St. John's Memorial

Episcopal Church

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Images of our Congregation

Boyd and Nancy Herforth are new to Saint John’s, as of the First Sunday in Advent, 2017, when Boyd became our new organist and music director. Boyd is an accomplished musician with Master’s Degrees in Music Performance (Westminster Choir College, Princeton, 1993) and Music Therapy (SUNDY-New Paltz, 2013). He has served in various capacities of church music for congregations in New York and new Jersey, and as a music therapist in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. In the late 1960’s-early 1970’s, Boyd also lived in the Philippines where he worked for the Peace Corps.

Nancy’s life has been equally musical and adventurous. Born in Minnesota, she traveled in Sweden, moved to Boston to complete a Master’s Degree in Voice at the New England Conservatory and perform in quartets. In the 1970’s, she moved to New Paltz, becoming a part-time Lecturer at the college, while also working at a nursing home as a private care-giver, and Director of the Junior and youth Choir at the Reformed Church.

Boyd and Nancy met at a Church Softball Tournament – when one thing led to another!

Herb and Deb Simmerly moved to Ellenville in 2013 from Oneonta, NY. They grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Fairview Park, Ohio and remain devoted Cleveland Indian fans, which is no small feat in New York! Deb is a commissioned Deacon in the Lutheran Church and serves in a similar capacity at St. John’s. She is also a practitioner in healing ministry through Prashanti Therapeutic Massage Studio in Ellenville (see www.followthesunwithin.com for more information on Deb’s work).

John and Gaby O’Neil have been members of St. John’s for eight years. Members of the vestry and altar guild, they moved to Napanoch, in April 2009, from Newton, Massachusetts. Among other interests, they are avid gardeners, both at home and at the church, Gaby is an artist in many mediums, and being avid stargazers (especially John), they are known to pack up their telescope and attend stargazing association meetings held throughout the northeast. They especially love being grandparents and spending time with their far flung family.

Several members of St. John’s gather informally once a month – hence the name “First Tuesdays” – for fellowship and food at local restaurants and diners. We may or may not actually meet on exactly the first Tuesday of the month, although that frequently happens!

Altar
Guild
Vestry
About MISU
About Us
Environmental Ministry

St. John’s Mission

Celebrating God’s Love. Welcoming all. Nourishing the soul. Building community.

Caring for creation. Empowering the person. Worshipping God.

Clergy and Ministry Team

The Rev. Canon Jeff Golliher, PhD., Missioner.  Fr. Golliher is Missioner for the Rondout and Sullivan County for the Diocese of New York.  He is also Assisting Minister Provincial for Sacred Ecology for the Anglican Franciscans, Third Order, Province of the Americas.  Before coming to St. John’s, he was Canon for the Environment at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan.  He also served as the Environmental Staff Person for the Office of the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations.

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Julett Butler was ordained a deacon in 2019.  She came to our area in September 2022 to take on a job as Protestant Chaplain with DOCCS and simultaneously work at St. John’s as the deacon.  She comes with over 30 years experience in substance abuse and over 20 volunteering in prison ministry.  She’s been involved with KAIROS Prison Ministry since 2003.  Julett comes with a master’s degree in Communications Studies from Emerson College, a master’s degree in Pastoral Care from Fordham University, an advanced certificate in Public Administration from Marist College and is a Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).

Worship Services:

The Holy Eucharist is celebrated every Sunday at 10:00 am.

In Advent, a service of Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist is celebrated the Sunday before Christmas Day, 10:00 am

Our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, with Holy Eucharist, is celebrated at 7:30 pm.

During Holy Week, our Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist (and potluck dinner) is celebrated in the undercroft at 7:00 pm

Our Good Friday Stations of the Cross begins at 2:00 pm

The Celebration of the Day of the Resurrection begins at 10:00 am on Easter Sunday.

Organist and Choir

Olga Pchelintseva- Mares, center in front, is a Russian American pianist, who studied piano since she was 8 years old. She went through 7 years of music school and 2 years of Musical College of Arts before she went to study Roman and German Philology at the State University of Tambov in Russia. After 4 years of University, she moved to the USA and continued her musical studies under the tutelage of Vladimir Feltsan at SUNY New Paltz. She got her Piano Performance degree in December 2007. She’s been playing in churches as a pianist and an organist ever since. She had a duo with her American friend of Ukrainian descent and together they recorded a Russian Ukrainian album in 2016. Olga has been a singer and a Choir director assistant at a Russian Church in Pine Bush since 2014 – 2021. She started working at St. John’s church as a Choir Director and an organist in November 2021.

 

St. John’s Memorial Episcopal Church
40 Market Street, Ellenville, NY
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Missioner’s Letter
  • About the Missioner
  • Events
  • History
  • Contact Us