Sylvia Cavanaugh

Saint James has marked the pinnacle of my spiritual journey since I returned home to Lancaster after retiring from teaching high school. The Urban Well served as the gateway; morning meditation and yoga naturally transitioned into nightly Compline, the Mercy Seminar, and Group Spiritual Direction. I also joined a Sacred Ground Circle, which felt like a seamless extension of the Urban Well experience.

As a volunteer with the Saint James Habitat for Humanity crew, I have had the opportunity to practice the essential art of laughing at myself while also making a difference in the community. I believe that embracing what feels uncomfortable at first often leads to the truest path—a pilgrim’s journey. The Saint James community is indeed rich and welcoming.

I lived in Lancaster until I attended college and graduate school, where I earned an M.S. in Urban Planning. My studies were inspired by the dream of helping people build beautiful and healthy communities. However, I ultimately discovered my true calling as a teacher and spent 33 years fully engaged as a high school social studies teacher. During my career, I was honored to receive a Wisconsin Kohl Fellowship, which recognizes excellence and innovation in teaching.

I received the award because of my strong commitment to fostering a culture of academic excellence that emphasizes community-building and creative expression. I strive to extend this sense of community beyond the limits of my small classroom. Throughout my life, I have consistently been inspired by those youthful dreams of vibrant communities, which initially motivated me to pursue a career in urban planning.

I understand love, both given and received. I have three wonderful children and an extended family, both biological and chosen. I have found a true sense of home within the Saint James community. The spiritual aspects of my life have come together and flourished here. I want to continue contributing to this community, where vision and love flow freely—and even energetically—between individuals, offering a glimpse of God’s Kingdom in the vibrant heart of Lancaster.

Michael Cusack

I was born and raised in the Baltimore/Towson area of Maryland, where I completed my education with a BA in Economics from Towson University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore. I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in French-speaking Cameroon, West Africa. Following that, I had a 38-year career in international banking, where I specialized in ship financing globally, as well as export and project financing throughout Latin America, primarily in Spanish-speaking countries and Brazil.

I have been an active volunteer and board member at The Baltimore Station for over 20 years. This men’s shelter provides residential care to support addiction recovery and serves a significant population of veterans. Additionally, I have mentored for Big Brothers Big Sisters and tutored at The South Baltimore Learning Center. Currently, I volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, and ReStore.

Having been raised Catholic, I joined the Episcopal Church in 2018. After my retirement, I moved to Lancaster in November 2019. As someone new to the area, I am captivated by the history, architecture, theater, music, art, and especially the kindness and generosity of the people. I discovered Saint James through an Early World Music concert in 2021, and I feel truly blessed to have found a spiritual home here.

I am extremely thankful for the wonderful experience I had during the Saint James pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May 2022. I also enjoy ushering and taking part in the Upper Room Men's Group and the occasional CWS meals and presentations. Recently, I completed the Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, and I love sharing stories with other parishioners and pilgrims.

I consider myself an internationalist who appreciates cultural and linguistic diversity. I would love to see a platform for parishioners to share their volunteer experiences and foster cooperation among different churches and faiths. Inviting organizations to speak would help us learn the best ways to impact our community. Together, we can build a house of prayer and service.

Lisa Groff

I was born in Lancaster and have had Saint James in my life from the time that my parents started taking me there to be baptized and confirmed. As a little girl, I climbed over snowbanks because my dad, Bob Groff, felt that nothing should stop us from getting to church, even if we couldn’t get there in our own car. That kind of example and determination by my father made such a lasting impression on me.

Saint James community has been there for me with health challenges as a young adult, during Covid. Compline services have remained in my life post COVID. I have witnessed the church’s changes and challenges for over 60 years. It is a very special community that I feel blessed to have.

In addition to serving many Saint James families for funeral services, I have previously served on the endowment committee.  My community board work has included the American Red Cross, Rotary Club of Lancaster, Lancaster History, Tennis Central, Neighborhood Services, Mayor Office of Special Events(MOOSE) and Elizabethtown College Leadership Council. I am honored to run for vestry and serve the church in that capacity.

Barbara Hough Huesken

The spiritual journey that led me to Saint James is rooted in rural Southern Illinois, where my Lancaster-reared mother, a registered nurse, and my dad, a Congregational Christian pastor, began their shared life of marriage and ministry. My growing-up years crisscrossed the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic before I started a journalism career at Lancaster Newspapers. Raised in the United Church of Christ, I joined my mother’s home church, a United Methodist congregation in downtown Lancaster, after settling here in the 1980s.

Over the years, I often slowed my pace when walking near the shaded corner of East Orange and North Duke streets. Sometimes, en route to a newspaper interview, I would slip into the Saint James graveyard to relive America’s early history by deciphering the worn letters on the headstones. Other times, I attended a funeral or joined friends at a concert. On Holy Weeks, I sat contemplatively in a side pew as I listened to the last words of Christ at the community Good Friday service.

Because of the people, the sacred surroundings, the music, and the fact that Saint James stands tall and strong structurally and faithfully in a city I had grown to love, I knew it was time to deepen the relationship. I joined Saint James in 2018 and was married here six months later. I am actively involved in the Altar Guild ministry and seek opportunities that grow my faith, expand my perspectives and serve others.

I recently retired as director of legislative affairs at the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association in Harrisburg, where much of my time was spent advocating for First Amendment freedoms and an open, accessible, transparent government for all Pennsylvanians. I live in Warwick Township with my husband, Gerry, a Saint James Catholic Church member in Lititz and retired Conestoga Valley School District superintendent. Our family includes three grown children, two grandchildren and a cat named Chessie. Together Gerry and I celebrate a life made extraordinarily meaningful through church and community service.

Rosemary Krill

Saint James Church is a mainstay of spiritual growth, both as a place and as a congregation. The insightful preaching; the meaningful, well-planned, and music-filled liturgies; the opportunities for contemplation; the learning sessions; and the consistent support of mission and justice work both in Lancaster and beyond . .  . all these activities contribute to a vibrant community. People reach for their best here. That is how the church appeared to my husband and me when we retired to Lititz in 2015. And so, we joined.

Many individuals undoubtedly find a sense of comfort and nourishment at Saint James. From the Church’s history displayed during its 275th-anniversary celebration, I understand that people in previous decades have experienced this too. I would appreciate the opportunity to contribute my skills to the Church’s mission and help shape a future enriched by the qualities we find engaging.

My skills and perspectives have been shaped by my work in nonprofit, mission-driven institutions focused on public history. This journey began in graduate school and continued through positions in museums in New Jersey and Delaware. Ultimately, it culminated in twenty-five years of employment at Winterthur Museum near Wilmington, DE.

I developed educational programs for children and adults, led visitor services that included welcoming, ticketing, and guiding in the house and garden, and managed various aspects of academic programs, such as mentoring students, teaching graduate courses, and overseeing a research fellowship program.

My volunteer work in Lancaster has given me valuable insights into nonprofit funding, budgeting, and planning. I am currently serving my third three-year term on the board of LancasterHistory, where I have also been a member of the Executive Committee for several years and led a team to enhance access to research collections. Furthermore, I recently completed six years as the secretary of the Lancaster Branch of the NAACP. At Saint James, my volunteer work has centered on worship, serving on the Altar Guild since 2019 and as a Eucharistic Minister since 2023.

Julie Peachey

When my husband, Paul, and I moved to Lancaster in 2008, we spent the first few months visiting various churches. We quickly landed on Saint James, drawn in by its friendly welcome, engaging members, beautiful spaces and a brand new rector with international experience. Neither of us had anticipated becoming Episcopalians, but here we still are!

I grew up in Tulsa, OK, and attended a Methodist church regularly. After an accounting degree at Southern Methodist University, I spent a decade in Chicago where I earned my MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business. It was here, through a non-denominational church, that I deepened my own relationship with Christ. A career switch to international development took me to Washington, DC where Paul and I met, were married, and started our family. Moving to Lancaster when they were little, our children, Erik (18) and Annaliese (16), essentially grew up at Saint James.

Saint James has broadened my deep appreciation for Christian community.  I have enjoyed being active in much of what our Parish offers: the CYF ministry, fellowship among parents, contemplative spiritual practices, Forum and bible studies, among others. I served on the Board of Endowment Trustees (BOET) for six years and currently serve as an usher and co-leader of a women’s bible study.

In the Lancaster community, I have served on the board of ASSETS, a Community Development Financial Institution, and have been an active parent with the School District of Lancaster. I recently joined the board of the Lancaster Farmland Trust.

I’m passionate about business approaches to addressing poverty and achieving social impact through education and financial services.  My work in microfinance, which took us to the Philippines for 3+ years for a project developing savings products for a rural bank, ultimately led to my current role as Pennsylvania’s Deputy State Treasurer for Consumer Programs. I oversee our state’s savings programs and unclaimed property with combined assets of $13 billion. I see opportunities to connect my professional work with the ministries of Saint James - like the Global Philanthropy Leaders program for youth and connecting faith community resources with children’s savings accounts for college.

If elected to Vestry, I will look to leverage my experience on BOET and business acumen and support ways to build community, faith, contemplation and action at Saint James.

Eric Schwarz

I was raised in southern Florida, where I graduated from high school. In the fall of 1997, I joined the US Navy and served as a submarine reactor operator. I was brought up in the Catholic faith and continued to practice it while in the Navy, even serving as a eucharistic minister at sea.

After my active duty service, I moved to Pennsylvania in 2004 to enroll at Penn State University. I was looking for a major university with a big library, a strong football program, and a nuclear reactor on campus. I completed my BS in Chemistry, minoring in Physics, to prepare for a future in nuclear energy.

In 2008, I attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and earned my MS in Chemical Engineering, focusing on high-temperature molten salt chemistry. During my time in graduate school, I met my wonderful wife, Ashley, and we began a long-distance relationship. In 2010, I rejoined the Navy Reserves and was commissioned as an officer.

I eventually moved to Lancaster, PA, for work and married Ashley in 2012. I started working as a nuclear chemical engineer for Peach Bottom, and in 2014, our son Henry was born. We sought to find a spiritual home and community, which led us to Saint James. I left the Navy Reserves in 2016 and transitioned to TMI for work until it closed in 2019. I was fortunate to return to Peach Bottom, which marked the beginning of my personal journey to add value to my community and the industry. In 2023, I started my own nuclear technology company, which is progressing slowly. Meanwhile, Ashley is finishing her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Since 2017, I have volunteered as a Senior Research Associate at Franklin and Marshall College, studying air and water quality. I also became a Cub Scout den leader in Lancaster City in 2022 and volunteer with Junior Achievement, helping elementary and middle school students learn about civic engagement and STEM topics. I am passionate about engaging boys and men to improve their participation and opportunities in our local industry and community.

Windley Hofler Walden

Music and children brought me to Saint James when my daughter was invited to perform as “Young Cossette” in the 2013 Les Miz mass. As a “cradle” Episcopalian but recent transplant to Lancaster County, I had been searching for a church home. From the moment I entered the beautiful sanctuary and gazed up at the angels over the altar, I felt a blanket of peace wrap around me and knew I had found my spiritual home.

My husband, Ted, and I have four children, two of whom — Trip (24) and Ellie (20) — were confirmed at Saint James, and three of whom — Thomas (22), Ellie, and Hofler (13) — have served in the Acolyte Ministry. I began serving as an Acolyte Director in 2017 and continue in that role today. You likely know me as the short blonde woman running around like mad prior to the 10:30 services.

In the 10 years since joining Saint James in 2013, my family briefly moved back to our home Commonwealth (Virginia) only to return to Lancaster for good three years later in 2017. Relocating is never easy, but knowing we were returning to the warm, welcoming Saint James family provided us all with a needed sense of stability, comfort and calm in a tumultuous time.

Professionally, I am a lapsed attorney, having transitioned to the role of teacher at the law firm of Stevens & Lee. Drawing on 20+ years as a litigator, I mentor and guide our newest professionals through their own legal careers in a manner grounded in the highest ideals of our profession.

What I love most about Saint James is our leadership’s willingness to engage in the critical self-examination and discernment necessary to guide Saint James’ evolution in ways big and small that honor the past while appreciating both the need to adapt to the present and to prepare for the future. It would be an honor to support Saint James’ efforts by serving this congregation as a member of your Vestry.