After more than a decade on the job, Friends Community Church Pastor Nancy Bontempo will no longer be sharing the words of Jesus from the pulpit. Bontempo tendered her retirement earlier this fall after signing on to lead the church in 2014. Her calling to become a pastor at Friends Community Church came after more than 30 years in the corporate world. She says pastoring Friends Community Church has been one of the best experiences of her life, adding that she found plenty of purpose and meaning in the role. She feels blessed to have been able to be “paid to study the Bible” while helping her congregation become deeply connected with their faith.

It did not come without challenges. She was wrapping up her cancer treatments just as the world shut down due to the pandemic, relying on different means to connect with her congregation during confusing times. It was then that she learned the true meaning of community.

After years of saying yes to everything, Bontempo is looking forward to saying no to a few things and enjoying retirement life with her husband, David. Her last service will be December 28.