Ruth Herr – Vestry Member: Christian Education

I was born in Chicago, where I spent my early years.  After high school, I moved to Texas, where I lived my dream life; working on a dude ranch, for a couple of years.  After marriage, we moved to San Antonio and raised three children.  Horses were an important part of my life, but eventually I entered college (at 47 years old) and received a BA and teaching certificate from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  After that I taught elementary school for five years

After I retired, I helped found a senior center in the little town where we lived, and I served as Executive Director for five years.  It was a very gratifying experience.  In 2002, my beloved husband of 43 years developed an incurable muscle degenerative condition, and passed on in 2005.  To begin a totally new existance, my sister suggested I move to Albuquerque.  After deciding my life was basically over and nothing really mattered any more, I made the move.  I guess New Mexico really is the Land of Enchantment, because I immediately succumbed to the natural beauty and serenity of the mountains.

As God would have it, St. Mary's Church happens to be around the corner from my home, and I joined without hesitation.  I found it to be a warm, friendly, and worshipful atmosphere.  The icing on the cake was when I joined our small but very dedicated choir.  Roland, the director, is a multi-talented musician, full of the Holy Spirit and with his humor and encouragement, inspires us to do our very best.

In my nearly three years at St. Mary's, I have been a member of the Daughters of the King (an intercessory prayer group), have been licensed to be a Lay Eucharistic Minister, sharing the communion with the homebound (a very rewarding ministry), a choir member, and now a Vestry member.  It is my privilege to serve my church and my God, and I am very grateful to have found my purpose in life.