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+
The Reverend Anne MacNabb
“I am so proud to be on the St Matthew’s team. This is a church unlike any other – which you won’t understand until you visit. There is a Spirit here that is exciting to be a part of – an energy and excitement about our life together as Christians. Our mission statement is “To know and share God’s love” and boy do we do that! We can feel the love of God and the love of our neighbors as soon as we step through the door and we share that love in the countless events and outreach projects that provide for the needy in our area. I’ve never known a church to do as much for the poor as St. Matthews. And, I’ve never known a church to do as much to care for one another as St. Matthews. The only thing I can say is you need to experience this for yourself – it’s the only way you’ll believe it.”
Anne joined the St. Matthew’s team in September of 2008. As a lifelong Virginian, she is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College and Virginia Theological Seminary. Anne and her husband, Steve, and son, Colin live in Sterling. They enjoy the outdoors, traveling and are active in the community.
Anne+
Seminarian Grey Maggiano
Grey Maggiano is postulant from the Diocese of Virginia studying at Virginia Theological Seminary. He will spend two years at St. Matthew's as part of his Seminary training at which point, God willing and the people consenting, he will be ordained in the Diocese of Virginia. Grey grew up in Northern Virginia and he and his wife Monica have lived in Alexandria since 2007. Their daughter, Isabella, was born December 2011 and is giving Grey a new appreciation for things like "sleep" and "quiet". Grey has a bachelors degree from Williams College and a Masters from Georgetown and prior to entering Seminary spent five years working for the U.S. Department of State.
Staff
Ray was born and raised in Long Island, NY. While in NY, he attended Ithaca College School of Music as well as Five Towns College for the Performing Arts. Ray studied both voice and piano in Classical, Jazz, and Contemporary settings. He has had the privilege of conducting community, college, high school, and elementary choirs at venues such as Lincoln Center, NY, and the NY Huntington Choral Society. Ray has a true passion for music composition and is enthralled to have been able to share it with so many people thus far.
Ray has been an active church musician his whole life, having had the opportunity to be a part of some wonderful congregations over the years. He is now honored and grateful to call St. Matthews his home in Virginia. In his spare time he also teaches elementary music & chorus full-time for Fairfax County Public Schools.
Miriam has been a member of St. Matthew's since August 2004. She joined us as the Office Manager in June 2008. Miriam is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration. She has worked at hotels across the country in a variety of operational positions. She worked for five years as a member of the faculty at Stratford University. She currently serves on the faculty of Northern Virginia Community College. Her educational experience and organizational skills serve us all well as she runs the office of St. Matthew's. Miriam lives in Sterling with her husband, Mason, son, Mason II, and hound dog, Bianca.
Nursery Attendants: Ixhlale "Lollie" Alibali and Rachel Hansberger
Vestry
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Darrell Breed,
Senior Warden | Fred Brittain,
Junior Warden | Annette Brennan |
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Robert Cranson | John Dickie | Erin Leary |
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Mary Petersen | Dan Robertson | Hillary Tattersall |
Last Updated on 1/21/2012 7:04:28 PM