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 a recent addition to the St. Matthew's community. I came here not knowing what to expect, wondering if this would be "just another church." What I found has been overwhelming. The welcome my family and I have received has been phenomenal. This place is different, the people are real, they are kind and the welcome is genuine. If you visit St. Matthew's, you will not stand in coffee hour wondering how to start a conversation with someone - you will feel like you have been a part of this community for years. This is a vibrant community with tons of activities and opportunities for service, education, just plain fun for all ages.

I am so excited to be here... excited to be a part of the life of faith of this community. I'm excited to be a youth pastor again and be able to be with young people. I've been a youth minister in the Diocese of VA for 10 years and look forward to doing that work again after a year hiatus. I'm excited to help Father Rob and the Vestry lead this congregation as it continues to be a welcoming beacon of hope and faith in a world that needs both. Join us... you'll be so glad you did.

Anne+

Staff

Minister of Music: Ray Mueller
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.

Nursery Attendant: 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: Miriam Turner
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. For the previous five years she has been a member of the faculty at Stratford University. She is looking forward to bringing her educational experience and organizational skills to the office of St. Matthew's. Miriam lives in Sterling with her husband, Mason, son, Mason II, and hound dog, Bianca.

Summer Interns

Michael Vereb

Michael Vereb is a rising Junior majoring in History at William and Mary. At school he is involved with the club Ultimate Frisbee team and Wyldlife Student Ministries. He’s excited to apply what he’s learned serving middle schoolers in Williamsburg and use that experience to give back to St. Matthew’s this summer. In his spare time, Michael enjoys road tripping, good music, and Waffle House.

Christine Merola

Christine Merola is entering her last year at Calvin College in the fall with a double major in English and Psychology. She has been attending St. Matthew's since 2001, and it is her home away from home - she loves the vibrant community and lovely quirky people that come here! After spending a year studying abroad at Oxford University, she has a newfound love for British accents, cream tea, scones, and everything BBC (especially Doctor Who). She is also an undeniable nerd, and can never resist a good comic book or monster movie.

Lauren Anderson

Lauren Anderson is 19 years old and just finished her second year at Virginia Tech where she studies biology, chemistry, and psychology. She has a passion for singing, doing arts and crafts, and helping people. She spent the past year at Virginia Tech as a Resident Advisor in her dormitory, and she loved being a mentor for the new college freshman. Lauren would like to express how thankful she is for this second opportunity to intern with St. Matthew’s!

Vestry

Ed Goloway, Senior Warden	Darrell Breed, Junior Warden	Richard Leach
Erin Leary	Luanna Hansberger	John Martin
Mary Petersen	Dan Robertson	Cathy Paine

Last Updated on 6/13/2010 11:14:20 PM