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Thursday April 23, 2009
The Rev. Mary Snell Willis was installed as the called pastor and teacher of Lordship Community Church, United Church of Christ, Saturday, April 18.
Willis follows the Rev. Harold Smith, who served as
interim pastor for two years.
Willis began serving the church immediately following
her call sermon and the unanimous vote Aug. 24. She moved into the new parsonage, 135 Margherita Lawn,
on Oct. 1, when it was ready for occupancy. For the first month she lived in a furnished home
in Lordship.
Her husband, Michael, joined her on Nov. 1, when he arrived from Charlevoix, Mich., with their two Labrador
retrievers, “Misty” and her son, “Happy.” They also own
a Himalayan, “Faith.”
Willis graduated with a degree in English from the University of Michigan, where she met her husband. In 1992, she graduated from Yale Divinity School.
Her first call to ministry came two nights before Hurricane Andrew hit in Miami, Fla. She served there for a year, rebuilding a church which was severely damaged by the hurricane. Then she took some time away while the family, including their three children who were college students, regrouped in Nashville, Tenn.
Her next call to ministry came in Silver Lake, Ohio,
where she “helped a traditional church transition to the
future.”
Then followed the call to Charlevoix, where, “again, she helped a more traditional church move to blended worship and a more hopeful future,” according to a press release.
Next Willis and her husband took a year off to catch
up with their five grandchildren who live in Ohio and Florida.
Prior to her career in ministry, Willis taught English and social studies, served in government, worked in insurance and was a stock broker.
“Someone once told me that everything I’ve ever done will help in ministry, and how true it is,” she said. Willis has joined the Stratford Clergy Association and is a board member of the Stratford YMCA.
She will lead a workshop on “Prayer Shawl Ministry” at the Connecticut United Church of St Christ Spring Gathering.
In Lordship, she leads a book study Sundays at 8:30
a.m., teaches Confirmation, and is part of the new quilter’s cluster. Worship is held 10 a.m. Sundays at 179 Prospect St.
The installation service included members of the Fairfield East Association of the Connecticut Conference United Chruch of Christ, church leaders, and music from the Church Choir, Children's Choir and "Capella", a contemporary group.
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