The Reverend Sandra L. Daly 2009
I have been married to my husband Roger for nearly 27 years. We are both ordained United Church of Christ pastors. Our life together continues to be a delight! Three of our four children are married, and we have seven grandchildren. My son and family live near Seattle and my daughter lives outside of Vail CO. Roger’s son and daughter and their families both live north of Atlanta GA. Our family is one of the greatest blessings in our lives – we just wish they didn’t live so far away!
My favorite hobby is gardening. I do some of my best thinking and praying with my hands in the dirt. I like most any kind of craft, from sewing to painting to “creating” with grandchildren. Roger and I have renovated several of the homes we have lived in over the years and get great satisfaction out of doing the work ourselves.
My route to ministry has been a long and winding road! My family moved several times around the country during my elementary years, then we settled in Exeter NH where I graduated from high school. As a young mother I taught and then directed a preschool for 7 years in a small town near Exeter. I also took courses at UNH. Then over the years, I tried my hand at several things: bank teller, aerobics instructor, bookkeeper, real estate agent and broker, wallpaper/painting contractor… all to help with living costs and college tuitions. During those years I was also involved in all aspects of church life, with a particular focus on youth. This was really where my heart was.
After several years of volunteer youth ministry in the local church and at the state level, I thought maybe God was calling me to ministry. Finally, in my 40’s, I finished my bachelor’s degree and earned my Masters of Divinity from Andover Newton. I was co-pastor with my husband Roger in Danbury CT, staying an additional year as sole pastor. In 2002 I became the Interim Associate Minister in Simsbury CT, with a focus on youth, missions, and creative worship. We spent 2005 living in Seattle, during which I was on sabbatical pursuing my interest in Celtic Christianity, visiting Scotland, and being a “Nana” to my granddaughters. It was a wonderful year, but I missed parish ministry. My husband and I recently served 3 years as interim ministers in Essex Junction, VT. Soon after moving to Chesterfield NH in the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to serve Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro during the final phase of their interim time. We are happily settled on “Hallelujah Farm” in Chesterfield where we are growing a ministry of hospitality and retreats. After all these years of transition I am delighted at the prospect of settled ministry where roots can take hold and rich enduring relationships built.
I love to teach and sing and worship. I am drawn to those who are “seekers”, who ask the hard questions and look for new ways to recognize and celebrate the “holy stuff of life”. I feel humbled and honored to be with those who are experiencing significant passages in their lives – whether letting go or embracing something new. I believe we are strengthened by the life we share together in the church, and that together we can make a difference to those beyond our doors. Our lives are often over-filled and stressed. I feel called to lift up and celebrate the simple joys and abundant blessings from God, and the essential truth that love is at the core of discipleship. Together I pray, we can laugh, cry, delight and wonder. I look forward to getting to know you all, to working side by side in ministry, and to keeping the momentum moving forward as we discover God’s call in this next chapter of our lives.
With a prayer for peace – Sandy
Posts
