We are blessed with members who have the desire and gifts to lead our parish into ever-deepening faithfulness, by expanding our reach into the hearts of those who walk through our church doors and to those we meet in the neighborhood.
Our main leadership groups are: 1) the Vestry, which is an elected group of lay leaders who work collaboratively with the rector (Mother Barbara) and other clergy (Mother Ginger and Deacon Brian) as they set vision for parish, develop and empower leaders for program development, and connect our resources (financial, buildings, and other) to our mission. Our vestry members are: Susan Tyler, (Senior Warden), Kelsey Heckmen (Junior Warden), Amelia Bennett (youth representative), Judy Boeree, Ann Heermans-Booth, Tracey Knerr, Jessica Larkin, and Beth Watkins, and 2) Our Missional Discernment Group, which is responsible for assessing the commitment and engagement of our parish members and community neighbors in support of our community engagement work and for the development of Grace Place, our community garden and ministry center and which has taken the church beyond the walls of our parish,. Members of the Missional Discernment Group are: Ann Baker, Ann Heermans-Booth, Jessica Larkin, Susan Tyler, Keith Tyler, and our clergy: Mother Barbara, Mother Ginger, and Deacon Brian.
Our Worship Leaders are: Mother Barbara Hutchinson (Rector and Priest), Mother Ginger Bennett (Assistant to the Rector), Deacon Brian Shaffer (Deacon assigned to our parish), Michael Stitt (Head Verger), Susan Davis (Verger-in-Training), Heidi McCusker (Lay Licensed Worship Leader), Brian Helman (Church Musician), Lisa Turchi (Cantor), Susan Davis (Altar Guild Chair), Tracey Knerr (Worship Minister Scheduler), Allison Beattie (Flower Guild Chair). Additional musicians include Michelle DiBona Trefren, Kevin Gorman, and Heidi McCusker.
The Worship Planning Group for Sunday services and some special services include the clergy (Mother Barbara, Mother Ginger, Deacon Brian) and our Licensed Lay Worship Leader (Heidi McCusker).
We have a group of people eager to learn about liturgy and plan our special services, most regularly our monthly Contemplative Services. Members include the clergy (Mother Barbara, Mother Ginger, Deacon Brian), Judy Boeree, Ann Heermans-Booth, Jessica Larkin, and Heidi McCusker.
Our Prayer Team Ministry Chair is Ann Baker. The purpose of the team is to uphold the congregation and its ministries and the community in prayer. It is to encourage, educate, empower, and inspire the congregation in their prayer lives. They offer monthly prayer resources, coordinate the parish prayer list, and respond to parishioner or clergy requests for special prayers.
Our Community Meal Chair is Angie Schneider who faithfully supports and develops this ministry, always creating new ways for us to meet the increased demand of the number of meals served each month.
Our Grace Place Garden Coordinator is Jessica Larkin, who tends to the garden with such grace, expertise, and invitation to all — and who offers a place of nourishment and beauty which nourishes our souls. Jessica is also our Community Missioner for our new program “A Seat around the Table, Just for You”, which has been funded by the Partnership for Better Health as a way to draw people together to plan, create, and enjoy a meal together with the desire to reduce social isolation and loneliness.
An active community liaison is Tracey Knerr, who has established a program in collaboration with the Family Shelter called Think Tank. This program is designed to work with children in the shelter or surrounding neighborhood to increase their critical thinking skills, learn adaptive behavior, work on organizational skills, provide homework help, and work with the families to set learning goals. This Spring, Think Tank has been taken outdoors, into the Grace Place garden, where some of the activities have included: planting seeds, learning how to harvest vegetables, dyeing Easter Eggs with natural plant dyes, cooking together, and exploring the garden with wonder and awe.
We also have an amazing choir! It’s small, but marvelous! We are delighted that some of our parishioners have made the commitment to sing together and lead the congregation in giving praise to God for the glory that shines among us. The choir sings are the monthly contemplative services.
Our Buildings & Grounds Committee Chair is Kelsey Heckmen. This group is charged with keeping our buildings safe and in good condition and ensure they are used to support the mission of the parish and of our neighborhood. This group meets monthly to address any concerns, make improvements to the buildings, and organize group events designed to gather people so we can be good stewards of our property.
We are blessed by everyone’s generous offerings and invite all of us to pray, discern, and offer your gifts to our ministries.