Introduction of Pastor Ruth by William Lord at the 2010 Annual
New England Conference:
Pastor Ruth
Merriam came to the Church on the Cape in 2002 from North
Central Massachusetts, where she served two churches in
Pepperell and Townsend. She also served in Everett,
Massachusetts, and before that she served a 3-point charge in
Minnesota.
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.
She is the
Chaplain of the Kennebunkport Fire Department, donning her fire
helmet and driving with her flashing light 'on' when duty
requires.
Her
international outreach resume reflects her concern for those
beyond our shores. She worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta for
nine weeks. She has also participated in mission projects in
Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. 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. A video of that mission
work is now featured on the homepage of the conference’s
website.
Today, a bus
brought more members of our congregation to this service than
attended our Sunday services some 17 years ago. We were on the
list to be closed. Former DS Sherwood Treadwell was engaged to
accomplish the impossible – resurrect our congregation. That he
did. Today, we have two services from spring to fall and seating
is at a premium.
Tom Bradbury, who is our SPRC chair and resident historian in
Cape Porpoise, observed the following in our application, quote.
“Over the years ours has been a good congregation, local
citizens listening to time-honored sermons from loving and
admired pastors. Their stories have been heard, their thoughts
explored, their goodness appreciated. On Christmas and Easter
those ministers would stand before a packed house. Most weeks
they did not."
“In recent years the pattern has changed. Sitting in the
familiar pew requires a new commitment, for every Sunday every
seat is taken. Parishioners come early, socialize, join in the
hymn sing, and begin to feel a part of something special. They
come because it makes them feel better about themselves and all
those around them. They come because the want to hear the word,
God's word, as delivered by Pastor Ruth Merriam.”
Tom concludes, “She has lit a spiritual fire that has filled
our church's Bible study classes, led nearly 40 members of the
congregation on the Walk to Emmaus, has one active and two
others considering the ministry, and 139 new members in this
small Maine church.
May I present the
2010 Wilbur Ziegler Award Winner for Excellence in Preaching –
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Merriam.
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