Location:  Community Wesleyan Church

Sharer:  Rev. Mary Ann Bernard – Director of Pastoral Care – Bethany Village

I have known God all my life, loved Jesus since a child.  I was called by God to ministry; Studied Psychology/Religious Studies at the University of North Dakota graduating in 1978, Graduated From Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary with a M.Div. in 1982; was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1980.

My ministry has been in traditional church settings in North Dakota, Iowa and New York; and also in non-church settings like working at the YWCA with homeless women in Maine, and with Healthy Start program in Hawaii and the Head Start program in Schuyler County.  God has called me both in and out of the church to serve God’s people.

My focus will be to share about that call, the rhythm of moving in and out of the church, and to challenge us all to let our faith not be kept separate from our daily lives, but truly live a “faith at work.”  I’m in my 12th year of working at Bethany Village as Director of Pastoral Care.  When not there, I read, write, care for angora goats, spin and weave their fiber, and generally celebrate God’s presence.