The Clergy at Saint James

Rev. David W. Peck, Rector
David came to Lancaster in 2008 after serving the Archbishop of Canterbury in Lambeth Palace as his Secretary for International Development. His interest in justice and peace issues continue while he develops new horizons in the parish for education and contemplative prayer. He recently completed sabbatical studies on Mercy in Jerusalem and The West Bank and in 2013 completed a 30-day silent Ignatian retreat at the Jesuit Center in Wernersville, PA. He is married to Dr. Cordelia Moyse and they rejoice in their daughter, Theodora. Email Fr. David

Rev. Daphne Messersmith, Interim Associate 
The Rev. Daphne Messersmith has been retired since 2015 and since then, has been exploring handbell playing, line dancing, choir singing, bocce and hiking up at Cornwall Manor, the retirement community where she and her husband, The Rev. Cn. Ed Messersmith moved a year ago. She grew up in the Philadelphia area, went to college in St. Louis then moved here to central Pennsylvania where she was ordained a deacon in 1981 and priest in 1994, serving in a variety of ministries in this diocese and beyond. Lately she has begun volunteering with a women inmates’ spirituality/prayer group at Lancaster County Prison. Daphne has three grown sons, two step-daughters and she and Ed enjoy six grandchildren, Jesse, Ida, Mabel, Pablo, Piper and Kirby!
Email Rev. Daphne

Ecumenical Associates

Pastoral Care and spiritual guidance is also offered through a team of ecumenical, lay and ordained ministers.

 

Rev. Dr. Randolph T. Riggs
The Rev. Dr. Randolph T. Riggs (Randy) is a native of California who has served for 41 years in four different churches as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He came to Lancaster in June of 1996 to be the Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Downtown, Lancaster. He retired in July, 2012 after 16 years at the church. In retirement he has served Lancaster Theological Seminary as Director of Presbyterian Studies and Community Engagement Liaison and at the Samaritan Counseling Center as a Consultant in Preaching and Ministry. He has served as Bridge Pastor of Slateville and Slate Ridge Presbyterian Churches in Delta, Pa, First United Methodist Church and First Reformed UCC in Lancaster City. He is a graduate of University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A. in History), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.) He has been active in the community as well as the Presbytery of Donegal. He served on the Boards of Directors for the Samaritan Counseling Center. He chaired the Capital Campaign for the Food Hub of the Lancaster County Council of Churches as well as the President of the Board of Directors. He was given the Mentzer Award for Excellence in Ecumenical Cooperation in 2012. Randy has two adult children, Holly and Tim, and six granddaughters all of whom are a great source of joy for him.

Kimberlee Peifer, Spiritual Director and Associate for Contemplative Prayer & Practices

Kimberlee completed her spiritual direction and formational prayer training through Healing Care Ministries International at Ashland Theological Seminary. She has worked at Kavanna House Spiritual Formation Center in York, Pa. She received her BS and MS degrees in Kinesiology and Health Education from Penn State University.

As Associate for Contemplative Prayer and Practices at Saint James, one of her passions is to help those interested in a deeper spiritual life, learn more about the practice while uncovering the spiritual direction relationship that is right for them. In her spare time, she loves to do yoga, be outdoors, read, knit, as well as practice being present in the mundane of cooking, cleaning and laundry. Email Kimberlee

Rev LaurenRev. Lauren Schoeck, Associate for Congregational Care
Lauren serves in a variety of ways at Saint James including baptism and marriage preparation, leading services at Willow Valley and Moravian Manor, serving as chaplain to the Daughters of the King, funeral pre-planning and assisting with children, youth, and family ministries. She has her BA in Elementary Education from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) and her M.Div from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (Berkeley, CA). She was ordained to the priesthood in 2012 and has served parishes in the Dioceses of Arizona and California before moving to the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Her favorite activities include watching movies, singing, and playing board games with her husband Fr. Rob, their son, and their bulldogs. Email Rev. Lauren

Rev. Robert Schoeck, Associate Rector
Rob serves the parish as the Associate Rector and oversees worship, membership, formation, and mission through collaborative leadership with volunteer-led committees. He is a Spiritual Director and is the facilitator of the 11th Step Christian Meditation Group for those who are seeking spiritual growth as part of their recovery. Father Rob graduated from Lesley University (Cambridge, MA) with a BS in Human Services and a M.Div from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (Berkeley, CA). He was ordained to the priesthood in 2014 and is originally from the Boston area. He is passionate about pilgrimages and how they form us in walking the way of Jesus. When not on campus, he enjoys spending his time with his wife Rev. Lauren and their son as they continue to explore the beauty and breadth of Lancaster and Central Pennsylvania. Email Fr. Rob