Melody Martin
Melody Martin, a 1974 Cook County High School graduate, has spent some time at “home” in Grand Marais this summer, taking a break from her studies to become a minister in the Unity Movement. Martin is in her first year of a threeyear degree program at Unity Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.
While here visiting her mother, Pat Martin, Melody decided to attend worship at the First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ. Chatting after church one morning, interim minister EvaLyn Carlson realized that Martin has an interesting story to tell. Carlson asked her to fill the pulpit one Sunday and Martin agreed. She will be the guest speaker at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational on Sunday, September 1.
Anyone who knows Martin—either from her growing up years here in Grand Marais, through her life’s work advocating for the disabled or through her book Lessons on the Journey—knows that life has not always been easy for her.
In a recent phone interview, Martin spoke a little about the challenges of dealing with cerebral palsy and misconceptions about the disabled. For many years she and a friend operated a small business that worked with churches, helping congregations understand the importance of making churches accessible—not just physically, but theologically as well. Martin said they were successful getting people to think about making changes. “How many times do you see a person with a disability preach a sermon?” asked Martin.
Will that be what her September 1 sermon will be about? Martin laughed, “I’m not quite sure. But I would say that I am so pleased to get this invitation from EvaLyn. It’s an opportunity to share my story.
“Hopefully the spirit will be working through me— and through all of us at that time,” said Martin.
The spirit is certainly woven throughout the book that Martin has written Lessons on the Journey, which the Cook County News-Herald reviewed in 2007, noting that it is a “small book with a big message.”
Much of the book reflects on things learned during Martin’s time at a convent and later at seminary, and how those deeply spiritual experiences have impacted Martin’s everyday life. A lot of the decisions Martin made, she writes, were made by “my inner self, my essence, my spirit.”
Although limited copies are available, Martin said she hopes to have a few more for sale at Lake Superior Trading Post in Grand Marais soon. Pick up a copy to learn more about this determined woman. Or, spend Sunday morning at the First Congregational Church!
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