I don’t recall a time that I was not aware of my relationship with God.  It was a part of my home life through mealtime and evening prayer.  The relationship extended to the wider church community with deep bonds formed through worshiping together.  But it was also about my individual relationship with the Holy Spirit.  My relationship with Jesus deepened as I matured and more fully understood his walk and sacrifices here on earth.  I simply have always known my identity was formed through my relationship with God and nurtured by my family and church. 

I was raised partly in the Virgin Islands, where my parents were born and raised, and in NYC, where they eventually moved.  I’ve traveled back and forth to the V.I. all my life.  Much of my family is still there.  The regular travel back and forth, as well as living as a child in my grandparents’ home that they ran as a guesthouse probably were the first seeds of my appreciation of intercultural relationships.  I love travel, the foods savored, the hospitality received from strangers, and the subsequent relationships formed.

I would name my first vocation as motherhood.  I am fortunate to have four children, now adults, their wonderful spouses, and nine grandchildren.  My husband, Kevin, shares my love of family as well as the travel bug.  

Before moving to Colorado, I enjoyed a career in advertising in NYC.  Many of the same skills that served me then still serve me now in ordained ministry.  The same heart and drive have been evident in both.  In addition, I have been referred to by some as a “mama pastor”, which also rolls my first vocation into all that I do as I serve today in the church.

I love leading worship as well as sitting one on one with parishioners for pastoral care.  I am a trained death doula, and I am honored to accompany people as they travel from this realm to the next.  Delivering Children’s Messages is an adventure filled with surprise.  I never know exactly what will come up as these precious Children of God offer their authentic response to the Word.  

My first call in ordained ministry was inside of a prison.  Serving the women inside was a blessing.  I am certain I showed up as a mama pastor first and foremost inside those walls.  

And now, God has called me here to Evergreen Lutheran.  It is a completely different experience for a myriad of obvious reasons—men and children are in the congregation, and everyone has the freedom to physically explore and learn from the world, should they choose to do so.   I am serving a population with a wealth and variety of histories, perspectives and resources.

I expressed the desire to pursue a vocation in ordained ministry when I was a middle schooler, still living with my parents.  Although I am what you can call a “cradle Lutheran”, my parents advised against this route because there were no opportunities at that time for women to pursue ordained ministry.  I feel that I have ministered in all of my vocations throughout life,  Today, I am blessed to serve in an official capacity my parents did not live long enough to see in my life.  I give thanks for the opportunity to serve.