December 10 Today in OPC History

Former OPC missionary Mary Wolcott Bird was born on this day in 1919. On August 16, 1947, Mary married Herbert Bird who had just graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary. They had attended Wheaton College together, but it was after their graduation that their friendship blossomed at Memorial OPC in Rochester, New York. Both Mary and Herb had a desire to serve as foreign missionaries, and after spending four years serving at Faith OPC in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Birds were called as OPC missionaries to Eritrea. Blessed with three children, David, Steven and Ruth, they faithfully labored in Eritrea from 1952 to 1971. On their return to the United States, Mary and her family joined Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Herb died in 1975, but Mary remained active at Trinity Church providing an example for all of faithfulness. She could be found participating in the Love and Stitches ministry, partnering with Grace Haney in supporting worship services at a local nursing home and playing the piano for countless services. Mary joined the Church Triumphant on March 28, 2022.

Picture: Herb, Mary and Ruth Bird at Trinity Church in the 1970s