Welcome to the Rev. Brock Baker, our sabbatical priest through August 14

Published: July 7, 2022

A greeting from The Rev. Brock Baker, our sabbatical priest through August 15.

Hello Everyone!

I was ordained in 2008 and my first parish was in Lake Placid, New York, where I served as rector for three and 1/2 years; after my family and I moved to the Boston area in 2012, I served a number of parishes in the Diocese of MA as a supply priest while following a bi-vocational path. (From November 2020 to June 2021, I was the supply priest at St. Bartholomew’s Cambridge.) Before ordination, I was a long-time member and lay leader at St. Bartholomew’s in New York City where I led programs, served on the vestry, and received my call to the ordained ministry.  A central part of my ministry has been conducting Sunday healing services and workshops on how we can pray for each other one-on-one or in teams. It follows that I am always ready to pray with others for healing, in body, mind, and spirit, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

My former professional careers were as a literary journalist and trade book editor in London and New York City, although I have done many nonprofessional jobs as well.  My ongoing extra priesthood activity is as a writer of fiction and non-fiction. In recent years I have written an as yet unpublished novel, Film Noir, a Covid diary called “Small Things,” and am currently working on an autobiographical fiction entitled Abroad.

I read (print) books, magazines, and daily newspapers, and in the latter turn to the sports pages first. My favorite spectator sports are “ Premier League” football (soccer) and professional tennis. I used to be a Yankee fan but currently root for the Red Sox.

I have been married for 34 years and have two daughters, both out of the house. My wife, Elizabeth, is a corporate vice president at Morgan Stanley. We live in Arlington. My other interests are art, architecture, and travel. I am also a birdwatcher.

Dear people of Christ Church, Needham, whom I look forward to meeting, may God love you and keep you this day and forever more. Amen.