Erin E. Bair – Pastoral Associate
I was born in Illinois, raised in Georgia, and spent eight years in New England and one in Iowa, but I love that Northern Virginia feels like home. (Maybe the combination of cold winters and hot and humid summers makes it feel a little bit like everywhere I’ve lived, all at once!)
I lived in Arlington from 2002 to 2004. During that time I was a member of The Falls Church, and through it I fell in love with Anglicanism. In 2004 I headed north to Harvard Divinity School for my M.Div. I thought I would use the degree to work in conflict resolution and transformation. But God had different plans for me, and it was during my studies that I perceived his calling to ordained ministry. I’m grateful for this turn in my path as I have found that I love parish ministry. I am currently in the midst of the ordination process.
After graduating in 2007, I spent a year as a chaplain resident at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. I loved the opportunity to build relationships with all kinds of people as they faced some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. And I developed a whole new respect for people who work the night shift!
I was thrilled to connect to Restoration when I returned to Northern Virginia in the fall of 2008; it is exciting to be a part of the work God is doing in Arlington. At Restoration, I coordinate all of the liturgical aspects of our worship, help prepare people for confirmation and baptism, preach from time to time, and do some of whatever else comes up. (That’s the fun of a new church!)
When I’m not scheduling ushers and communion servers, I love to read, hike, cook, eat, and play fierce games of CatchPhrase.
