Rev. Gayle McGlauflin ordained at Union Congregational Church

CLERGY from many faith traditions attended the ordination of Rev. Gayle McGlauflin. They included (front row, l-r): Charles Chege, Karen Kilty, Rev. Debbie Gline Allen, Rev. Elva Merry, Bishop (Fmr.) Jonathan Wisco, Rev. Laura Gronberg, Rev. Nancy Butcher; (back row, l-r): Deacon Tony O’Brien, Rev. Emelia Attridge, Rev. Tom Hathaway, Rev. Richard Hughes, Rev. Edward Frost, Rev. Christopher Grundy, Rev. Gayle McGlauflin, Rev. Lori Wyckoff, Rev. David Clark and Rev. John Gibbons. Clergy not pictured: Rev. Rachel Fisher, Jenny Lane, Danielle Helm and Rev. Chinemerem Orabuche. (Leslie Musiak Photo)

NORTH READING — If you heard the sounds of cheering while passing the Union Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon, April 6, it came from the church’s sanctuary where 150 people gathered to ordain Gayle McGlauflin, the congregation’s Associate Pastor of Faith and Fellowship.

The Rev. McGlauflin was ordained with the laying on of hands which was led by Rev. Tom Hathaway from Medford. The message was offered by the Rev. Dr. Christopher Grundy who is the Professor of Worship and Preaching at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, where Rev. McGlauflin received her Master of Divinity.

Pastor Gayle actually grew up in North Reading and started attending Union Congregational Church when she was a sophomore at North Reading High School.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in teaching from Northeastern University she worked in the Boston Public Schools and Stoneham Public Schools teaching children who spoke English as a second language. Pastor Gayle, who is a big Red Sox fan, also worked as a supervisor for the vendors at Fenway Park. She has also taught Zumba classes and worked for a maternal wellness company as the Director of Education where she was a doula, and taught parenting and lactation classes.

All of that changed though when the Union Congregational Church was looking for a new Christian Education Director. After Pastor Gayle was hired she continued to feel a growing call to ordained ministry and eventually enrolled at Eden Seminary. She said that she first felt called to the Christian Ministry when she witnessed the church children and her own children exploring their faith with joy, curiosity and depth.

REV. GAYLE McGlauflin celebrated her recent ordination with her husband Rob and their daughters, Savanna and Ayla. She is the Associate Pastor of Faith and Fellowship at UCC. (Leslie Musiak Photo)

“I first felt called when I watched the children learn about God and ask the most amazing, thought-provoking questions. Their genuine wonder opened my eyes, and I discovered that as I guided them, I was growing spiritually alongside them. During Covid, my sense of call deepened and when everything else shut down, our faith kept us connected.”

Her position at the church was then expanded to include creating opportunities for fellowship and faith formation along with reaching out to the community to invite people of all ages and walks of life to join the congregation in celebrating the Good News.

“I am blessed to be a minister at the church that first nurtured my own journey with Christ. I value the deep sense of faith and community and the willingness of the congregation to learn and grow. Together, we’re expanding our understanding of inclusivity and deepening our commitment to service,” Pastor Gayle said.

She continued, “I’m inspired every day by how this community embraces Jesus’s message of love and caring for one another. I’m excited to continue to work together to ensure that our church is welcoming to all of God’s children and is engaging in addressing the needs of our wider community. The foundation of faith and fellowship here is strong, and I’m grateful to walk alongside this community of faith.”

DAVID BAILEY, a professional tenor and high school friend of Rev. Gayle McGlauflin, was among the singers at her ordination. (Leslie Musiak Photo)

During the ordination service, David Bailey, a friend of Pastor Gayle and a professional tenor who graduated from North Reading High School, sang as did the children of the church and its Chancel Choir, along with members of the Full Glory International Fellowship which is a Kenyan community of faith that worships in the Union Congregational Church’s chapel.

The service was also attended by 21 clergy from churches in town and the surrounding area and included clergy from a variety of faith backgrounds. Among them were the United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, United Methodist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Roman Catholic, American Baptist, Episcopal and international non-denominational.

Another highlight of the service was the presentation of two stoles as gifts from the congregation. The stoles symbolize taking on the yoke of ministry and are only worn once a person has been ordained. The congregation also presented Pastor Gayle with a chalice and because she collects nativities from around the world, they also presented her with one from Indonesia and another one from Kenya. A monetary gift was also given to the church’s newest ordained minister.