About Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald

Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald served in parish ministry for nine years before being called into conference ministry as Area Minister for the Grand West Association in Michigan. She retired in 2023 from that position. Ruth served on the community board for Pilgrim Manor, then a United Church Homes community, and has been an active board member for the Fountain Hill Center for Counseling and Care, and Ele's Place--West Michigan (a healing center for grieving children and teens) all in Grand Rapids. Ruth has two grown children and three precious grandchildren. Travel, hiking, knitting, and reading fill her “spare” time.

Recent Blog Posts

Remembering While We Wait

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  December 05, 2024

When I went to seminary in my forties, I learned the pure pleasure and joy of studying scripture with my heart wide open. I read the familiar passages, and I surely..

Living with Purpose After Your Primary Career

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  September 26, 2024

Truth be told, I’ve had real difficulty writing this blog post. In fact, even though I’m a procrastinator by nature and always push a deadline, I had to ask for an..

I Remember

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  June 20, 2024

Mortality Thoughts

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  April 11, 2024

My husband died in 2004 when he was just 49 years old. Since then, I think I’ve had more than my share of “mortality thoughts,” the theme of this series of blog posts...

What’s Your Favorite Color?

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  January 25, 2024

The view from my window for about the past week has been white—snow-covered. I guess, really, it’s been grey; grey skies, grey light, grey trees. Grey. But, this storm..

Unexpected Clarity…Maybe!

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  May 04, 2023

My mother was a professor of clothing and textiles at Wayne State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree at that school and then went on to earn a master’s degree at..

Walk On

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  March 16, 2023

Over the past year or so I’ve been in a time of discernment. It has been my experience that these times of anticipating transition or finding a new path in life are not..

Light Breaking Through the Dreariness

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  January 26, 2023

Want to use these Abundant Aging blogs as a resource for individual reflection or small group discussion? Beginning with today’s blog, you will find questions at the..

Hold Back

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  December 01, 2022

Eighteen years ago, my 49-year-old husband died, very suddenly, while he was traveling. December 9, 2004 is a date that can conjure up so many memories and emotions,..