ProFuture Faith
8 week series of DVD & Discussion
by Michael Dowd
“Ecology is the heart of theology.”
Sunday, June 16th
Week 1
Un-Trivializing God:
Reality as Thou
10:30 am in the Celebration Center
We can re-imagine our relationship to the divine and to our environment by seeing God as primary reality, not a separate being, not magical but imbued in all of Nature.
A Progressive United Methodist Church
Meet Your Neighbor
Meet Your Neighbor:
Marilyn Lydic
Interview by Seth Allen
Marilyn and I sat down a few weeks ago to talk about the about Performing Arts program at St.
Francis. She was providing me with so much interesting information that it turned into a Meet Your Neighbor interview. Meet Marilyn Lydic.
ME: Where were you born and raised?
ML: I was born and raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. And, I lived there until moving to
Tucson.
ME: What was the best thing about growing up there? Your favorite memory of childhood.
ML: My family was there. It was great place to live and grow.
ME: Where did you go to college?
ML: I went back to school when I was 40. I took classes at Penn State at the Wyomissing
campus. I got my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I had been working as a
courthouse secretary. I worked as an Adult Probation Officer for 15 years.
ME: Went back?
ML: I met and married a Navy guy.
ME: You aren’t a probation officer now are you?
ML: No. I teach technology at U of A. During Covid I developed On Line Courses and
taught online courses.
ME: You’ve certainly had a varied career path. I actually suspected that you were an
elementary school teacher.
ML: I spent six years as a teacher’s aide in a blended classroom in Lebanon. And, I taught
Sunday school in Lebanon.
ME: How did you end up in Tucson?
ML: Ira was my second husband. My first husband died at 46 of a heart attack. Ira and I
were married for 25 years. He was in ministry and we did everything together. Ira
decided we needed to move to Tucson so we would have family close. His daughter
Susan and her husband Walter live right across the street. And, we have 4 grandchildren
here.
ME: When did you first come to St. Francis?
ML: Susan had attended here. So, we came, too.
ME: What attracted you to this church specifically?
ML: Everyone was so welcoming and accepting. I’ve been given the opportunity to get
involved. We were only here for 8 months when Ira passed away. We celebrated our
anniversary on May 1st. He passed on May 15th. Everyone here has been such a great
support for me.
ME: You joined the choir.
ML: I sing tenor, mostly, and alto. I’ve played the piano during service. Now, I’m
branching out to the Performing Arts Committee.
ME: If your life was a book, what would the title be?
ML: Life Has Been A Challenge
ME: Who would you want to play you in the movie version?
ML: Marilyn Monroe