Meet the Pastors

Allen Ewing-Merrill grew up in Searsport – two hours up the coast from Portland – and graduated from the University of Maine, Orono. After teaching high school English for four years – one at Bangor High School and three at Searsport District High School – he answered the call to ministry, graduating from Boston University School of Theology in 2000. He has served churches in Patten, Maine; Wilmington, MA; and Hudson, MA. Allen's special interests in ministry include preaching, creative worship, leadership and visioning, worship arts, and teaching.

Sara Ewing-Merrill grew up on the prairie in South Dakota, the daughter of two preachers’ kids (her grandfathers are both retired pastors). Sara is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. She moved to our nation’s capital to pursue seminary studies at Wesley Theological Seminary, from which she graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 2003. She has served churches in Old Orchard Beach & Saco, Maine and Sudbury, MA. Her special interests in ministry include sacred dance, worship arts, and exploring new forms of worship.

Allen & Sara are the parents of Rachel, born in July 2006. They moved to Portland from Hudson, MA in July 2007 to begin their ministry as co-pastors of New Light, and they are so excited to be on this adventure together!