Clergy Epistle
Dear St. Anne’s Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is with a glad heart that I write to share news of two gifts God has brought to our common life. These two people have said yes to a call to serve among us, and their ministries, I believe, will be a deep blessing to St. Anne’s in the seasons ahead.
First, I am delighted to share that Lindsay Espinosa has accepted the role of Program Coordinator. Most of you already know Lindsay well, and it is a joy to see her step more fully into the life of this parish family. In this new role, she will tend to parish operations with a particular care for our Children and Youth Formation ministries, working with Mother Alice to accompany the little ones and the young people who are so dear to the heart of our community. This door opened following Kathy Shaffer’s decision to pursue a new path before joining our staff. We give thanks that Lindsay, with her warmth, her gifts, and her deep-rootedness in this community, heard the call and answered it. Many of you have already been touched by her voice in our choir, her creativity as a music and movement teacher at PASA, and her quiet, steady gift for bringing order and care to everything she touches. These same gifts will now flow into this ministry, and we are richer for it.
I also rejoice to announce that The Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud will join our clergy staff on October 1, 2026, as Associate Rector. Some of you will remember Mary+ as the gracious guide who accompanied our parish through the search process that brought me to St. Anne’s. Her ministry has been long and fruitful as she has served as a parish rector, Canon to the Ordinary, a member of the staff of two dioceses, and Senior Associate in a large and flourishing parish. What strikes me most, though, is not her résumé but her spirit: a deep love for the Church, a pastor’s heart, and a wisdom that comes from years of faithful service.
Mary+ will give particular attention to A Cup of Cold Water, to the welcoming of newcomers, to the gentle work of hospitality, and to the ministries of preaching and teaching that nourish us. She will also walk alongside us in the work of stewardship, helping us tend well the resources entrusted to our care.
Together, Lindsay and Mary+ bring gifts that are a true answer to prayer. They come to help us build, to nurture, to welcome, and to deepen our life together as disciples of Jesus Christ. Please hold them both in your prayers as they step into these new ministries. Offer them your encouragement, your patience, and your characteristic St. Anne’s warmth. I am confident you will.
We are grateful to God and to these two faithful people who have said yes.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to reconcile people with God and each other by Building, Engaging, Evangelizing, and Forming disciples of Jesus.
Faithfully,
Manoj+
The Rev. Manoj Mathew Zacharia, Ph.D.