The Vestry
The 11 members of the vestry are elected by the parish and serve as its board of directors and legal agent, working closely with the rector and wardens. Vestry members serve in a variety of ways to help the church meet both day-to-day and long-term challenges.
2019 Vestry
Senior Warden: Meagan Luhrs
Junior Warden: Peter Walters
Parish Treasurer: Marty Dunlavey
Associate Treasurers: Priscilla Nied, Eva Pearson, Linda Bolte
Clerk of the Vestry: Adam Baig
Class of 2020: Rich Cancellare, Chris Miller, Priscilla Nied.
Class of 2021: Deb Maue, Jenn Urso, Peter Walters
Class of 2022: Marilyn Huebel, Pam Jacknow, Chris Millsap, Stephanie Schultz
Junior Warden: Peter Walters
Parish Treasurer: Marty Dunlavey
Associate Treasurers: Priscilla Nied, Eva Pearson, Linda Bolte
Clerk of the Vestry: Adam Baig
Class of 2020: Rich Cancellare, Chris Miller, Priscilla Nied.
Class of 2021: Deb Maue, Jenn Urso, Peter Walters
Class of 2022: Marilyn Huebel, Pam Jacknow, Chris Millsap, Stephanie Schultz
Vestry Bios
Deb Maue
In January, 1995, I visited St. Christopher's for the very first time, and had the good fortune to sit behind then-office assistant Edith Aldworth, who recruited me to the choir. (No one said "no" to Edith.) Exactly 23 years later, I'm still a member of the choir, and I'm also a chalice bearer and, most recently, an Altar Guild member. This will be my 3rd tour on vestry. The first was during the capital campaign/artchitectural planning for the renovation and addition, and I don't remember much about the second because I had a baby and a toddler at the time. There have been many changes at St. Christopher's over my time here, but it remains a very special place where we all gather not only to worship but to support each other in doing God's work in the world. I'm looking forward to helping to shape the course over the next few years.
Rich Cancellare
Rich has been a member of St. Christopher's since 2001. Over the past 17 years, he has served in a variety of positions within the church; vestry, acolyte coordinator (and trainer), thurifer, chalice bearer, and most recently youth group leader. Rich primarily serves during and attends the 10:30 service, but can occasionally be spotted at the 8am service. His two daughters have both been confirmed here and his youngest was also baptized at St. Christopher's.
Jenn Urso
My name is Jennifer Urso and I attend Wiggle Worship with my husband, Bill, and my 3.5 year old daughter, Bria. After trying a few different Episcopal churches in the western suburbs, we began regularly attending St. Christopher's in early 2014, while we were expecting, as it was important to us that we raised out daughter within a strong Christian community of faith and we really felt at home with a smaller, tightly-knit parish. In fact, Bria was Eric's first baptism at St. C's (and I believe ever) - and she didn't even cry! I've never served on a vestry before, but was raised in the Episcopal church, having been baptized, confirmed and insisting my husband and I get married in the Episcopal Church. Most recently, I served on the Stewardship committee, which kicked off with a series of summer fellowship events and concluded with our annual giving campaign. Having a young family, I'm most passionate about engaging young people in the church (I've loved seeing how much Wiggle Worship has exploded over the past several months) and finding ways for them to stay engaged through high school and into early adulthood.
Peter Walters
I have been a member of St. Christopher's for 25 years. I raised 4 children in this church who are all now well into their adult lives. I am also "Pop-Pop" to four grandchildren, all currently living nearby in Chicagoland. I love the vibrancy and commitment of this church community, and look forward to serving as a member of the Vestry, especially at this particularly exciting time. I have served as a member of the Vestry here twice in the past. I am also Director of the Altar Guild, a member of the choir, a chalice bearer and a lector. My wife, Trish, and I first met at St. Christopher's 25 years ago. We were married at this church 8 years ago, after having fallen in love while co-leading one of this parish's youth groups.
Marilyn Huebel
I have been attending St. Christopher’s for 2 years. As a regular at the 8am service, I enjoy the quiet and fellowship, am part of the lector rota and have written an occasional blog in preparation for Sunday worship. Raised a Presbyterian, I discovered liturgy and the Episcopal church during college five decades ago, though I spent most of the intervening years in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, most recently at Good Shepherd, just down the street. I look forward to serving in this new capacity, providing support for the governance and leadership of this growing community of faith, spirituality and social activism that has us being Jesus’ hands, feet and heart in the challenges of every day life.
Christopher Millsap
I am a married software engineer who is originally from South Florida, and I have lived in Seattle and Southern Vermont prior to living in Forest Park. Dan and I have been attending St. Christopher's since Spring, 2013. When I am not working, I enjoy photography, and tinkering with retro computer equipment. I look forward to helping the church continue to succeed as a member of the vestry.
Pamela Jacknow
My name is Pamela Jacknow and I would like to be a member of the vestry at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I was an active member at St. Thomas Episcopal Church all my life. As a baby, I was baptized there and later, as a young adult, I was confirmed and welcomed into the Episcopalian diocese. I have always been very active within the church community. For nearly a decade, I served as a counselor at an Episcopal summer camp called Sheldon Calvary Camp in Conneaut, Ohio. I still return to camp each summer with my family because of the connections I have made within that community. In 2004, I moved to Chicago and accepted a position with Chicago Public Schools. Today, I teach 7th grade math on the south-side of Chicago. In 2011, I married Matthew Jacknow, who has lived in Forest Park his entire life. When we began our family and welcomed our oldest son, Lincoln, in September of 2014, we decided to join a church that would best suit our growing family. (We welcomed our second son, Warren, in September 2017.) We spent a few years “church shopping” and have found St. Christopher’s to be the perfect place for our family. Our boys love this church as much as we do. And we deeply appreciate how welcomed our young family is here as well as how respectfully our kids are treated and included in all the activities. Father Eric and the rest of the St. Christopher’s crew have gone above and beyond to teach our children about love and faith in ways they understand. (Until St. Christopher’s, we had never heard of a wiggle worship before! It’s the best!) I would be honored to serve St. Christopher’s as a member of our vestry.
Stephanie Schultz
Being a part of the Catholic church my entire life, I was looking for something with more involvement and a less traditional approach, at this time, for my girls (Amelia 6 and Madeline 4). As a family, I wanted something where we all felt involved, known and had fun/interaction for the kids, my husband and myself. In October 2018, my family and I attended our first Wiggle Worship at St. Christopher’s.
In January, 1995, I visited St. Christopher's for the very first time, and had the good fortune to sit behind then-office assistant Edith Aldworth, who recruited me to the choir. (No one said "no" to Edith.) Exactly 23 years later, I'm still a member of the choir, and I'm also a chalice bearer and, most recently, an Altar Guild member. This will be my 3rd tour on vestry. The first was during the capital campaign/artchitectural planning for the renovation and addition, and I don't remember much about the second because I had a baby and a toddler at the time. There have been many changes at St. Christopher's over my time here, but it remains a very special place where we all gather not only to worship but to support each other in doing God's work in the world. I'm looking forward to helping to shape the course over the next few years.
Rich Cancellare
Rich has been a member of St. Christopher's since 2001. Over the past 17 years, he has served in a variety of positions within the church; vestry, acolyte coordinator (and trainer), thurifer, chalice bearer, and most recently youth group leader. Rich primarily serves during and attends the 10:30 service, but can occasionally be spotted at the 8am service. His two daughters have both been confirmed here and his youngest was also baptized at St. Christopher's.
Jenn Urso
My name is Jennifer Urso and I attend Wiggle Worship with my husband, Bill, and my 3.5 year old daughter, Bria. After trying a few different Episcopal churches in the western suburbs, we began regularly attending St. Christopher's in early 2014, while we were expecting, as it was important to us that we raised out daughter within a strong Christian community of faith and we really felt at home with a smaller, tightly-knit parish. In fact, Bria was Eric's first baptism at St. C's (and I believe ever) - and she didn't even cry! I've never served on a vestry before, but was raised in the Episcopal church, having been baptized, confirmed and insisting my husband and I get married in the Episcopal Church. Most recently, I served on the Stewardship committee, which kicked off with a series of summer fellowship events and concluded with our annual giving campaign. Having a young family, I'm most passionate about engaging young people in the church (I've loved seeing how much Wiggle Worship has exploded over the past several months) and finding ways for them to stay engaged through high school and into early adulthood.
Peter Walters
I have been a member of St. Christopher's for 25 years. I raised 4 children in this church who are all now well into their adult lives. I am also "Pop-Pop" to four grandchildren, all currently living nearby in Chicagoland. I love the vibrancy and commitment of this church community, and look forward to serving as a member of the Vestry, especially at this particularly exciting time. I have served as a member of the Vestry here twice in the past. I am also Director of the Altar Guild, a member of the choir, a chalice bearer and a lector. My wife, Trish, and I first met at St. Christopher's 25 years ago. We were married at this church 8 years ago, after having fallen in love while co-leading one of this parish's youth groups.
Marilyn Huebel
I have been attending St. Christopher’s for 2 years. As a regular at the 8am service, I enjoy the quiet and fellowship, am part of the lector rota and have written an occasional blog in preparation for Sunday worship. Raised a Presbyterian, I discovered liturgy and the Episcopal church during college five decades ago, though I spent most of the intervening years in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, most recently at Good Shepherd, just down the street. I look forward to serving in this new capacity, providing support for the governance and leadership of this growing community of faith, spirituality and social activism that has us being Jesus’ hands, feet and heart in the challenges of every day life.
Christopher Millsap
I am a married software engineer who is originally from South Florida, and I have lived in Seattle and Southern Vermont prior to living in Forest Park. Dan and I have been attending St. Christopher's since Spring, 2013. When I am not working, I enjoy photography, and tinkering with retro computer equipment. I look forward to helping the church continue to succeed as a member of the vestry.
Pamela Jacknow
My name is Pamela Jacknow and I would like to be a member of the vestry at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I was an active member at St. Thomas Episcopal Church all my life. As a baby, I was baptized there and later, as a young adult, I was confirmed and welcomed into the Episcopalian diocese. I have always been very active within the church community. For nearly a decade, I served as a counselor at an Episcopal summer camp called Sheldon Calvary Camp in Conneaut, Ohio. I still return to camp each summer with my family because of the connections I have made within that community. In 2004, I moved to Chicago and accepted a position with Chicago Public Schools. Today, I teach 7th grade math on the south-side of Chicago. In 2011, I married Matthew Jacknow, who has lived in Forest Park his entire life. When we began our family and welcomed our oldest son, Lincoln, in September of 2014, we decided to join a church that would best suit our growing family. (We welcomed our second son, Warren, in September 2017.) We spent a few years “church shopping” and have found St. Christopher’s to be the perfect place for our family. Our boys love this church as much as we do. And we deeply appreciate how welcomed our young family is here as well as how respectfully our kids are treated and included in all the activities. Father Eric and the rest of the St. Christopher’s crew have gone above and beyond to teach our children about love and faith in ways they understand. (Until St. Christopher’s, we had never heard of a wiggle worship before! It’s the best!) I would be honored to serve St. Christopher’s as a member of our vestry.
Stephanie Schultz
Being a part of the Catholic church my entire life, I was looking for something with more involvement and a less traditional approach, at this time, for my girls (Amelia 6 and Madeline 4). As a family, I wanted something where we all felt involved, known and had fun/interaction for the kids, my husband and myself. In October 2018, my family and I attended our first Wiggle Worship at St. Christopher’s.
Vestry Nominations
Every year, St. Christopher’s promotes nominations for Vestry, seeking 3 new members to serve 3-year terms beginning in January. Also needed to fill are one vacancy left by the retiring Senior Warden, who is succeeded by the Junior Warden. 2020 nominations are:
Jonathan Daly
I am Jonathan Daly. I grew up in the Episcopal Church in Indianapolis and South Bend, Indiana, and attended various Episcopal churches during my college and graduate study in Montréal, Washington, DC, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. For many years I lived in Hyde Park, where my wife, Sofia, and I and our children attended Saint Paul and the Redeemer. When we moved to Oak Park in 2016, we "shopped around" for churches, attending Unity Temple and Saint Giles Catholic church, before settling at Saint Christopher's. This summer we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary with a renewal of our vows in the lovely sanctuary here. We attend the wiggle worship service, though I often also attend the 10:30 service, when my children, Zoe (9) and Jeremiah (6) and my wife are involved with Sunday school. I am excited to serve on the vestry as a way to take part in the life of Saint Christopher’s.
Katie Kearns
Katie has been a member of St. Christopher’s since January of 2019. She started attending regularly in December of 2018. She is now a member of the Altar Guild and participates in the 8 AM service as a chalice bearer, lector and acolyte. Katie was received by the Episcopal Church in June of 2019 with Eric and George at her side. She was raised Roman Catholic and worked for a Catholic church until September of 2018. Katie lives just a four minute walk away from the church. She says, “Geography brought me here but the church community made me want to stay.”
Eva Pearson
My name is Eva Pearson and my family and I have attended St. Christopher’s 10:30 service since we moved to Oak Park about 12 years ago. My husband, Bill, and I have two children, Jane (12) and Eddie (10), who are active in Sunday school, Treble Choir, and the knitting/crochet group. I am in the adult choir and an assistant treasurer. During the week, I teach accounting at DePaul and UIC. Bill and I have both served on the vestry in the past, and I am happy to be taking my second turn. It’s exciting to see St. C’s thrive, and I’m looking forward to getting to better know and be a part of our growing church family.
Doug Swanson
I'm Doug Swanson. I have been attending St. C's for a little over two years. You can usually find my wife Rachel, our two boys, Isaiah and Solomon, and me at wiggle worship. I'm excited about the opportunity to get more involved and meet people (especially from other services).
For more information on vestry nominations, and to fill out a Vestry Nomination Form, please download the PDF file below.
Jonathan Daly
I am Jonathan Daly. I grew up in the Episcopal Church in Indianapolis and South Bend, Indiana, and attended various Episcopal churches during my college and graduate study in Montréal, Washington, DC, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. For many years I lived in Hyde Park, where my wife, Sofia, and I and our children attended Saint Paul and the Redeemer. When we moved to Oak Park in 2016, we "shopped around" for churches, attending Unity Temple and Saint Giles Catholic church, before settling at Saint Christopher's. This summer we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary with a renewal of our vows in the lovely sanctuary here. We attend the wiggle worship service, though I often also attend the 10:30 service, when my children, Zoe (9) and Jeremiah (6) and my wife are involved with Sunday school. I am excited to serve on the vestry as a way to take part in the life of Saint Christopher’s.
Katie Kearns
Katie has been a member of St. Christopher’s since January of 2019. She started attending regularly in December of 2018. She is now a member of the Altar Guild and participates in the 8 AM service as a chalice bearer, lector and acolyte. Katie was received by the Episcopal Church in June of 2019 with Eric and George at her side. She was raised Roman Catholic and worked for a Catholic church until September of 2018. Katie lives just a four minute walk away from the church. She says, “Geography brought me here but the church community made me want to stay.”
Eva Pearson
My name is Eva Pearson and my family and I have attended St. Christopher’s 10:30 service since we moved to Oak Park about 12 years ago. My husband, Bill, and I have two children, Jane (12) and Eddie (10), who are active in Sunday school, Treble Choir, and the knitting/crochet group. I am in the adult choir and an assistant treasurer. During the week, I teach accounting at DePaul and UIC. Bill and I have both served on the vestry in the past, and I am happy to be taking my second turn. It’s exciting to see St. C’s thrive, and I’m looking forward to getting to better know and be a part of our growing church family.
Doug Swanson
I'm Doug Swanson. I have been attending St. C's for a little over two years. You can usually find my wife Rachel, our two boys, Isaiah and Solomon, and me at wiggle worship. I'm excited about the opportunity to get more involved and meet people (especially from other services).
For more information on vestry nominations, and to fill out a Vestry Nomination Form, please download the PDF file below.
| vestry_nomination_form.pdf |
