Blain, The Reverend Susan A.

The Reverend Susan A. Blain of Hartford, retired Minister for Worship and Gospel Arts at the United Church of Christ national setting in Cleveland, peacefully passed away on March 7 after a brief and courageous battle with cancer, with her loving family at her side.

Sue was born in Bermuda on June 12, 1953 to the late Joseph C. and Ann L. (Burns) Blain, and she grew up in East Providence, RI. Sue graduated from St. Mary Academy - Bay View; Trinity College, Washington, DC, (BA, Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude); and Union Theological Seminary, New York City (Master of Divinity).

After college, Sue joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, where she spent 11 years, primarily as a community organizer in Baltimore. Notwithstanding Sue’s enduring love of her sister SNDS and the order, she felt called to the vocation of pastor-minister and left the order. At Union Theological Seminary and at Riverside Church in New York City, in varying roles as director of worship, Sue encouraged worshipers to discover more, to see what was between the lines in biblical and theological texts, and to broaden the naming of God through symbols, words, and images. Sue’s gift of hospitality - welcoming all - her love of worship and openness to praying in many forms, and her powerful way with words helped both pastors and their congregants deepen their faith and build community. Over time, and through her work at Riverside Church, Sue joined the United Church of Christ and eventually became Minister for Worship and Gospel Arts at the UCC national setting, In 2007, Sue was ordained a UCC Minister at Riverside Church, a proud moment for her loving mother and family. Even as a Congregational minister, however, Sue never lost her Catholic identity and maintained a lifelong exploration of, and devotion to, the Blessed Mother.