Briefly describe your family, occupation, and professional and community involvement.
My husband, George, and I have been married for 42 years and live in West Chester. Our son, Mark, grew up at Good Sam and, now 31, he and his wife, Alex, are committed followers of Jesus, active in their own church community, and also love to visit Good Sam!
An Early Childhood Educator by profession, I taught preschool for 14 years. Then homeschooled Mark from K-12; helped create a homeschool co-op; and taught several high school classes with the co-op. I was also a bookkeeper for 40+ years along with other jobs.
How long have you regularly attended worship at Good Samaritan? In which ministries have you been involved and in what capacity?
Our first Sunday of worship at Good Sam was quite unexpected! It was back in 1987 when Fr Dan Sullivan was the rector and the choir room was up behind the organ pipes. We visited a choir rehearsal one night, just to see friends, and at the end we were given robes and the call time for Sunday morning! We never looked back. God had put us right where he wanted us.
I enjoyed singing with the choir for 13+ years (some as a section leader and soloist), plus bell choir, praise band, singing for weddings, funerals, retreats, and conferences. With the advent of the New Chapel service, I began singing with that band.
In addition to music ministry, I’ve also served many years in Vacation Bible School, worked with Dakota/Good Sam Fair Days, home groups, various search committees, Alpha, 10 years of lunch team, and probably a few things I’ve forgotten!
In what diocesan level ministries and/or ministries in previous parishes have you been involved?
I have not been involved in any diocesan level ministries other than serving when Good Sam hosted a diocesan weekend event years ago. In a previous church, I was a worship leader.
From your point of view, what is the greatest challenge or opportunity you see facing Good Samaritan in the next three to five years?
I believe one of our greatest opportunities right now, thanks in part to our new clergy and support staff, is to grow in our ministry and outreach. I believe we have a huge responsibility to continue to reach out and gather people in a way that each person who walks through our doors feels truly cared for and truly known, and that we may be a place where all will feel welcome even though the culture around us often breeds anonymity.
May we continue to be a light in the darkness, preaching the Gospel without watering it down, and discipling those who want to go deeper in their faith. Our plans, our decisions, our worship—everything—must be centered on the authority of Scripture and introducing people to Jesus.
Please describe how you understand the gospel message. What is that message to you?
When just a pre-teen, I was sitting with my mom and younger sisters at the Good Friday service in our little Methodist Church. Our pastor, a retired high school history teacher, loved his Lord deeply. His heartfelt sermon in that service touched a chord in my young heart and my spiritual eyes were opened. When I knelt at the altar to receive communion, I “saw” Jesus on the cross looking down at me with eyes full of love, saying “I did this for you.” That was the beginning of a lifelong journey following Jesus.
My understanding of the Gospel message is: that Jesus, Son of God, gave his life for me on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin as a broken human separated from God. And by accepting his sacrifice, I have been given eternal life.