In the comfortable dining area of the Woodworth home, on a cozy treed lot in Hillsborough, I had a wonderful visit with Marlene. Marlene is the wife of Rev. Norman Woodworth and has been with him in ministry for over 30 years. Being asked to share about her growing up years Marlene contentedly responds by saying: "I have returned to the same community where I was born.I had wonderful loving parents and siblings (four sisters and two brothers) and grew up right across the road from the Baptist Church.  I remember always being involved in the church and all the groups that were for my age (pioneer club, youth groups, youth choir, Sunday school, etc.). My youth years were busy with school studies, sports, piano and singing lessons. Upon high school graduation in 1967, I pursued studies at Teacher's College in Fredericton.”

“I was introduced to Norman while he was working as a forest ranger in Hillsborough by a family friend, but at that time I was only in grade 11 and I didn't find him too interesting! However, in August of 1968 I started seriously dating Norman, knowing that he was off to Toronto to study at Ontario Bible College. Many letters and phone calls occurred that year!! I graduated in the spring of 1969 and started teaching Grade 2 at West Riverview Elementary School in the fall. Also Norman had transferred his studies to Atlantic Baptist College and we were engaged that same fall.  I knew that Norman was going into ministry even though at the time he didn't know what type of ministry.”

“We were married in July 1970 and lived in a small trailer at Lakeside Provincial Park that summer as Norman was the superintendent of the park. In August we moved to Wolfville, N.S. where Norman studied for six years completing his arts degree and then his Master of Divinity at Acadia University. For three of those years, I taught grade 2 at the Avonport Elementary school. At the end of each university year Norman left Wolfville to come back to Hillsborough to work for T.P. Downey & Sons Lumber Co. doing property lines and cruising timber on the lumber lands. This helped pay the tuition each fall.”

“Our first child, Paul, was born in February 1973 so I resigned my teaching position at the end of that year so I could be a ‘stay at home’ mom. I applied to be a dorm Mom for the fall but did not get that position. However, it always amazes me how the Lord provides. In late August of that summer, I had a call from the university wanting to know if I would come to be a Dorm "mom". There had been an increase in the number of females registered and they needed to change a boy's dorm into a girl's residence. We lived in Willet House with 80 girls that year and then in Seminary House with 120 girls, and finally in Dennis House with 160 girls. We had lots of ministry training during those years.  Our second child, Joy, was born in February 1975 while we lived in Seminary House. She became the 'class baby' when Norman graduated in the spring of 1976. Those were lean years but we were able to see them through. During the years at Acadia, Norman was busy with studies, student council, and coordinating gospel teams and I helped with the singing on Norman's gospel team.”

“In the spring before graduating in 1976 Norman received a call from First Baptist Church in Moncton to be their Christian Education Director. We were at First Baptist for six years during which time our third (Philip, April 1978) and fourth (David, 1981) children were born. During our time at First Baptist I sang in a double trio and taught in the primary department in Sunday school. I was too busy with our children to be involved in other ministries.”

“In 1982 we moved to Oromocto where Norman was the senior pastor for 22 years, even though he had lots of opportunities to move elsewhere. Our four children were able to complete their junior and high school years in Oromocto. The church people were wonderful. There were always lots of changes in Oromocto because of the military base and this brought about frequent changes in the music programs. At one time I started a Children's Choir, others times I was helping choir directors, or playing when no one was available. Then one summer we lost our organist and choir director in the same posting season. This caused me to get more involved and eventually I was the music director and I was using gifts and talents that I had learned as a child and beyond. Also I taught private piano lessons for many years as there was a real need for teachers in Oromocto.”

“Entertaining was a big part of the ministry because of all the changes of military personnel. I found that it took me a long time to build relationships with people because of this constant changing and as a pastor's wife I had to be careful what I shared. I felt it was important not to have favorites. Norman has always been great sharing the responsibility of raising the family even though he was very busy.”

“In about 2002 or earlier, Norman was starting to think about semi-retiring (even though I wasn't quite ready at that point). However, in the Lord's timing, he had an inquiry from the Hillsborough Baptist Church, which was the church where I grew up. We are now in Hillsborough, Norman serving part-time as Director of Adult Ministries and I'm serving part-time as Director of Music.”

“Our children have married and are serving the Lord in various capacities. Praise the Lord for His goodness to us! Having a large extended family made it easier to have a support system. The things that I enjoy doing to relax are gardening (This was evident by the beautiful flower beds that surround the Woodworth home in Hillsborough), playing the piano, sewing, music; listening and planning, travel, boating ?and vacationing at Stanyard Lake”.

I would also add cooking to Marlene's list as while we were talking she was preparing a large batch of cookies for her kids chime choir to enjoy later in the day for the end of year party. When I asked Marlene to share her favorite Scripture, she said: “The Book of Philippians particularly Phil.1:6, 2:13, 3:12-14 and 4:6, 19. I also enjoy reading the monthly issues of "Today In The Word" (Moody Press) and also Daily Bread and the Bible, of course.”

As a veteran’s pastor’s wife, Marlene advises other ministry wives: “Be there as a support to your spouse in their ministry. Pray a lot with and for your spouse and family.”