The Reverend Wesley A. Smith will lead the service at Wilson Memorial Chapel this Sunday, July 5. Margaret McEldowney will serve as organist. The service is at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome!

 This is Reverend Smith’s 26th year leading a service at the chapel. A native of Burnt Hills, New York, Rev. Smith received his B.A. in Biblical Studies and Social Science from Barrington College, Barrington, Rhode Island, in 1973, where he was inducted into Who's Who In American Colleges and Universities. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusetts, in 1976. On June 28 at his previous church in Hamilton, New York, Rev. Smith was honored by the State Executive Minister who preached and presented a certificate acknowledging Rev. Smith's 50th anniversary of his ordination.

Rev. Smith completed many credit hours toward a Doctor of Ministry degree in Not-For-Profit Administration at Trinity Seminary in Newburg, Indiana. Since his ordination on June 20, 1976, at Burnt Hills Baptist Church, Rev. Smith has served churches in Averill Park and Saratoga Springs, New York; in Colorado Springs, Colorado; in Westerly and Cranston, Rhode Island; and most recently in Hamilton, New York. Rev. Smith retired from 41 years of pastoral ministry in the spring of 2017. His service has also included terms as president of Hamilton Rotary. 

Currently, Rev. Smith serves as volunteer chaplain of the Harvey Cedars (NJ) Police Department. He recently received a gubernatorial citation with congratulations and recognition from New Jersey Governor Phillip D. Murphy, “for eight years of exemplary leadership and guidance to the residence of Harvey Cedar's, the Police Department, and Beach Patrol, while serving as volunteer Chaplain of the Harvey Cedars Police Department.” Rev. Smith also serves as part of a team of preachers who are filling the pulpit at the Zion Lutheran Church in Barnegat Light, New Jersey, while the church is searching for a new minister. He recently organized the program for the Blessing of the Viking Village Fishing Fleet, one of the largest fleets on the East Coast. 

Rev. Smith is married to Joyce Halliday Smith, a fine artist. They reside on Long Beach Island in the Borough of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. The Smiths enjoy sailing, kayaking, power boating, and gardening in addition to time with their golden retriever Skimmer and visits with their daughters and grandchildren in Colorado Springs.