Did You Forget I am 68?

Roberta Arden

edited by Bob Terwilliger, Summer 2022

“No. Moses was 80 when he was called.” That was the answer I received from God.

My faith journey actually began at age 5 when I fell in love with Jesus at a Presbyterian Sunday School. My family was not a church family. In fact, my father said there was no God. He believed in “Mother Nature” though, not knowing that was a name for God also. He loved quoting Proverbs, not even realizing he was quoting the Bible. This I learned when, influenced by a neighbor, I began confirmation at age 13 in a Lutheran church close to our home.

I married at 16 and we moved to Florida. I became a widow at 19 with two young daughters. I remarried a Southern Baptist a year later. Becoming very angry with the “hellfire and damnation” sermons of my husband’s church, I left the church entirely, not to return for many years. I divorced my husband and never married again.

My journey was eclectic, covering many, many years as I delved into a variety of religious beliefs, had many mystical experiences, and eventually spent over seven years in seminary. I wandered in the wilderness often between times of attending church, trying to discern who and what God was, and what I wanted.

When the children were grown and on their own, I moved from Ft. Lauderdale to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University. It was a wonderful time for me as I began to grow. I spent a semester in Florence, Italy, studying art and architectural history, and graduated at the age of 48 with an M.S. I then returned to New York where I could find work. I obtained a position with the City of New York’s Children Services. I had studied social work, and this was a second love for me. It became a 21 year career.

I had been church shopping for quite a while, when one Sunday morning I almost walked past Marble Collegiate Church. The service was just beginning, and, on impulse, I went in. Dr. Arthur Calliandro was preaching that day and I was mesmerized by his sermon. I went back the following two Sundays and soon joined the new entry class. That was in October of 1997, and I’m still a faithful member there.

I was still working on 9/11/2001 when the subway skipped my stop at Fulton Street, much to my surprise. I came up the subway steps on Broadway and Wall Street just as the second plane crashed into the tower. I was in shock and heartbroken for a very long time afterward. I could barely talk without crying for weeks. I had no family here in New York, so the church and small groups became my refuge. After many small group sessions, I began to heal. I met Dr. Rob Williams in 2003 when he began a group called “Companions in Christ.” I was painfully shy and felt quite ignorant, but I kept attending.

In 2006, there were several members of the church attending seminary and I began to feel a pull to attend as well, although I didn’t feel worthy. Dr. Williams and a few others encouraged me, and some even mentored me through my seminary experience. I didn’t think the Reformed Church would let me be a pastor, but I knew I could be ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament to specialized ministry in chaplaincy, and I could serve as a contract pastor. I had been collecting Social Security since I was 65 and saving it because I was still working, so I had enough money to pay for seminary. I wanted to be in the RCA because I saw its ministry as family oriented. I also wanted to study Hebrew and Greek! I applied and was accepted into New Brunswick Theological Seminary, graduating with 106 credits and an M.Div. in May of 2013. I even completed two summers of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Westchester Medical Center.

Prior to graduation, I inquired about volunteering at Carnegie East House and they asked if I could do a Sunday service, a Bible study, and serve as chaplain. I was ordained by the Rockland-Westchester Classis on June 30, 2013. The position didn’t work out too well because I had never learned how to deal with dementia. (Now I know!) So I left and began volunteering at Morningside Nursing Home in the Bronx, where I served as chaplain and led interfaith religious services. The home was soon sold to a Jewish organization who wanted their own people in place. But a position came open in the New York City Department of Aging, training grandparents how to deal with special needs children. This was MY CALL. I was very good at teaching and gained more and more confidence. I was there for 6 years, 3 days a week. I began to teach Sunday school at Marble Collegiate and did some pulpit supply in the lower Hudson valley churches.

My ministry only covered most of 7 years when I had a major physical accident which required surgery and 8 months in rehab. I wasn’t expected to live, but now I’m in pretty good health, very aware that God saved me. I’m still curious as to why.

Presently I enjoy church, reading, Zoom meetings, and dabbling with watercolor, and I hope to become strong enough to do some more pulpit supply. I have a very deep love for God’s word and love to share it in a positive manner.

Roberta obtained a GED at age 23 and promised herself she would go to college some day, even if she was 40. She managed to receive an A.A. degree in General Studies from Miami-Dade Community College in 1974. At age 42, after her youngest daughter passed away, she began her studies at Florida State University, obtaining a B.S. in Art History, and an M.S. in Architectural Interior Design in 1984. Moving back to New York City in 1987 she started working for the city in social work. 2001 was a hard year for her as her oldest daughter also died. Then came 9/11. However, by 2006 she decided to attend New Brunswick Theological Seminary, graduating in 2013 with an M.Div. Roberta lives in New York City. robertagrace3@aol.com