Massena church pastor honored as Woman of Year

MASSENA — Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ Pastor Judith A. Van Kennen is the New York State Women Inc. St. Lawrence County Chapter Woman of the Year.

"She's always got a smile on her face. I don't know how she does it. We have fun. Church should be fun," Nola K. Martin said at a dinner Thursday to honor the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen. "Personally, I owe it to Judy for keeping us on the positive."

In May 2007, Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ was struck by lightning and suffered extensive fire damage. As firefighters fought the blaze, the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen reinforced the thought that although their building was gone, they were still a church.

"After that tragedy they had with their church, I was so struck with her positive remarks in the paper," 1990 Woman of the Year Sandra Smith said. "Thank you for being so positive in this community during that tragedy,"

The pastor also led the rebuilding effort, and the church will be formally dedicated during a ceremony Dec. 12.

Mrs. Martin nominated the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen for Woman of the Year honors, and her letter of nomination filled two pages.

"To try to list everything that Pastor Judy does for us and the community would be too numerous to mention, so I will list a few," she said.

She noted the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen came to Emmanuel as an intern in 2000 to establish an "alternative" worship service. The pastor started Wednesday night worship services for those who might not be able to attend on Sundays.

Mrs. Martin said that since the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen's arrival, attendance at the church has doubled. She also reached out with communion, prayers and encouragement to those who are housebound and hospitalized — even to those who do not attend Emmanuel, according to Mrs. Martin.

"She listens to all ideas and encourages everyone to follow up with their ideas," she said. "She has helped us turn our church into a church who welcomes everyone — we are an open and affirming church to which all are welcome."

A 2008 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen "opens her home as well as her office to all who need her," Mrs. Martin said. "There are no closing hours for Pastor Judy."

Patricia McGrath, chairwoman for Woman of the Year, said she never met the Rev. Ms. Van Kennen until the night they surprised her during choir rehearsal with roses and told her she was being honored as Woman of the Year.

The Rev. Ms. Van Kennen suggested that she wouldn't have been at the head table if it wasn't for the members of her church.

"I have to say," she said, "these people have brought out the best in me."

She said she was speechless last month when she learned she was being honored as Woman of the Year.

"The congregation has done nothing but affirm me in so many ways," she said.