Pastor Mary is bi-vocational, serving at Faith UMC and working part-time at the Eye Clinic in town. She has been an optician her entire adult work life and is a second-career pastor. Faith UMC is her first appointment. She has been here since July 2022 and is so excited to be serving here among this faithful congregation and brings with her lots of energy and ideas. God has great things in store for this rural, growing community!
Pastor Mary has a lifelong love of music. She sings and plays guitar. Mary served as the choir director at Tomah First United Methodist for 12 years and at the Tomah Area Ecumenical Choir for several years. She was a lay speaker and lay leader before this appointment.
Mary shares, “I never dreamed I would be embarking on a new career at this stage of my life, nearer to retirement than a new calling, or so I thought. Well, here I am, and I realize that this is not a career, but a call. A call to serve. A call to share my love of Jesus. A call to ignite a flame to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. God has called me. I don’t know why it is at this time, but I trust that God’s timing is perfect. This would not have been right for me at an earlier stage in my life. I have faith that by answering this call and saying yes to God, I will be equipped just as Moses, Jonah, and others called before me. I believe with my whole heart that I am exactly where God wants me to be.”
Pastor Mary is part of a clergy couple. Her husband, Rev. Paul Messmer, serves at Holcombe, Jim Falls, and Anson UMC’s. They support each other in their ministry. Between them, they have 5 adult children, twin granddaughters, and 2 grandsons. Life is never boring!
Pastor Mary would love to meet you and learn more about you. Our Faith family has a wonderful time of coffee and conversation following Sunday Worship. Pastor Mary sends a warm invitation for you to join us! Come grow with us!
