degree in Church Music from Boston University and has served as Organist & Choir Director at several churches throughout New England, most recently at the First Church Congregational, UCC, in Rochester, New Hampshire.

She was instrumental in organizing the Sacred Music Symposium held at the Church on the Cape in August 2009.

She is the Director of the Senior Choir, Youth Choir and Chime Choirs.

Sue Stedman - Religious Education Director & Secretary
Email: office@churchonthecape.org

Sue is a Springfield, Massachusetts, native who spent her summers in Kennebunkport where she met and married her husband, Dick. They have two young daughters. Sue attended college in a business capacity

In addition to being an active mother and dedicated church member, Sue also serves the community as an  Assistant Chief of the Kennebunkport Emergency Medical Services. She sees KEMS as a "very rewarding experience for me. To respond to someone in need, to see the look of hope on their face when you arrive to help them, to treat them with the utmost respect and to try to help them retain their dignity in the worst of situations is the most I can hope to accomplish."
 

Joe Fairfield - Custodian
Email: jfairfield@biddschools.org

Joe grew up in downtown Kennebunkport. As a child, he frequently walked the five miles from home to church accompanied by his brothers and sisters - always under the watchful eye of his mother. He proudly proclaims the Church on the Cape as "his" church.

Joe is the Manager of Maintenance Services for the Biddeford School System. He lives with his wife Rachel in neighboring Arundel.