2025 Convention Deputy, Alternate
My family and I are relatively new to Montclair, having moved here in 2020. Our son Maxwell was 3 years old then, and my wife Rowan and I had been discussing that we wanted to connect with a religious community in our new home. Church was a big part of our childhoods; I grew up attending St. Catherine’s Catholic Grammar School in Spring Lake, NJ, and my family, grandparents, and cousins were all very involved in the parish for decades.
Once we settled into our new home, we didn’t have a chance to explore Montclair’s various religious communities, because in a way, St. Luke’s found us first. We live two blocks away and I walk our dog by St. Luke’s every day. It didn’t take long for me to “get to know” Pastor John because we often exchanged hellos or waves. Shortly thereafter, our son’s school visited the church, and then we all visited the pumpkin patch. It was actually Max who first suggested we explore the church more deeply, and the Celebrate service was a perfect introduction.
We quickly became Sunday regulars, and Rowan started volunteering with Toni’s Kitchen. The most striking impression I got, and continue to get with each visit, is a special sense of warmth, comfort, and belonging that exudes from St. Luke’s. This has drawn me to the many community events as well as coffee hour, where I continue to deepen friendships and make new ones.
I didn’t realize it when I first joined, but I needed St. Luke’s more than I ever imagined, and for that I am eager to give back. I wholehearted support St. Luke’s values and mission, and I would be honored to serve as candidate for Convention Deputy.