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about :: welcome our mission our history our ministries meet our priest in charge meet our staff meet our vestry  |
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Meet Our StaffAll staff may be contacted through the church office at 401.847.0675. Click on any name to read a biography:Deacons: Deacon Ann D. Peletier Deacon Sue Crowninshield, Retired Director of Music: John Totter, music@emmanuelnewport.org Director of Children's Ministries & Emmanuel Day School: Dawn M. Grinnell, director@emmanueldayschool.com Parish Administrator: Kathleen Skelley, admin@emmanuelnewport.org Deacon Ann D. Peletier I was born in Chicago, and grew up in the suburbs, and in Tarpon Springs, Fl., where I graduated from high school. I received an AB in Spanish and History from the College of William and Mary, with a Junior Year in Spain with Smith College. After graduation, I was awarded a Buenos Aires Convention scholarship to study Peruvian theater at San Marcos, in Lima. I later received a MA in Spanish from Middlebury College. I lived for some 8 years in Madrid, working as a local employee for the American Embassy as an English teaching specialist. During this time, I also worked for Spanish National Television and Radio as a writer and announcer for my own programs, and was asked to start a Binational Center, where I served as Director and Director of Courses. I also was an English teacher for D. Fernando Maria de Castiella and his wife in preparation for a state visit to the United Nations and Washington D.C. I was married in Madrid, and then returned to the United States to live and teach in Rhode Island. I have taught Spanish at Salve Regina College, Cluny School, and Portsmouth High School and for the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. At St. Philomena School, I taught grades 3 and 4, Special Education and Spanish for the Primary Open Classroom program. At Portsmouth Abbey, I started an English as a Foreign Language Program. I have taught ESL in Lima, Madrid and in Rhode Island at various locations and at various levels. I hope soon to begin both Spanish and ESL classes as an outreach from Emmanuel Church. After my studies at the School for Deacons of our diocese, I was ordained in 1990, and have served at St. George’s (Central Falls) (twice – doing Hispanic ministry, especially when there was no Spanish priest), St. Matthews (Barrington), St. Peter and St. Andrew (Providence) and Church of the Advent ( Pawtucket), during which time I also served on the Diocesan Hispanic Ministry Committee, and presently on the Committee for Diaconal Formation. Besides Madrid and Lima, I have lived in the Dominican Republic, working with the Sisters of the Transfiguration in their slum ministry, and have visited Mexico, France, Greece, Israel, and Wales, along with much of the United States. I have three grown children, and am now widowed. I live in Portsmouth, and am enjoying my “pseudo retirement.” Deacon Sue Crowninshield, Retired My primary ministry is one of pastoral care to the parishioners at Emmanuel, but especially to senior members. Spending seven years as a hospice chaplain, my focus is on issues of death and dying with follow-up bereavement care. For two years our parish housed homeless families through “The Family Promise Program” of which I was a co-chairperson. At Christmas we gather gifts and food for people who are in need of assistance. In 2006, I joined with eleven others on a mission trip to Mississippi where we helped rebuild after the devastation of hearts and homes. I presently sit on the medical/ethics board at Forest Farm Nursing Center where I also participate in services of remembrance. The past two years, feeling called to a healing ministry, I have been studying and practicing a type of energy called, “Quantum Healing Touch” for which I am in the process of becoming a certified practitioner. My hope is to bring it into the parish for all. My diaconal ministry is to reach out with love to all God’s children and to encourage and assist others to do the same. John Totter Director of Music John Totter, organist and choir director, has been a professional church musician since 1981. He has worked in Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Alabama and Rhode Island. John’s educational accomplishments include the Bachelor of Music in organ performance from the Hartt School of Music (Univ. of Hartford) and the Master of Music from the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music. He also earned the Colleague Certificate from American Guild of Organists. John has had an active career as an accompanist. He was a staff accompanist at the University of South Alabama. He was Assistant Conductor, Repetiteur and Supertitle Projectionist with the Mobile Opera. He was also Music Director for numerous educational productions with the Mobile Opera, most notably their production Let Freedom Ring, performed during Black History Month (February). In addition to his work as an accompanist, John has performed solo organ recitals around the country. John also freelances around the state as organist and singer. John was recently married to Mary Hohenhaus, a G.I.M. physician at the Miriam Hospital. Together they enjoy frequent travel, most particularly to England, cooking, homebrewing and restoration work on their vintage Stick Victorian style home. They also sing together in the choir at Grace Church, Providence. Dawn M. Grinnell Director of Children's Ministries & Emmanuel Day School Years ago I was asked by another church to head up their Vacation Bible School. In researching what that meant, as well as how to professionally take up that position, I spent a fair amount of time with the church's associate rector. I spent many hours discussing why I had been selected for this role. He told me half-jokingly, (after my second year), that I had been "called". My response was one of disbelief. He also laughed and stated "try running from God, I tried... and look at what I do!" He was right. I found myself at Emmanuel not much longer after that conversation. God, indeed, finds you! My undergraduate studies were in History and teaching. But I really have always had a calling to teach religious studies. Children relate to God and the hereafter much more than we are willing to give them credit for. I find my most rewarding moments in the All Saints Chapel each Sunday morning teaching the Gospel and suddenly being overcome by the Holy Spirit to teach it in a different way than I had planned. I have had equally moving moments at Christmas Pageants or teaching Jesus' resurrection story with Fr. Greg to the students at EDS. I am most comfortable relating spirit and God to all people..big or little. I am committed to giving the children of Emmanuel the full beauty, wisdom,and intent of God's love each day. God calls me to this awesome responsibility. And I accept humbly. The Emmanuel Day School was an answer to a prayer. EDS has lived in my heart and soul for a very long time! Two years ago, Greg Cole and myself began to see a vision for Emmanuel in a preschool and beyond that would not only fit into the scheme of our learning community but serve Emmanuel in more ways than even, "we", imagined! Emmanuel Day School is the richest, most vibrant, fun, joy-filled learning environment where children thrive educationally, build spiritual and emotional bonds, strong friendships, and really, a place, where the sun shines each and every day! The Vestry of Emmanuel and its' parishioners believed enough in the future of our young people, and essentially in my vision, that this has become the best Pre-Kindergarten, ( and now Kindergarten 2007), on Aquidneck Island! We serve 30 students each day under the Eiffel Tower, in a Science Lab, Social Studies classroom, Chapel, Yoga, and whatever else God has in store of us! This year the families and children of EDS will sponsor a child in Kenya to attend a school that they may not ever have had a chance to attend. We at EDS are helping to shape students to change the face of the world. I am so proud and grateful to call Emmanuel my home. Kathleen Skelley Parish Administrator I grew up in Northern New Jersey, and lived there until I left for college in Pennsylvania. While at school, I had the opportunity to travel and spend time in Germany and Japan. During college, I met my husband and have now been married 14 years. I have two children who are the focus of most of my time. I am actively involved in my church where I run our children’s programs. In our family time, we enjoy Letterboxing, hiking and biking. |
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