Meet the Vestry
In the month of May, when the school year and church program year come to an end, we also have a beginning. A new vestry takes office this month.
I am delighted to announce that Shirley Morgan has agreed to be senior warden for the coming year, and that Nancy Dillon will continue as junior warden. We also welcome aboard four new members – Deb Dee, Steve Mark, Mark O’Connell, and Ellen Taratus.
We also have a position to fill. Our capable treasurer Deedee Ewubare needs to step down because of other commitments. We need someone to take her place. You don’t need to be an accountant, but need to be comfortable working with numbers. Duties include making sure the bills are paid and making a monthly report to the vestry. If you are interested please contact Tricia, and feel free to talk the job over with Deedee.
Here is information about all our vestry members.
Deborah Dee — Deb moved to the Atlanta area in 2007 with her husband, Eric Combest, history chair and teacher at Westminster, and their daughter, Liv, who is completing her junior year of high school in Zaragoza, Spain (and arrives home on May 25!). Deb is a maternal/child health epidemiologist and works in the Division of Reproductive Health at CDC. She has been a member of St. Dunstan’s for about five years, and was thrilled to be received into the Episcopal church at St. Dunstan’s just a few years ago. In their free time, Deb and her family enjoy traveling, watching UNC Tar Heels basketball games, and exploring new places to hike. Let her know if you have any suggestions!
Nancy Dillon — St. Dunstan’s has been my church home for most of my adult life. I have served on just about every committee or guild and I have been on the Vestry several times, as both senior and junior wardens. My service here has been and still is a very important part of my life. I have two grown sons and a wonderful granddaughter who all live far away, so my church family has become an extension of my natural family. Though I am still working in real estate, it is important to me to be able to give back to the community in ways that are valuable and fulfilling to me. The very special people at St. Dunstan’s and the beauty and serenity of our surroundings are a significant part of my spiritual life.
Claudia Gimson – Claudia has been a member of St. Dunstan’s since 1991. She has served an earlier term on the vestry, was head of the Altar Guild for many years, and has been very involved in hospitality, including the Second Sunday Breakfasts. She has three grown children, Kimberly, Deborah, and John and two beautiful granddaughters, Scarlett and Mallory.
Steve Hauser — Steve grew up Methodist but has been an Episcopalian for the past 25 years or so. In a former life, Steve was on the vestry at St. Bartholomew’s here in Atlanta and was active at Palmer Memorial during his family’s years living in Houston. An avid amateur musician and choir member with Susan, Steve is very grateful for Tom and his many gifts to our parish. Steve is thankful for his many friends here and and is happy to be a part of our parish life.
Peg Maloney — Peg, originally from Philadelphia, arrived in Atlanta in 2008 following 10 years in Chicago. She shares her life with Bob Trukenbrod and feels blessed that her son and daughter and two beautiful granddaughters also live in Atlanta.
Peg spent 35 years in the equipment finance industry for companies including GE Capital, Key Equipment Finance and Dun & Bradstreet. She was generally responsible for risk management, the selection and implementation of operating systems and the development of credit, collections and asset management policies and procedures. Peg happily retired in 2013. She has a BA in Economics from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT. and an MBA from Villanova University
In addition to being a member of the St. Dunstan’s community and active in the Family Promise Program, Peg has been president of The Gallery Condominium Assoc. and works with foster children in the Fulton County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program. She and Bob treasure the time spent with all of their children and also enjoy travel any time and any place.
Steve Mark — I am a cradle Episcopalian, having been baptized when I was a month old on St. Stephen’s day. Having grown up in the Episcopal Church, I was never one of those with burning questions of faith during my formative years. As I matured, however, I was grateful to be an Episcopalian from the start, and over the years have have developed an appreciation for our denomination’s viewpoints and practices.
I have been on several vestries before, including St. Dunstan’s, and am honored and grateful to be elected to this vestry. Those of you who know me and my family, Elizabeth and Connor, know that we are enthusiastically active participants in our church life. I look forward to being on the vestry and helping promote the spiritual life at St. Dunstan’s in its many diverse forms
Shirley Morgan — Shirley came to Georgia via Texas, California, and Colorado. She is retired after more than 35 years as an LD teacher. She graduated from Baylor University, B.A., and Georgia State University, M.Ed. Special interests include music, especially choir and handbells, reading, nature, and travel. Shirley’s husband, John, is a retired music professor. They have two children who live out of state.
Mark O’Connell — Mark was born and raised in Detroit, attending an Episcopal church. He attended Michigan State University and moved to Atlanta in 1999 to follow a slow family transition to the area. Mark moved to Knoxville TN in 2007 and met Jackie, who was in school completing her doctorate at the University of Tennessee. After the birth of their daughter Reese, they transitioned back to Atlanta to move closer to family. Mark currently works at an E-Commerce footwear company in Midtown and is excited to continue along his faith journey with St. Dunstan’s.
Ellen Taratus — I was born in Bethpage, New York (on Long Island) and grew up in Morristown, New Jersey. My father worked for an oil company so I’ve also lived in Houston, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Bellevue, Washington. After graduating from Dartmouth College, I moved to New York City, where I met and married Ken, a native Atlantan. We spent a few years in Los Angeles and moved back to Atlanta in 1991. We have three sons, Kenneth III, 26; Christopher, 24; and Matthew, 20, two dogs, Chance and Lady, and a cat, Mr. Bigglesworth.
I work part-time as an editor for a journal on chronic disease at the CDC. I became a confirmed Episcopalian and joined St. Dunstan’s officially in May 2014 and have been active with Family Promise (plus I bake communion bread). I enjoy travel, photography, reading, needlepoint, walking, gardening, spending time with friends and family, and various volunteer activities.
The Merry, Merry Month of May
May 8 – Second Sunday Breakfast at 9 a.m., followed by the last Sunday School class of this program year at 9:30. Tricia will share her photos of the Northern Lights in Alaska and other photos.
May 15 – We’ll celebrate the Feast of Pentecost and St. Dunstan’s Day with one service at 10 a.m. Come see the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit enacted by our parishioners. And stay for St. Dunstan’s birthday cake after the service.
May 22 – Summer schedule begins. Services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. No Sunday School until fall.
May 29 – Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with worship in the Beech Grove at the 10 a.m. service.
Transitions
We celebrate the April 16 marriage of Bessie Valle and Hollis Holland.
Thank Yous
Thanks to Claudia Gimson and Pam Weed for preparing the Second Sunday breakfasts throughout the year.
Thanks to everyone who helped with our Family Promise week in April: Mimi Gold, Vivian Siggers, Ellen Taratus, Peg Maloney, Bob Trukenbrod, Bob Longino, Jane and Spencer Goetz, Susan Howard, Jennifer and Joe Moyers, Lori Westphal, Charis Bowling, Maggie Harney, Suzanne Van De Mark, Jeanne Taylor, Gilda Morris, Steve Mark, Deb Dee, Elise MacIntyre, and Elizabeth Wong Mark.
Congradulations!
Téa Kelly, daughter of Shlonda and Salim Kargbo, graduates from Campbell High School. She is still weighing several options for next year.
Molly Marks, daughter of Jenny and Miles Marks, graduates from Lovett. She will be attending Auburn University in the fall.
Katie Richardson, daughter of Steve Richardson and Kathleen Whitten, graduates from Greater Atlanta Christian School. She will attend the University of Tampa.
Former parishioner Ethan Stansbury, son of Marilyn and Richard Stansbury, graduates from Monarch High School in Louisville, Colorado. He will attend Duke University in the fall.
Grace Hancock, daughter of Bill and Sarah Hancock., graduates from Occidental College with a major in urban and environmental policy and a minor in religious studies. Grace was student body president, vice president of finance for the Student Senate, and cheerleader captain. She will begin law school at Tulane University in the fall.
Grace Hauser, daughter of Susan and Steve Hauser, graduates magna cum laude from Davidson College with a major in English and political science. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha (the political science honors society), She’ll be moving to New York for a gap year, working as a paralegal.
Laura Withers, daughter of Vicki Ledet and Craig Withers, graduates from The George Washington Law School in Washington DC. She will soon begin clerking for a Federal District Court Judge Orinda Evans in Atlanta.
Carson Morris, daughter of Gilda and Lee Morris, receives her PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in history from the University of New Mexico, graduating with Distinction. She also is receiving the University of New Mexico Dean’s Dissertation Award. Carson is in discussion with a publisher who hopes to publish her dissertation.
Music Notes
Summer Choir will begin on Sunday, June 5. Rehearsal will be at 9 a.m. There is no mid-week rehearsal. Regular weekly attendance, while a nice idea, is not required or expected. If you are not a choir member now, this is your opportunity to come and see what it’s like. Youth Ensemble members are especially encouraged to participate (and your parents as well!). We won’t be wearing robes, so you can stay cool in your usual summer casual church-going attire.
Summer Hymns. Do you have a hymn request? A hymn you haven’t sung recently? A favorite that doesn’t come around often enough? Now is the time to let me know your requests and suggestions.
There are four hymnals to choose from: The Hymnal 1982 (blue, found in the pews); Lift Every Voice and Sing II (good selection of spirituals and gospel hymns; Wonder, Love, and Praise (supplement to The Hymnal 1982 with more current and diverse choices; and Voices Found (emphasizing music and poetry by women). An index for Lift Every Voice and Sing II can be found at http://www.hymnary.org/hymnal/LEVS1993, and for Wonder, Love, and Praise at http://www.hymnary.org/hymnal/WLP1997.
I do not know an online index for Voices Found, but I will be glad to share a copy with anyone who would like to see it. I will do my best to work in the suggested hymns some time during the summer. E-mail me at tom@stdunstan.net.
A Prayer for Pentecost
Come, O Spirit of God
And make within us your dwelling place and home.
May our darkness be dispelled by your light,
And our troubles calmed by your peace;
May all evils be redeemed by your love,
All pain transformed through the suffering of Christ,
And all dying glorified by his risen life. Amen.
A Prayer Book for Australia