The Vestry Nominating committee has named Deb Rogers, Gretchen Sisk, and Jen Smyser as candidates for the Vestry Class of ’29. We will thank the outgoing members of the Vestry (Chic Reid, Sissy Altstatt, and Ann Fenwick) and elect the new members at our Annual Meeting, immediately following the 10am service on Sunday, February 22.

Deb Rogers

My husband John and I were married at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City in 1980 and were active members there where I taught Sunday School. That experience inspired me to follow the teaching path and become a public-school art teacher in 1990. I am currently retired and teach part-time.

After moving to Reisterstown, we became active members of All Saints Episcopal for over 20 years. I was confirmed there 25 years ago and was actively involved until it closed in 2018, prompting us to search for a new home church. Our first experience at St. John’s felt immediately like the right fit for us—excellent clergy and music, a warm sense of community, and a feeling that God’s spirit was present. We became members in 2019 and we regularly attend the 10am service. I have made myself available where needed whether it is hosting Coffee Hour, face painting at the Fall festival, or serving as a regular lector. I have attended numerous book, Lenten, and Adult Forum studies, and anything that deepens my faith. I am honored to be nominated to serve as a vestry member and am committed to use my practice of prayer and my communication skills to help make decisions on behalf of all members to keep St. John’s moving in a positive, godly direction.

 

Gretchen Sisk

I grew up attending St. John’s and was confirmed here. My earliest memories of church—receiving communion and being part of a Christian community—are rooted in St. John’s, which has made returning with my family especially meaningful. On Sundays, I marvel at the beauty of our church and its music, just as I did as a child. Although life took me away for a time to different states and a long period within the Catholic faith, my family and I returned to St. John’s after Covid and have truly found solace, joy, and a renewed sense of belonging in this community.

My husband, Thomas, and I have been married for 23 years and have three children: Haden, a college sophomore; Willa, a high school senior; and Oteilla, a fifth grader. In addition to homeschooling our children, I work as an educator and have been involved in equine rescue for the past five years. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve St. John’s.

Jen Smyser

My husband Ben and I started to attend St. John’s in November 2023. We used to drive by the church campus and talk about how it was so beautiful. We checked out the church’s website and found it to be welcoming and accepting, exactly what we were looking for in a church. After our first service, we both knew we had found our church home. Each sermon speaks to our hearts and the warmth of the congregation provided exactly what we were searching for in a church. Breaking bread with our fellow parishioners during coffee hour has created such a wonderful sense of community and because of this, I have enjoyed hosting coffee hour. I am also part of our wonderful Missions Commission as we share the many blessings our Parish is fortunate to have.

This church has been an important part of my faith journey. Through worship, fellowship, and service, I’ve experienced meaningful spiritual growth and deeper understanding of what it means to live out my faith. Serving on the vestry would be a way for me to give back to a congregation that has given so much to me, and to support the mission and future of our church with care, humility and faith. I would be honored to serve, to work alongside others to help our church continue to grow as a place of worship, welcome and outreach.