Pat Derry (far right) with her daughters

I am excited and grateful to have begun my ministry with the children and families of Gloria Dei! You have graciously welcomed me into your faith community, and I look forward to getting to know each one of you.

I believe that I have the privilege of working in the most joy-filled part of our faith community. Children fill our lives with smiles and energy and laughter! At the same time, this is a ministry of vital importance! Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit, nurtured through the prayers and experiences and learning that surround it. Families and the faith community support one another in teaching and learning, in modeling and following, in asking, in listening, and in acting together. This is a ministry that is fun and heart-warming and meaningful!

I would like to share a little about myself. I am a teacher by profession, and continued my education to complete a Master Degree in Religious Education as well as Associate in Ministry from Luther Seminary, St. Paul. Christian education has been my passion since 1994, and I have served congregations in both Minnesota and Norway. I grew up in Chicago, lived in Norway for 16 years, and now have my home in Minnesota. I have two grown daughters, one who lives in Norway and the other in the Twin Cities. I enjoy time with family and friends, walking, reading, and travel.