Clergy, Staff & Vestry

The Reverend Rob Merola

Dear Friends,

Some years ago my parents brought home a Dalmatian puppy as the  newest member of our family. Named Sophia (SpotsOnPetsHelpInhibitArson), she was a bundle of often-mischievous energy. In fact, my parents began to wonder quite audibly if perhaps the name of the breed shouldn't be changed-just a little, mind you-by simply dropping the "l"; replacing it with an "n"; and then inverting that "n" with the "m" immediately following it.

Still, we all loved that dog. She could run like the very wind itself-especially when she had somehow managed to slip out the front door and the whole family (there were 7 of us) was trying to catch her. Sophia also loved to swim, diving into the pool with a belly smacker that would have made spring-breakers down in Daytona proud. She could catch Frisbee with the best of them, and had she been born just a few years later might well have been an Xtreme Canine participating in her own way in the extreme sports craze.

But perhaps what endeared us to her most was how affectionate she could be. This was especially evident in her greetings. Not only would she wag her tail furiously, but she also had a "smile" which she reserved solely for these occasions. OK, she did also use it when she knew she was in big trouble, which, come to think of it, was pretty frequently. Anyway, Sophie would curl up her lips, show all her teeth, bob her head, and snort in excitement. To the uninitiated I suppose it probably looked something like a snarl, but we knew it only as an expression of love and warmth. When you would walk in that front door, you'd know that on the other side was a dog who was so glad to see you that she was wearing a big goofy grin and dancing in the sheer pleasure of the moment. No matter how good or how bad my day had been, that greeting always made it better.

All this is to say that this is the kind of greeting that we at Saint Matthew's wish to extend to you. One full of warmth, excitement, and enthusiasm. We look forward to meeting you face to face.

Whether you are still trying to figure out the God-piece of life's puzzle, or a dedicated believer looking for a church, we hope you will feel welcome and at home in our midst.

Warmly,
Rob+

Staff

Minister of Music: Bill Podolski
Bill assumed the position of Music Minister from his mentor, Elaine Rendler in January 2007. Bill grew up in Massapequa on Long Island, New York. He came down to Virginia seven years ago to attend George Mason University. He graduated from GMU with two degrees in music education. As a professional singer, Bill has performed various opera roles, featured solo recitals in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Cologne, Germany, and has performed in the Sydney Opera House, Australia and Lincoln Center, New York. This summer he will be singing in Beijing and Shanghai, China in anticipation of the Summer Olympics and currently sings with the National Philharmonic Singers. As a conductor, Bill has served as Assistant conductor of the Gemini Youth Chorale and the George Mason University choral program.

Since graduating, Bill has been a general music teacher at Forest Edge Elementary School, where he was awarded 2006 Teacher of the Year. He is a frequent guest conductor and adjudicator throughout Northern Virginia. He serves as an officer for the Virginia chapter of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and is a member of National Pastoral Musicians (NPM). Bill lives in Arlington and feels blessed to be serving in his role as music minister.

Nursery Attendants:Angela McKeown
Angela has been attending St. Matthew's since 1995 and taught Sunday School for the preschool class for a number of years before becoming the nursery attendant. She has four sons, ages 2, 4, 8 and 10. She also has done part time daycare in her home for about 7 years. She wants the nursery at St. Matthew's to be a fun place that children will want to come to week after week after week!

Office Manager: Greg Strong
Gregory Strong currently works in the office at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Sterling. Additionally, he abstracts books and articles for Restorative Justice Online, an Internet resource for restorative justice research and practice. Previously, he has worked as the director of training for Prison Fellowship International, and as the lay assistant to the rector of an Episcopal church. His formal education consists of a bachelor’s in English, a master of divinity from an Episcopal seminary, and a master of philosophy and doctor of philosophy in theological and religious studies. He resides in Sterling with his wife, Karen (a senior manager at Prison Fellowship Ministries), and their daughter, Kate (a student at Dominion High School).

Treasurer: Miriam Turner

Vestry

• Paul Schmid, Senior Warden, Technology Team
• Pam Hart, Co-Jr. Warden, Community
• John Martin, Co-Jr. Warden, Building Team
• Charlie Biegel, Spiritual Formation, Youth Leadership Team
• Richard Leach, Stewardship, Finance Chair, Missions Team, Youth Leadership Team
• Katie Robertson, Reverence
• Deb Listopad, Outreach
• Luanna Hansberger
• Ed Goloway

Last Updated on 2/26/2008 9:44:53 AM