Lauren’s ministry focuses on deepening people’s relationships with God, hopefully growing and having fun along the way. She delights in developing new ministries for families, children, and youth often through intergenerational activities and programming. She loves ‘pastoral care’, walking with people through the highs and lows of life. As a trained spiritual director, she often finds her way into conversations about where people see God active in their life.
Lauren grew up in Alabama, and most of her family still resides there. She graduated from Rhodes College with a BA in Religious Studies and Psychology, and Virginia Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity. Her mother is also an Episcopal priest, ordained in 2009. Her husband, Ryan, is an Episcopal priest as well. He works for the Diocese of New York as the Campus and Young Adult Missioner for Harlem, Uptown, and the Bronx (often called “the Uptown Chaplain”), based out of Columbia University. Lauren and Ryan have three boys: Wystan, Simeon, and Yeats. Lauren enjoys running, cooking, hiking with her family, and cheering for Auburn football.
Anthony is a deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. He has completed a four year course on Education for Ministry offered by University of the South, School of Theology at Sewanee. Anthony works at an assisted living facility in White Plains, New York working along with the elderly and people with dementia. Anthony currently lives in Yonkers, NY with his wife of almost 30 years, Deborah, who is administrative assistant at Manhattan College in Bronx, New York. Anthony has 4 children and 5 grandchildren. In his spare time Anthony loves the outdoors and reading.
Craig has been a church musician since he was in middle school and served as the choir accompanist in his home church in a small farming town in Northern California. He majored in Organ Performance receiving a BM from San Francisco State and a MM from Mills College. For the past thirty years, Craig has held positions as Music Director and Organist in Presbyterian and Episcopal churches in the San Francisco and Boston areas. Most recently, he was Director of Music at Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester MA. Craig and his husband Darren, a scientist, live in Manhattan with their Welsh Terrier Lola. In their free time they love attending concerts, the theater and opera as well as cooking and traveling.
Gloria was born and raised in Manizales, Colombia, where she lived before immigrating to the United States 26 years ago. She has a BA in Business Economy from the Autonomous University of Manizales. Throughout her 26 years of living in the US, she has always worked with kids, who are her passion. She currently works at a daycare in Mamaroneck, but previously nannied for families in New Rochelle, where she currently lives with her husband and daughter. Gloria and her husband, Henry, have a total of 4 children and 4 grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting and spending time with her family. Gloria and her husband joined the Episcopal Church when their daughter, Sophia, was born 20 years ago. Since then, they have been a significant part of their parishes as Gloria was a Godly Play teacher for about 15 years, and her husband was a preacher and is now on the road to becoming a Deacon within the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Gloria is so excited to be a new member of this community & can’t wait to love and take care of the little ones!
Melanie is a California Native, and has been living in New York since 2009. She spent her college years in Hawaii where she earned a BA in Sociology. She is also currently a family and wedding photographer. In her administrative roles she began as an office assistant in the city, and over the years has progressed into an office manager. Her absolute favorite and most important job is being a mom to her beautiful five year old daughter, Stevie Marie. Melanie, her husband, Dan, their daughter, and their rescue dog, Bella, currently reside in Yonkers. She enjoys traveling and spending time with loved ones.
WARDENS & VESTRY
The Vestry at Grace Church is composed of the Rector, two Wardens and seven members of the parish. The Rector looks to the Wardens and Vestry members for support and guidance, and parishioners look to them for leadership. Their effort and commitment bring the parish together to further our common goals.
Alicia sweitzer
Junior Warden
Marc Gouran
Senior Warden
Dennis Prahl
Stewardship Chair