Our Stories: Sue Masid Kerss

Written by Sue Masid Kerss, Published on July 16, 2018

I was born in a little village near Damascus, Syria, of Syrian parents. However, my father was a naturalized American citizen, living in Western Nebraska. So my father brought me and my mother to this town on the prairie.

So I grew up in Scottsbluff, the eldest of six children. Although my parents were Syrian Orthodox, the only Orthodox church in our area was Greek and 50 miles away. So we gravitated to St. Andrew’s, where the priest took special care of us. Father Clyde Whitney had a great impact on me.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska, I was hired by the Des Moines Register, where I worked for decades. At the same time, I found St. Paul’s. And I’ve been here ever since.

St. Paul’s has been family away from family. My siblings are scattered across the country, and the people at St. Paul’s have been my angels. I raised two children here and I have nurtured my faith here.

Through what I call divine intervention, I met my husband John at church. He was here from California on a job transfer. He had no intentions of staying in Iowa. That was 18 years ago.

St. Paul’s is my faith community. I love the liturgy, the music is beautifully and thoughtfully sung, and it offers Bible study and other faith-nurturing avenues.

It helps me stay grounded.