Welcome from the Rector, the Rev. Rick Morley
Dear People of St. David’s,
Hello, and welcome to the 2024 Annual Report! Below you will find information about how St. David’s worked towards its mission to Know God in Jesus Christ and make Christ known to others over the past 12 months.
In August my family and I bid farewell to our parish in New Jersey, we packed up all our earthly belongings, and we moved into the St. David’s Rectory. Just a few short weeks later our older daughter left to begin her junior year of college, and Karen and our younger daughter moved back to New Jersey so that Mattie could finish High School there. For the first time ever our family of four was spread out in three different cities. For the Morleys, it’s been a year of transition.
The people of St. David’s were no stranger to transition this year either, of course. You bid farewell to your beloved rector who had been here for a quarter century, you welcomed an interim rector, you bid farewell to a beloved music director who had served here for over a quarter century, you welcomed a new rector, and you celebrated the appointment of a new music director. On top of that, over the year several clergy and lay staff also transitioned out and transitioned in.
Last year in one of her sermons, the Rev. Devon Anderson spoke of the transition as a “liminal time.” A time that is “in-between.” Neither “here” nor “there.” In the Scriptures it’s where we find Israel as they wandered through the desert, yearning for a promised land. It’s where we find Jesus after his baptism, but before his public ministry begins, fasting in the wilderness. It’s where we find Mary, who is surely facing the pressures of being young, unmarried, and pregnant, and so she leaves home to go and visit her cousin, Elizabeth.
These transitional, liminal, in-between times are usually full of anxiety, stress, impatience, and the uncomfortable feelings that surround uncertainty. But God also uses these moments for growth and transformation. They are places where the Spirit moves, transforms, and equips.
When I arrived here in late August, straight through to today, that is what I’ve found here at St. David’s: a parish, a vestry, and a staff who have experienced the uncomfortable transformation of the wilderness and who are poised and ready to use the lessons learned for growth and for the chapter that lies ahead of us all.
I am enormously pleased and proud to have joined this parish family, and I cannot express how hopeful I am that God will continue to do wondrous and great things here. God has been transforming lives on this beautiful little parcel of historic land for over three centuries, and I see no evidence that God will be stopping that any time soon.
May we continue to seek to know Christ and make Christ known, and may we do it together, with God’s help.
The Rev. Rick Morley, Rector
Letter from the Rector’s Warden, Alison Hastings
Friends, 2024 was a rather full year for St. David’s. We experienced change, welcomes, liminal space, departures, a very special birth and a new rector. As always, the common thread, even during transition, is our love of this special place, St. David’s–our Church home.
The Rev. Devon Anderson joined us in January to help prepare us for our inevitable new leader. While she was here, she worked closely with the Vestry on creating systems to make leadership and governance more organized and effective. We hired a Stewardship consultant to re-vamp our approach, streamline and analyze our data, and train a new class of leaders. She also worked with our Chief Operating Officer, Julie Wiant, on an updated employee handbook and uniform HR policies. Together, they put together an HR committee to help bring best practices and fresh eyes into our policies and procedures. Together with the Vestry, Devon and Julie began a look at our Safety and Security protocol and we have begun the work of evaluating and improving the safety of our extensive campus. All of this was done while maintaining the status quo of beautiful worship and programing for our community. We are very grateful to have had her leadership during this transitional time.
We have said a lot of good-byes in 2024: Clair Rozier, our beloved music director; the Rev. Emily Given, our deacon; the Rev. Sarah Dunn, our associate; Heather Sill, our worship assistant; Julie Wiant, our chief operating officer; Jo-Ann Funkhouser, our finance director; and the Rev. Devon Anderson, our interim rector. We are grateful for all their gifts given and our time with them.
With goodbyes, there are often hellos! We welcomed the Rev. Tanya Regli, our new associate; Dina Harvey, our new worship assistant; and Julianne Perez, our finance assistant. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock was promoted to Director of Music. Finally, although she did not start until 2025, we hired Joy Karsner, our new and wonderful chief operating officer!
A very special event, one we haven’t had for a while, happened in April. We welcomed an on-campus parish baby! Zion Szczerba joined his mom and dad in the Parish House and has been making us smile ever since.
Most exciting of all, we welcomed the Rev. Rick Morley, our new and talented rector! We are very, very grateful for the work of our Discernment Committee, led by Susan Scauzzo, for the hard work that led to a n exciting new beginning for St. David’s. Rick, we are very glad you heard our call!
In October, under the leadership of Courtney Alexander, we had a phenomenal 173rd Annual St. David’s Country Fair. It was a beautiful day with tremendous crowds and a record-breaking bottom line that goes entirely to our Outreach programs. Through the hard work of many, many volunteers, we at St. David’s can make Christ known to others through our grant programs that impact people locally and abroad with resources greatly needed. Thank you, dedicated volunteers. Your efforts are so positively felt by so many.
Our pews continue to fill, and our livestream is heavily viewed–could it be our shiny new rector? Or our amazing choir? Our quaint, historic church? Our toddler-friendly family worship? All of it? We have a special place here–one we all love. Many thanks to the clergy, the worship and lay assistants, our singers, our musicians, our altar and flower guilds, broadcast team, support and maintenance staff for making our Sundays so delightful.
The Vestry would like to thank outgoing members Leslie Lewis, Tim Roach, and Ian Wilcox for their four years of service. We will miss all the support, wisdom, balance and faithfulness you bring to the team. This is my last and only report to you as Rector’s Warden, as I will be rolling off this year, too. It was an honor to serve all of you and St. David’s. Continue to do the work and love each other, friends. Thank you for all you do for the collective us.
Alison R.M. Hastings, Rector’s Warden
2024 Quick Facts
Ministry Report Quick Jumps
Worship
By the Rev. Rick Morley, Rector
The Heart of Our Parish
St. David’s is a church on a mission to know God in Jesus Christ and to make Christ known to others—and one of the best ways to know Christ is in worship. For, it’s in worship that we hear the Good News proclaimed, we meet Christ in the Eucharist, and we greet Christ in each other.
Gathering as a Community
As a parish family we gather in the Church, the Chapel, and in Allen Hall for worship. We have a traditional Rite I liturgy at 8 a.m., full Rite II liturgies at 9:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m., and an innovative and immersive Family Service at 9:30 a.m. We provide livestreams of the 9:15 a.m. services and many of the other large worship gatherings around the year, so that some may join in with worship from home. There are also regular chapel services at St. David’s Episcopal Day School, and our Eucharistic Visitors Ministry and clergy offer Eucharistic visits.
Milestones and Special Services
Throughout the year, we’ve celebrated marriages, baptisms, and funerals and graveside services to honor loved ones. We witnessed another amazing Christmas Pageant, we had some gorgeous sung Evensongs, and Taizé worship.
The People Who Make Worship Possible
Worship at St. David’s is made possible by the dedication of hundreds of parishioners who serve in various ministries:
- Liturgical Support:The Altar Guild, vergers, ushers, lay readers, and chalicists.
- Music & Arts:Choir members, bell ringers, and the Flower Guild.
- Technical Support:Sound, lighting, and livestream teams, ensuring that services are accessible and inspiring for all.
And our clergy staff support us with their leadership and preaching.
Deepening Our Understanding of Worship
During this year of transition, the Worship Commission examined its core functions and mission and provided continuity of traditions and some innovation to keep our worship fresh. With a new rector, the Commission has been a key resource for both stability and flexibility as needed.
An Invitation to Participate
We are profoundly grateful to all who generously dedicate their time and talents to making our worship experience both beautiful and profound. We warmly invite everyone to actively participate in these ministries. We firmly believe that your involvement will not only deepen your faith but also contribute to the joy and enrichment of our collective worship.
Music
By Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock, Director of Music
Music at St. David’s continued to thrive and enhance the spiritual beauty of our worship in 2024, while embodying the essence of St. David’s mission. Through participation in the music programs, our singers and ringers of all ages continue learning to know God in Jesus Christ, and every Sunday we make Christ known to others through our music.
One of our most meaningful events in 2024 was a service in honor of Dr. Clair Rozier’s 25 years of ministry at St. David’s on Sunday, June 9th. The choirs commissioned and premiered an anthem by English composer Sarah MacDonald based on the hymn text, “When in Our Music God is Glorified” by Fred Pratt Green. The adult choir also presented their final concert under the direction of Dr. Clair Rozier on Sunday, April 21st. The concert featured Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem” and Ralph Vaughan Williams “Five Mystical Songs” with chamber orchestra.
In 2024 our annual music camp joined together with our Vacation Bible School for a Faith and Music camp. It was a great success with 40 participants from age 4 to grade 5. Students involved in the music portion learned a musical and presented it at the end of the week, learned to ring handbells, and even had a class in beginning violin. We look forward to adding an orchestral component to the camp in 2025.
In the fall of 2024, Dr. Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock, our former Associate Director of Music, was appointed Director of Music. We also welcomed four very talented interim music staff to our department: Kathy Wagner, Interim Director of the Chorister Program; Stephen Christner, Associate Director of the Handbell Choirs; and Dr. Stan Orr and Dr. Andrea Boudra, Interim Associate Organists.
A key element of the music ministry is our choir trip program, which inspires and galvanizes our choirs, bringing renewed energy into our parish’s worship. In 2024 the youth choir traveled to New York City and our children’s, youth, and adult choirs sang the National Anthem at a Phillies game. Looking ahead to 2025, our adult and youth choirs are excited to begin planning our next international trip. We also look forward to another wonderful year of singing and ringing in St. David’s worship services.
I was 7 when my mom signed me up for the children’s choir at St. David’s back when there were the St. Francis and St. Nicholas choirs under the direction of Cynthia Pound. It was where I really first learned to sing as part of a group, where I began to learn how to read music and how to sing with vocal correctness, and it nurtured my early love of music. Now 35 years later, I’m blessed to have my two children, Vivienne and Kyler, in the Primary Choir where they are learning the same skills and fostering their own appreciation of music. Not only that, but my mom, Elizabeth Holman, also reintegrated into choir life and began helping with the Primary Choir when Vivienne first started 3 years ago. It’s become an intergenerational activity for our family!
This past Fall, I joined the adult choir where not only do I enjoy the singing itself, but I’ve been warmly welcomed into the group and given the opportunity to get to know other parishioners I’d never met before. Similarly, because of the kids’ choir, for the last 3 years I’ve spent Wednesday afternoons and evenings building friendships with many of the other choir moms and families, all of whom I didn’t know previously, which has been truly marvelous. My mom, too, often remarks how lovely it’s been to get to know the younger families and a different segment of the congregation than she’s used to.
I’ve always viewed music as something that should be shared and enjoyed by all; music can be transformative, healing, and it has the power to bring people together, reach inside and touch our cores. It’s been such an important part of my life and I’m grateful that my children are benefitting from early exposure as well. But what I’m equally thankful for and hadn’t foreseen as an outcome, is the wonderful and special sense of community I’ve discovered and the friendships both myself and my kids have made. We are truly fortunate to have such a fantastic music program at St. David’s led by Elaine and Kathy!
St. David’s choir is a welcoming and supportive community, filled with amazing and talented people. It has given me lifelong friends and memories, and has been a wonderful space for personal, musical, and spiritual growth.
“How often making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound, Alleluia!” – Hymnal 420 “Engelberg” Music by Charles Villiers Stanford Words by F. Pratt Green, Verse 2.
Making music allows us to say what words fail to express. The words inspire us to be more expressive as we sing. It is a privilege to sing in the St. David’s Music Community. We work hard to create what parishioners tell us is beautiful and inspiring music. We sing, laugh, cry and pray together. What could be more satisfying?
I love singing in a choir and have done so for many years starting with The Baldwin School chorus in 1954. It seems to me as though not being in the choir would be contrary to what I like/want to do and I have enjoyed doing so at St. Davids. Thank you!
Notable Music Events and Worship from 2024
Pastoral Care
By Molly Zonino, Chair, Pastoral Care Commission
The Pastoral Care Commission continues to thrive and care for the St. David’s community. The various committees provide services continually as well as raise up interested parishioners to serve others. A few examples of the far reach of the commission are below.
The Flower Guild arrange and deliver flowers, along with a caring note, every week to struggling parishioners identified by the clergy as well as taking care of the Christmas and Easter flowers deliveries to those who are homebound.
The Needleworks Guild is ever so busy knitting prayer shawls, squares, and hats for anyone in need of comfort, both young and old. They are blessed periodically at the 9:15 a.m. service by both clergy and parishioners alike.
Eucharistic Visitors take communion each Sunday to those unable to attend services. They continue to see four to five parishioners each week and help to spread our mission of making Christ known to others.
Walking the Mourner’s Path, Finding Peace and Seasons of Love grief groups, and Stephen Ministries all continue to help people through difficult times both through group sessions as well as one-on-one meetings.
This commission of serves others directly and is a wonderful place to give your time and talents. Thank you to all who lead the various committees so tirelessly.
Christian Formation
By Elliot VanHoy, Pastoral Associate
In 2024, formation at St. David’s began offering a brand new “Youth and Adult” Forum for adults and Middle and High School students. This began as part of a larger vision of making formation more intergenerational. What we have found is that this is a refreshing and exciting way to engage in formation, bringing together the wisdom of elders and the fresh perspective of youth.
At the end of 2024, the Adult and Youth Forum held a multi-week series on gratitude. Throughout this series, led by the Rev. Rick Morley and Elliot VanHoy, parishioners deeply reflected the values of St. David’s including love, joy, and generosity. We found together that these values are rooted deeply in a life attuned to God’s grace and a life of gratitude.
The many Bible studies at St. David’s deeply reflect our mission to know God in Jesus Christ. Offering over 5 vibrant and longstanding Bible studies throughout the week, St. David’s in 2024 demonstrated a passion and desire to know God more fully and deeply in the opening and studying of the scriptures.
As we look to 2025 and beyond, we are leaning ever more fully into a desire to know God in Jesus Christ. One of our biggest formation projects in 2025 is a full Bible reading plan and podcast for the parish, as well as continued planning and exploration of digital media. This serves both aspects of our mission: to know Christ but also to publish media that helps make Christ known to others.
When I made my plan to go on the Iona pilgrimage, the timing was kind of incredible. I spent the summer meeting with my Parish Discernment Group, diving deep into my call to the priesthood and discerning that call in community from every angle. By the time of the pilgrimage, that process had wrapped up, all the paperwork had been submitted to the diocese, but I wouldn’t meet with the Commission on Ministry for another several weeks. I was in a period of holy waiting. I originally though the Iona trip would be a good time to reflect on that discernment process and have some closure about it before moving forward in the postulancy application process, but what I found was that I didn’t really need to reflect on it at all. The reflection had been done, and that period of intense discernment had concluded. What I did find in Iona was the start of my ministry. I collected various worship materials, communed with friends, strangers, and God, and wrote a liturgy for the first time. It was far from perfect, but it was what we needed in that moment, and it was a jumping off point for me. As I move into seminary and eventually ordination, I will always think of that pilgrimage and my time in Iona as being the start of something mystical, mysterious, and wonderous.
The Adult and Youth Forums provide an enhancement of the lessons from the church service. The series of several sessions provides the opportunity to explore the topics in more depth. Using a round-table format for gathering participants serves a dual purpose: getting to know more about other parishioners as well as hearing fellow parishioners’ ideas and thoughts around the various topics presented. The interaction with various demographics represented in the small group setting provides valuable discussion and differing interpretations around the same topic. The Forum sessions offer a deeper journey for the connection with God and one another.
Fellowship
By Molly Zonino, Chair, Fellowship Commission
The Fellowship Commission has had a busy and fun-packed year. We continue to know God in Jesus Christ and make Christ known to others through fun activities, delicious meals, engaging speakers, helpful projects, and giant bonfires.
Men’s Fellowship and Women’s Ministries have been busy! The Men continue their tradition of monthly breakfasts with engaging speakers, have worked on service projects at Thistle Hills Women’s Shelter in Coatesville, and have hosted a successful and very productive tree-planting workday along the stream, Julip Run. They have gone fly-fishing and shooting and had a very well attended retreat with our Associate Rector, the Rev. Thomas Szczerba leading a discussion on knowing our stories and living God’s call. The Women had a fun retreat at Skytop in the fall, have once again engaged in Thanksgiving flower arranging, held several speaker events, and hosted an evening cocktail party to welcome our new Rector, the Rev. Rick Morley.
The 173rd Annual St. David’s Country Fair had it most successful year ever with more than $140,000 in net profit to be distributed to our partners through Outreach Cares Grants. The Fair is an incredible example of the power of community, and we give special thanks to Courtney Alexander for her tireless leadership and hard work. The fellowship that results from the Fair cannot be duplicated and we are so grateful for the efforts of all.
Welcome and Connect continues to be the gracious and hospitable bunch who shepherd new members into our parish. We have added many new and friendly people to this team of greeters, and they welcome with a smile all our new friends and help them to be comfortable in their new church home. Twice a year we welcome our new members with a brunch and tour of the entire campus which is always very well received.
Young Adults, our 20-30 somethings, meet monthly for brunch and continue to attract new attendees as it grows in popularity due to the connected community that it fosters.
Foyer Dinners, our small dinner party groups, continues to meet about four times a year. These dinner groups are a great way to meet new people and get to know them while sharing a meal in an intimate setting.
We look forward to the future of Fellowship and know that our talents as a group will be called on to welcome new friends. We hope to see you at an event soon!
Outreach
By Lois Redmond, Chair, Outreach Commission
St. David’s Outreach strives to make Christ’s love known using our gifts to nourish local and global partnerships. In 2024, St. David’s Outreach awarded $208,000 to 20 partners in the local Philadelphia area, to four long-time international partners in Cuba, Guatemala, Iraq, and Uganda and to the Episcopal Dioceses of Western North Carolina and Southwest Florida for flooding and hurricane relief. St. David’s is so thankful for all the energy and hands-on-volunteering ministry from our parishioners.
Outreach is funded each year by the annual St. David’s Fair, the Gift Shop and Art Gallery, World Gifts, designated financial collections, and our Outreach Endowment. The St. David’s Cares grants are awarded each January after much prayerful discussion and analysis by the Outreach Commission. Outreach prioritizes funding organizations that are affiliated with The Episcopal Church, organizations that involve St. David’s parishioners, programs that promote self-sufficiency, projects that have a clear start and finish, and organizations within the Philadelphia area or our international partners. Our grants covered the needs of our partners in several areas including feeding, education, infrastructure, and housing. St. David’s worked with our partners throughout 2024 to share fellowship and build stronger relationships and a sense of community. In so many ways, our partners inspire us with their deep faith and the warm welcome they provide to us when we come together.
Outreach started out strong in 2024 with the January Month of Service. The Rev. Thomas Szczerba coordinated five Sunday formation sessions with our partners where they shared the good work they were doing with our congregation. During the week of January 22 to 28, St. David’s volunteers served with eleven of our partners to help support their missions throughout the Philadelphia area and grow our two-way relationships. Throughout the year we continued to work and visit with our partners, including a trip to Guatemala. We’re thankful for Thomas’ leadership during 2024 and look forward to working with the Rev. Tanya Regli in 2025.
Outreach continues to be an integral part of who St. David’s is called to be. Please come join us, you will receive more than you give. 2024 Clergy lead: Rev. Thomas Szczerba, Outreach Commission: Jay Baldwin, Chris Campbell, Vincent Dixon, Joanne Frey, Alison Hastings, Carol Kangas, Andrew Kuhn, Leslie Lewis, Dale Power, Lois Redmond (chair), Leslie Roy, Sarah Schoettle, and Elizabeth Vandiver.
St. David’s Episcopal Day School
By Margaret Biester, Head of School
This year St. David’s Episcopal Day School (SDEDS) celebrates our seventh year of operation. The 2024-25 school year has been our largest student body to date. We currently have 110 students enrolled in our programs serving children ages 18 months to 6 years old. We continue to find ways to expand our program offerings to open our doors to even more students for the 2025-26 school year.
As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, we celebrated Episcopal Schools week with a theme of “Let Your Light Shine”. SDEDS students reflected on Matthew 5:16 and how they can use their own light inside themselves to make the world a better place. We continue to hold a biannual whole-school chapel and plan to extend invitations to parents to join us in the spring.
We encourage students to learn, love, and lead through a variety of activities. This year, our Kindergarten students are practicing their leadership partnering with our youngest class acting as buddies to assist them through various play and learning activities. We are practicing showing love and compassion for our broader community by continuing to partner with programs such as the Joy of Sox and Plaid Pajamas Project to provide for those less fortunate.
In November, Head of School, Margaret Biester, and Interim Chapel Teacher, Robin Ford attended the National Association of Episcopal Schools biennial conference in Fort Lauderdale. The conference provided an opportunity to see what other schools are doing and how to strengthen our Episcopal identity. As we head into planning for the 2025-26 school year, we hope to expand on ways to connect the school and church to enrich our community that supports Godly learning and play.
Property
By Tim Roach, Chair, Property Commission and Joy Karsner, Chief Operating Officer
The property commission works to support the mission of St. David’s by ensuring our property team has the resources needed to keep the facilities running. Parish workdays bring our community together and promote fellowship at St. David’s Church. In November 2024, Men’s Fellowship cleared the stream bed of evasive species and guided parish volunteers in planting 70 seedlings donated from Chanticleer. We planted five sycamores, five swamp white oaks, 25 red maple seedlings, 10 river birches, and 25 sweet bay magnolia seedlings.
In 2024, we engaged a security consultant to begin the important work of completing a Security Analysis and beginning our Emergency Plan. Our commission also continues to investigate the new churchyard project for 2026.
Finally, The Property Commission is working in conjunction with the Finance Commission to steward a long-term property plan that includes both implementation and the ability to financially plan for necessary projects. We have contracted an engineering firm to prepare a reserve study which is a critical tool for maximizing the long-term property values while at the same time minimizing our life cycle costs.
We are grateful for the ongoing support of our property staff members who work hard to make all of these things happen, and keep us running smoothly.
Finance
By Lois Redmond, former Accounting Warden, and Alison Hastings, Rector’s Warden
After a year of significant changes, St. David’s maintained a secure financial position in 2024. We are thankful to the parishioners and staff for working with us through the many challenges with grace and flexibility. While St. David’s was able to balance its budget in 2024, many cuts were made and the budget only balanced at the cost of a higher draw on our endowments than we would normally take, although safely within the range of comfort of the Investment Committee. The 2025 budget was drafted with a more conservative draw, and we expect to continue to be mindful and restrained with our spending. The reality of the current state of The Episcopal Church is people are coming less and pledging less. At St. David’s we are not immune to this trend but are aware and taking steps to combat it. In 2024, we had 506 households make a pledge and received $2,111,431.06 in pledges.
In 2024, clergy/staff compensation and benefits accounted for 68% of the expenses. Property expenses covered efforts to stabilize the organ and HVAC systems, rectory improvements, and our donation to the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The Vestry also commissioned a stewardship consultant to help grow our pledges and a Security Risk Assessment to plan for safety improvements to our church and day school facilities.
St. David’s endowments grew in 2024 from positive returns for the year and substantial donations. The Rev. Frank Allen left us a most generous gift when he retired in January, adding $578,000 from parishioner donations for our endowment! This endowment allows St. David’s to continue to train and raise up associate clergy while they serve at St. David’s. We are thankful to our parishioners whose gifts of money, time, and energy continue to transform our community. We are thankful for all these gifts and those from past generations helping to assure us to be a church on a mission and a community of love for years to come.
In 2025 St. David’s will continue to be mindful of the need to right-size our church operations and to plan and pivot to sustain our church for future generations. To do this St. David’s will manage to a balanced budget, while keeping our endowments draws at no more than 4% to 4.5% per year. This has been a significant challenge over the past years. For 2025 the Vestry approved a balanced budget with draws on the endowments at 4.5%. The budget includes $186,000 in much needed property projects. We’ll need to reach our $2.2 million pledge goal to keep the budget balanced.
The St. David’s clergy, staff, vestry, and finance, investment, and property committees will continue to coordinate, focus, and prioritize our spending by both short- and long-term planning. This allows us to continue to worship together and enjoy our community and our beautiful 310-year-old campus. Please consider joining St. David’s 1715 Society by making a planned gift of financial assets to the Church, either during your lifetime or upon death, through your will.
Life’s Big Events Honored in 2024
Congratulations!
Baptisms
Elizabeth Embree Lake Bilsky
Hayden Laura Dewey
Grayson Christopher Deissroth
Logan Dunkle
Zoe Grace Dunkle
John James Eisele
Valerie Jane Fabrizio
Olivia Quinn Garvin
Roe Arnott Granger, V
Jeffrey Donald Hall, III
Colby Christopher Harrington
Charles Livingston Hastings
Lila Arden Lang
Henry Robert Lee
Mason James Manwaring
Max Joseph McMahan
Michael Paul McMahan
Isabel Joan McNally
Flynn Aldworth Moore
Hugh Holland Morandi
Marguerite Baker Murdoch
Sophie Collins Nagy
Grace Jane Nevins
Haley Grace Nicholson
Emilia Cheston Riedel
Maeve Frances Riedel
Arthur Dewitt Seaver
Isabella Rose Sessa
Zion Michael Szczerba
Teegan Maryanne Turturici
Caroline Maeve Walsleben
Ryan Kennedy Walsleben
Brooks Patrick Woy
Confirmations & Receptions
Youth Confirmands
Thomas George Aston
Jace Freeland Barber
William Dewey Burch
Rider Alexander Davidson
Aubrey Shea DelOrefice
Zachary Matthew Devenuto
Jane Reynolds Driscoll
Eden Page Elizardi
Reagan Faye Herrell
Kylie Jane Jannetta
Coulter KD McDevitt
Henry Jame Norcini
John William Oblack
Molly Louise Oblack
Carolina Pollack
Felicity Smith
William Chase Timmerman
Christopher Edward Weber
Luke James Wernsing
Ryan Luke Weinberg
Nancy Anne Wible
Edward James Sutton Wozniak
Adult Confirmands
Evan Horton
Meredith Nissen
Adults Received
Tina Michele Aaron
Erin C. Addy
John Drew Oehler
Catherine Rose Pin
Gloria Pollack
Kristen Swager
High School Graduates
Cooper Ballard
Richie Biborosch
Michela Biondi
Charlotte Bohnenberger
Piper Boulden
Lauren Carlson
Caroline Churchman
Warner Consolino
David Cook
Henry Cook
Samuel Cook
Addie Dash
Eva Davidson
Jack Davidson
Nuala Dill
George Drake
Jack Ennis
Ned Farnham
Evan Ferrie
Render Ford
Blair Fox
Evan Francis
Kyle Friend
Lillian Gajkowski
Tucker Graham
Oona Hastings
Emery Holleran
Harrison Holmes
Ben Hoyt
Sage Ingle
Margot Johnson
Alex Karnavas
Courtney Kearns
Taylor Kellett
Sarah Kelley
Georgie Koelle
James Madonia
David Martin
Thacher McCoy
Ben Miller
Avery Myers
Charles Newhall
Henry Newhall
Blair Norton
Luke Palmer
Abigail Pancoast
Sam Pancoast
Vivian Parrish
Harper Payne
Anna Phelps
Ryan Samms
Noah Seeger
Debrah Shodipe
Daniel Simpson
Calvin Szoradi
Carolyn Urban
William Walker
Shane Walsh
Brendan Ward
Braden Weinberg
Jake White
Ryan Williams
Tony Xu
Weddings
Lisa Ann Hatch to Charles Jerome Bernard
Sara Grace Hole to Andrew Law Tomlinson, Jr.
Victoria Elizabeth Muir to Christopher John O’Connell
Nancy J. Gilroy to Gordon L. Smith
Cynthia Anne Curley to Peter W. Rush
Tami Civis O’Sullivan to David Speicher
Meaghan Ruth Nuckols to Brian Baird Christner
Heather Catherine Nordone to David Wayne Carlson
Meredith Barrett Pollack to Ryan Dean Lind
Welcome New Members
Samuel Chew
Christine Jamison
Hannah Jamison
Henry Jamison
Josie Jamison
Ken Jamison
Lily Jamison
Alice Earl Stahlwood
Welcome New Clergy & Staff
The Rev. Devon Anderson, Interim Rector (and goodbye!)
Robert Biondi, Parish Custodian
Dr. Andrea Boudra, Interim Associate Organist
Stephen Christner, Interim Associate Director of the Handbell Choirs
Dina Harvey, Worship Administrative Assistant
Jeffrey Johnson, Groundskeeper
Logan Klawitter, Groundskeeper
The Rev. Rick Morley, Rector
Julieann Perez, Finance Assistant
Dr. Stanley Orr, Interim Associate Organist
The Rev. Tanya Regli, Associate Rector
Kathy Wagner, Interim Associate Director of the Chorister Program
Existing Staff Role Changes
Sharon Shuttleworth
from Communications Associate to Executive Assistant to the Rector
Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock
from Associate Director of Music to Director of Music
Elliot VanHoy
from Director of Youth Ministries to Pastoral Associate
Farewell
Transfers Out
Robert & AmyJo Borst
Virginia (Dinny) Jackson
The Rev. Ken McCaslin
Elizabeth Hepburn Miller
James & Ruth Small
William & Mary Alice Spane
Samuel Bowman Wheeler
Staff Departures
The Rev. Devon Anderson, Interim Rector
The Rev. Sarah Dunn, Associate Rector
Jo-Ann Funkhouser, Finance Manager
The Rev. Emily Given, Deacon
Clair Rozier, Director of Music
Heather Sill, Worship Administrative Assistant
Julie Wiant, Chief Operating Officer
2025 Vestry Departures and Thanks
A “thank you” is hardly enough for the immeasurable dedication, time, and passion that Alison Hastings brought to her time on the Vestry and as a warden. Alison was at St. David’s constantly, always available, and was deeply involved in every major decision that was made during this time of great transition. The members of the Vestry are particularly grateful for her steady hand as Junior Warden and Rector’s Warden. St. David’s will reap the benefits of her leadership for years to come.
Leslie Lewis brought her passion for people and outreach to her leadership on the Vestry. Leslie tirelessly works to enrich our parish’s relationship with our partner in ministry, St. Gabriel’s, and as such she is a terrific ambassador of St. David’s. We look forward to her continued participation in the years ahead.
Tim Roach has brought a deep knowledge and commitment of property and grounds to our Vestry, and to the Property Commission. Several major projects have been planned and implemented under his leadership, and several other projects have been set up for success. Tim’s steady presence in Vestry in general has been a tremendous positive to our group, and we are grateful for his time with us.
Ian Wilcox is a brilliant leader with great spiritual depth, who brought tremendous perspective to our Vestry. Drawing from the great spiritual traditions of the church, he has grounded us and given us fresh perspectives. Even before Rick arrived, he met regularly with him to help get him acclimated to this new role and has become an indispensable sounding board. Ian’s many talents will be missed, and we thank him for his many contributions to our Vestry.
In Memoriam
Jane Graves Brink
Elizabeth Embree Briner
Robert Bruce
Laura Thomas Buck
Thomas Llewellyn Carey
Barbara “Bobbie” Cauffman
Edward Taws Claghorn, Jr.
Robin Neal Price Crebbin
Brigitte Eisfeld Cromwell
Jim DeLuca
Thomas McKeown Devlin
John Walter Dinda
Joan Egan
Edward Pugh Fronefield
Betty Jean Fronefield
Christopher Fronefield
Morton Gibbons-Neff
John Lee “Jack” Giegerich
George Carpenter Guenther
Patricia Hartel
Larry S. Hewlett
John Hornsey
John Irwin
Douglas Arthur Kline
Kim Lamson-Scribner
Karen Lenker
Ellen Manganaro
Bill McDonald
Michael Migliorino
Elizabeth Trudeau Morgan
Joan Humpton Harrison Murdoch
Jean Purinton
Patricia Ann Pursell
George W. Robertson, III
Roy Raymond Robson
Victoria S. Schaefer
Lee F. Seybert
Margaret Schult
Helen Shaw
Edith Lichty Wilson Smith
Stephen D. Smith
Martin Avery Snyder
John Tudo
William M. Walker
Kenneth Clarence Warren, Jr.
Janice N. Wetherill
Jeanne White
Robert Sanders Wickham
2024 Annual Meeting Minutes
2024 Parochial Report
