Ministry Leaders

Clergy

Alissa G. Anderson

Rector

Starting October 1, 2023

Parish Staff

Chris Lauckner

Parish Administrator

Email
989-631-2260

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Coming soon

Amon Eady

Director of Music

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989-631-2260

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Joining St. John’s staff in summer 2018, Amon also serves as Director of Choral Activities at Central Michigan University, where he conducts four ensembles and teaches undergraduate and graduate choral conducting.

Dr. Eady taught at middle school and high school levels for nine years in Tennessee, where he also served as a mentor teacher in musical literacy instruction in the urban environment. He has also presented at state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education on developing the male chorus, the building of a comprehensive choral program, and new and diverse methods of teacher training.

Dr. Eady’s choirs have also performed at state and regional conventions of ACDA and he was recognized by the Tennessee Music Educators Association as Music Educator of the Year (2014). Among his research interests is the rehabilitative impact of choral singing on incarcerated individuals. Dr. Eady holds the bachelor of music education degree and master of music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as the doctor of philosophy degree in choral conducting and music education from Florida State University.

A lifelong church musician, Amon is excited to be serving here at St. John’s. He lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife Deidra, son Liam, and daughter Rowan.

Linda Germain

Interim Children and Youth Director

Colleen O’Dell

Bookkeeper

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989-631-2260

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Colleen comes to St. John’s with 35 years of experience in the accounting/bookkeeping field. Born and raised in Bay City, she’s a graduate of Bay City Central, where she met and married her husband. They moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 1994. After 49 years of marriage, Colleen lost her husband in 2020. Retiring in 2021, she moved back to Bay City in 2022 where she has family and long-time friends. Colleen has four sons, 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Ellen Woodard

Administrative Assistant

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989-631-2260

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Ellen joined St. John’s office staff in summer 2018, returning to her hometown of Midland where her grandchildren, sisters and Dad live. As a full-time house-hubby, Ellen’s husband, Randy, affords her the time to pursue extra-curricular handbell ringing activities including solo ringing, and directing the handbell choirs at Memorial Presbyterian Church. A graduate of Midland H.S. and DePauw University, Ellen also has a Master’s degree in music performance (french horn) from the University of Michigan. As a ‘wanna-be’ musician, she worked up the technology ladder from secretary/word processor to systems administrator and computer applications technician, most recently working as a database developer and data manager for clinical trials at U of M’s School of Public Health. Ellen thoroughly enjoys being back in Midland, close to family, and especially cutting her one-way commute down from 45+ minutes to 5 minutes!

Nick Lowthian

Sexton

Email
989-631-2260

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Nick joined St. John’s staff in November 2018 and welcomes the opportunity to look and care after a piece of living history. He aims to make St. John’s a little bit better every day. Nick has built things since childhood and has long been a “fix it” guy, always enjoying pulling things apart & putting them back together. While naturally a carpenter, he has worked in many different fields to be well-rounded.

Nick and wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of little youngsters Julia Grace and Emmett James. After living in Traverse City for about 8 years, they are happy to be closer to family in Midland now. If Nick had an extra 24 hrs a month, he’d spend it fixing something, then packing up the family for an adventure, then wrapping up the day with kids & wife piled on the couch watching old movies.

Vestry

With our Rector, Vestry members oversee resource development, people, property and money to support the mission and ministry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. They have a standing monthly meeting whose minutes are always posted publically. More about this group of elected leaders may be found on our Church Governance page.

We are grateful to all who have served in the past, especially to the Vestry class members who concluded their terms of service in January 2023: Jesse Donahue, Sara Philo and Lee Smith.

Below are photos from a past vestry retreat. Retreats are typically held each fall.