14 Jun Meet our Diocese’s Newest Deacon
While Bishop Stewart typically introduces you to a clergy or lay leader in our diocese each month, he’s currently taking some time of summer rest with his family. So I’m thrilled to introduce you to our diocese’s newest deacon—Meghan Robins.
Since 2020, Meghan has served as Pastoral Care Pastor at our cathedral, Church of the Resurrection, where her family—husband Robb and three kids—have worshipped for many years. (Even though they’ve served in a myriad of ways, Robb may be best known for rocking the accordion on the music team.) Meghan has a passion for prayer and healing ministry, is a gifted teacher and preacher, and her ministry has been a deep gift to Resurrection and our diocese. Please enjoy getting to know her better.
Interview by Bonnie McMaken, Editor
You’ve been on pastoral staff at Church of the Resurrection for a long time—in a variety of roles! What are you doing now and what do you love about it?
Yes, I started out on staff as a part-time receptionist 12 years ago! Since becoming the Pastoral Care Pastor, I’ve had the privilege of resourcing parishioners in difficult seasons.
Resurrection has a rich heritage of healing ministry, so whether I’m in a prayer appointment or connecting parishioners to wonderful local Christian therapists—I take joy in being a part of that heritage.
As a shepherd and now a deacon, what are some areas of pastoral care that bring you joy?
There’s nothing more exciting than watching someone encounter the Lord directly. For a person who’s suffering, I can do very little compared to what Jesus can. So when I witness a person encountering the Lord in prayer, it’s a huge honor. I also get excited when I see parishioners finding deliverance from things that are blocking them from receiving God’s love.
As a part-time working mom, you’re always juggling a lot. Tell us about your family and how you try to balance ministry, family life, and rest.
My husband Robb and I have three beautiful children (ages twelve, ten, and five). Even though finding balance has been hard, the post-COVID era has been a blessing for us. Robb works from home three days a week, making our life rhythms much more manageable.
As I’ve taken on this pastoral role, I’ve become extremely grateful for the refuge of family life. My family is my number one priority, and it’s important to me to put boundaries around my work in order to be present to them.
We have built-in family rhythms that help us feel anchored, like homemade pizza and a movie on Fridays, family chores on Saturday mornings, and a weekly date night for Robb and me.
The Robins family at Church of the Resurrection
Your parents were missionaries in France. How did growing up in a different culture impact your view on being a Christian in the U.S.?
The number one thing I received is an inheritance of faith by watching my parents’ faith on the mission field and experiencing how capable God is of providing for our every need.
My dad was a church planter but ended up focusing on spiritual warfare, which has profoundly shaped me. In Jesus, we have so much authority against the powers of darkness and don’t need to be afraid. Not everyone in the U.S. is comfortable with the concept of spiritual warfare, and I’m glad that I can share that hope of the authority we have in Jesus.
Speaking of France, you’re known for creating delicious confections. How did you hone that craft and why is it special for you?
I do love to cook and bake! You cannot grow up in France without developing a heartfelt love of food and dining. After high school I took some pastry classes in Paris, so I especially love to make pastries. Outside of Lent, it’s rare for a week to go by without my baking some new concoction just for the fun of it. I’m in my happy place when I’m elbow deep in butter, flour, and sugar!
It’s profoundly eucharistic to share food with one another, and feasting is a biblical paradigm that we can live into before we get to heaven.
What does your family like to do in your spare time?
We love family walks with our dog Mousse. It’s also not uncommon to find all five of us sitting around our house reading. We are also fans of watching TV shows together like Jeeves and Wooster or Lego Masters. Unsurprisingly, we also love to eat together. Robb makes homemade pizza, donuts, and bread every week, and I prioritize our family dinners. We’ve also been known to do challenges like trying to find the best donut in Chicago’s western suburbs.
What good books have you read recently?
This is a tough question! I’ve been on a Victorian kick lately and am loving The Pickwick Papers and just finished laughing my way through Gaskell’s Cranford.
On the more modern side of things, I just finished Stegner’s beautiful book, Angle of Repose. My favorite devotional reads this year have been Thérèse of Lisieux’s autobiography and Elizabeth of the Trinity’s life story, He is My Heaven.
Read Deacon Meghan’s bio here. Photos by Michael Johnson (website)
