K. Brewster Hastings, priest

The Rev. K. Brewster Hastings, 55, of Abington, an Episcopal priest and a writer, died Thursday, Oct. 27, of complications from heart surgery at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health.

Beginning in 1994, Father Hastings was the rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Abington. He saw himself as shepherd of the flock, but also sought out others who might need caring counsel.

"He could be spiritual in an instant for people who weren't even Episcopalians," said Stephen Loeffler, a longtime member of the church. "He was a man of God for everybody. He had the knack of being able to talk to anybody and see what their ministry was about."

Father Hastings gave weekly sermons, which he posted online. On Sunday, Sept. 4, he drew from the mundane to illustrate his point.

"This morning's lessons are abrasive," he wrote. "They are abrasive like sandpaper you buy at Home Depot to use in prepping a wall to paint.

"Jesus is coarse and blunt, so there is no avoidance of this fact: We are terribly estranged from God. Jesus is so demanding because his mission is to get us out of the terrible messes we make of life, and back to God."

Father Hastings was born in Princeton to Lucia and Kempton B. Hastings. He graduated from the Lawrenceville School and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y.

Feeling a call to the priesthood, he earned a master of divinity degree from the New York-based Union Theological Seminary in 1988.

In 1990, after he was ordained, he became assistant rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, N.J.; interim rector at All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakewood, N.J., and finally rector of St. Anne's, where he served until his death.

"He was especially good at healing prayers," Loeffler said. "You felt he was speaking directly for you. His laying on of hands" was very moving.

His wife, Pamela Roediger Marin Hastings, served as coordinator of community outreach ministry for the church.

In 1994, Father Hastings organized Pastors United in Prayer, a multidenominational group of church leaders who met monthly to pray for issues outside their churches.

He also organized weekly Bible study groups and sat in the food court at Willow Grove Park, holding a sign that said, "Free Prayer."

A voracious reader and skilled wordsmith, Father Hastings authored many articles, poems, and sermons, and two self-published books of fiction with a spiritual theme.

His first book, a 2013 novel entitled The Only Way Out for Henry Clatt, told of a lonely man who wanted more out of life than a job and hobbies on weekends.

His second, published in 2014, was a collection of short stories called A Certain Kind of Affection. It captured moments in the lives of a half-dozen characters dealing with restlessness and desire.

When not involved in church activities, Father Hastings enjoyed gardening, boating, fishing, and reflecting on the funny side of life.

"He had a great sense of humor," his wife said. "He was always observing people and the irreplaceability of each person."

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughters Maegan Marin and Max Marin; four brothers; two sisters; 11 nieces and nephews, and a great-niece.

A visitation starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, will be followed by a service of Requiem Eucharist at noon in St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 2119 Old Welsh Rd., Abington, Pa. 19001.

Donations may be made to the Hastings Fund of St. Anne's Church at the address above.

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