On Oct. 11, longtime pastor Rudy Schneider officiated his final church service at Zion Lutheran Church in Barnegat Light with his wife, Carole, playing the organ. For the couple, it marked the end of an extraordinary career in religious action and leadership.
Carole and Rudy’s partnership began when they met at Hartwick College in Oneata, N.Y. Rudy was from Long Island and was a music ed major; Carole was from Nyak, N.Y. and a biology major. It didn’t take long for their love to blossom, and the couple married.
Rudy joked about their career path following college. “You can see how we use our college educations! I was active in music and more inclined to the pastoral ministry, which led me to Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in Mount Airy. Carole came to Philadelphia with me and worked at a school that no longer exists,” he said.
When Rudy finished seminary school, he was assigned to Manahawkin as a mission developer in 1965. He received the 3-acre field on Route 9, and his job was to get recruits and establish a church, which became Holy Spirit. The congregation quickly grew to nearly 400 members, and Rudy and Carole were there until 2007, when Rudy retired.
Working with people was the main draw for Pastor Rudy, which invigorated him during his 43 years at Holy Spirit.
“There is a spiritual or religious aspect which comes from having to deal with people and their situations, helping them get organized to do things of importance and obtain spiritual growth within themselves,” he said.
Carole spent a few years teaching elementary school in Toms River and at the George Mitchell School in Little Egg Harbor. She took a break to raise her three children; then, she taught science for 20 years at Southern Regional High School until 2000. Although her children and career kept her occupied, she maintained an important role in the church, playing the organ and interacting with the community.
“I’ve always played,” she said. “I started piano lessons when I was 8. I played in Sunday school, in high school and in church. Being married to Rudy, it just falls in line.
“I used to have a big choir of about 30, which I directed. We had a traveling ministry of puppets and singers, and we would travel to different churches on Sunday nights with this program of Bible stories done with hand puppets that were big, like ‘Sesame Street,’ and a group of 30 singers. I took care of the music, and Rudy took care of the puppets,” she said.
Music, creativity, faith and belief are inherent in the Schneider family. In high school, Rudy went to worship, sang in the choir and in musicals, and played a musical instrument. While growing up, Carole sang and played organ at a church located within a block of her home. Their three children and two grandchildren are equally as gifted.
Their son, Scott, owns a production company that stages lighting, videos, business events and meetings. Scott’s sister, Beth, works with him, and the pair travel all over the country. Currently they are in Denver, working with the European Premier League by establishing viewing events for soccer fans.
Carolyn Schneider is a gifted performing arts teacher whose choir and select choir frequently perform at local events. Her children, Belle and Lucas, are also talented singers and thespians. She credits her parents for helping to establish her career path.
“Both of my parents are talented musicians,” she said. “My father was an all-state violinist and got his BA in music education before going to seminary. My mother should have been a music major because she was born with a God-given gift of perfect pitch. She literally can play anything on the piano or organ, which came in handy as my dad would add in things during the service.
“My siblings and I all had to play a musical instrument and a sport. My parents felt strongly about being well rounded and exposed to different things. Once we reached high school, we could decide what path we chose. We all continued in both music and sports throughout high school and even into college,” Carolyn said.
When Rudy and Carole’s time at Holy Spirit concluded in 2007, they took a short respite from worship, then began attending Zion Lutheran in Barnegat Light. Carole played organ as a substitute and took on a full-time role in 2014, and Rudy filled in as a pastor when their full-time pastor, Bill McGowan, was unavailable. When McGowan retired in 2023, Rudy was appointed vice pastor and officiated services with the aid of a skilled group of ministers and reverends.
Zion Lutheran Church has been another family to the Schneiders. When pastors retire, there is a grace period in which they cannot attend the church at which they worked, allowing the new leadership to establish itself. Zion welcomed the Schneiders after they left Holy Spirit and, in turn, the Schneiders were able to help Zion during a time when its leadership was in transition.
“I’m grateful for and appreciative to the leadership of the congregation for their continuing work at a time where there was no full-time pastor, and they were open to a number of my recommendations,” explained Rudy.
Carole expressed her gratitude as well as what she loves the most about Zion. “I like the people. We’ve become very close to them and are fond of them,” she said.
Carolyn also detailed the process with the Zion congregation. “They have welcomed our family; it was very difficult to leave our last church, due to the relationships we’ve had our entire lives. There was so much activity and involvement, hangouts, youth groups and camping trips. I played piano there for a little bit. Knowing my parents felt welcomed was a great thing. They built genuine and true relationships and friendships with people within the church,” she said.
Wes and Karen Barrett have been members of the congregation for nine years and are grateful for the Schneiders, who have been omnipresent.
“Pastor Rudy is one of those constant pillars within the congregation. Although he had finished his career, years and decades preaching, he stepped up and just made sure from a continuity perspective that everything kept going, and that’s what he’s been doing. He is just a great man who wanted the best for the entire congregation. And Carole is so talented, and knows as much as a minister – the celebrations, church calendar and everything else. She is such a beautiful and nice person,” Wes Barrett said.
Zion President Susan Scangarello reflected on Rudy and Carole’s time at Zion.
“At the church, I’ve had quite a bit of contact with Pastor Rudy. He has really delved into detail administratively, with record keeping, paperwork, constitution and bylaws. He has more experience than most with bookkeeping. He provided so much stability by stepping up from retirement and leading us. He went way beyond the description of vice pastor. He became the face of the church, and people looked to him because he was so seasoned as a pastor. He led us in our ability to give communion. He has a kind and gentle soul and displays it to anyone he deals with, giving so much of his time and love.
“Carole was at our church for at least 15 years,” Scangarello continued, “taking only two Sundays off a year. She was someone we relied on, and she just did it. She was talented and versatile as an organist/pianist, playing contemporary and traditional songs, and could play hymns from memory if asked. She was a cornerstone of the church. We’ve been really blessed with those two, and I’m sad to see them go. They’re two angels; we’re happy we had them,” she said.
Pastor Rudy and Carole’s last service was originally scheduled for Sept. 27 but was postponed, due to the nor’easter, until Sunday, Oct. 11, following the regularly scheduled church service. The change of date allowed for Aileen Reynolds of the Ladies’ Guild to organize a party fitting to the Schneiders’ taste, an informal gathering celebrating their time of service.
In their new retirement, Pastor Rudy and Carole can focus on their lives outside the congregation, particularly their role as grandparents.
Carolyn explained, “My parents are absolutely the best grandparents. They are loving, kind, patient and so supportive. Growing up, my siblings and I didn’t see our grandparents very often. They lived in another state, and with my parents working every weekend and every holiday, it was hard to go and visit. They vowed to be close to their grandchildren. Living across the street from my kids, they welcomed both Lucas and Belle for breakfast every day before school as well as riding on ‘the Poppy bus,’ as my dad would drive them to school every day.”
Belle is excited for this new phase in her grandparents’ life together. From college she wrote, “Carole and Rudy are exactly the grandparents you would think. Kind, considerate and always available to discuss things through without any familial bias. They care for Lucas and I like their own kids but also have the wisdom of already raising three kids.
“Pop has shown me how to hang pictures, back up trailers and be confident and strong in my decision making. Meme has shown me the way around the kitchen and how to handle everyday challenges with grace and poise. I couldn’t imagine living my life without my grandparents. They have truly shaped who I am and have the most influence on who I’ll become. Meme and Pop are the main drive for my career choice, as they have shown me how important it is to help anyone in need. I am looking forward to their retirement because THEY CAN VISIT ME IN WARM CHARLESTON!!! Whoohooo!!”
With the Schneiders’ departure, Zion Lutheran Church is actively searching for a pastor, an organ player and supply preachers. More information on this search can be found at zionlbi.org.
