To read the latest "pastor ponderings", please visit the News & Views page and read the appropriate monthly print.
Here is a picture of Pastor Ross Varney of our Church. Ross has been here for the past five years. His dedication to his faith and to the Church is a strength that we all benefit from. Ross's talents are many, especially as one who plays the piano and guitar.
Click here to listen to or read sample sermons by Ross and others!
Rev. Ross Varney is a native of Walpole, Massachusetts, one of four children born to Harold and Janice Varney. He comes from a family of educators, and thus is somewhat of a "life-long student!"
Though identifying with Moses' speech difficulty, he began to speak publicly in High School, giving the Voice of Democracy Address on Memorial Day, and the Valedictory Address at graduation. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Williams College with a degree in Chemistry, taught Spanish for four years in Maryland, then received the Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary with a concentration in pastoral care and counseling.
Rev. Varney began his ministry with facilitating the merger of the two UCC churches in Kingston and Brentwood, New Hampshire. He served as pastor there from 1988 to 1995, with focus on social witness, including starting a drug abuse prevention program. He then served as Associate Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Needham, Massachusetts, with an emphasis on youth and music ministries. He has now been pastor at Belleville since fall of 2001.
At Belleville, Rev. Varney seeks to minister in areas of his own strengths, while encouraging the gifts and new ministries of all church members. Since coming to Belleville, he has started a regular midweek Bible Discussion, a visitation ministry team, a men's fellowship, and an instrumental ensemble. He believes strongly in the spontaneous leading of the Holy Spirit, thus is always open to the One who says "I make all things new!"
Rev. Varney is also active in the Newburyport Clergy Association, the Essex Association Minister's Fellowship, the Partnership with the Pentecostal Church of Chile, and is on the board of Honduras Hope, an ecumenical mission to mountain villages. True to his family heritage, he often pursues continuing education opportunities, especially in the areas of interfaith dialogue and spiritual formation.