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ST. MARTHA'S LEADERSHIP

MEET OUR RECTOR

Reverend Mary Louise Allen, formerly rector of St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Marysville, Washington accepted the call to be the second rector of St. Martha's Episcopal Church in Bethany Beach.

With a father who was an Episcopal minister, Mary grew up a true daughter of the church. Although she felt drawn to the ministry after her 1977 graduation from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, she resisted the call. So upon college graduation she entered the business world and managed a retail business in Salem, Oregon for the next seven years. The religious call was persistent however, and Mary entered the Divinity School of the Pacific in 1984. Following her ordination in 1986 she served as assistant rector at churches in Washington and Oregon for five years before moving to Good Shepherd in Utah as associate rector. She was called to be vicar at Grace Church in Utah and later became rector. She spent 9 years at Grace Church.. She came to St. Phillips in 2004, first as Priest in Charge, then became rector in 2005.

Reverend Mary Allen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to St. Martha's from her 25 years as an Episcopal priest. She was a Clinical Teaching Assistant in Pastoral Care while in Tigard, Oregon. She has designed and taught many adult education programs at the Diocesan, parish and local college levels. Music is another of Mary Allen's strengths having the capability to sing or chant the liturgy. References spoke of her joyful, caring, spiritual nature and her ability to see parish and local need and then find ways to connect people with ministry that utilize their gifts and fill their hearts.
Mary is single and lives with her two cats, Theo and Sophie. During her time off, she enjoys photography and crafts, delights in nature, reads voraciously, (especially Julia Spencer-Fleming and mysteries where the woman rector is the primary investigator), she also loves all things Shakespearean and Celtic. She also describes herself as being a bit of a “geek” when it comes to technology. She has a wonderful sense of humor which is evident when you talk to her. She has said that life is important, so important in fact, that we should not take it too seriously.

Mary Allen remarked that the call from St. Martha's was an easy decision to make because the church profile “spoke to her heart” as she was searching for a church that is growing, vibrant, and has a real commitment to Outreach and social justice.

OUR CHURCH OFFICE is open Monday thru noon Friday. Rev Mary Allen is in the
office Monday thru Thursday and is available throughout the week as needed. She
would love to come visit you individually in your homes. If you have an emergency or
want to set up an appointment for a visit, call her cell # 425-232-7265 or send her an email at celtpriest@gmail.com.

Our administrative Officer, Lynne Watson, is in the
church office all day Wednesday, Thursday, and until noon on Friday.