Pastor Chris, a proud, native New Yorker, has been in the ministry
for over 30 years– serving in churches and ministries throughout
New York, New Jersey, and Michigan.
As a young adult, she found her way to the Presbyterian Church (USA), heard the call to ministry in her work with youth and young adults, and then entered their ordination process. After graduating with her MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, she took a call in Michigan, directing a camp and retreat center owned by a Presbyterian Church.
Longing to be back in the rhythm of the church, she answered the call to St. James Episcopal Church in Birmingham as the Director of Children and Youth Formation. It was a coming home of sorts after growing up steeped in the liturgy of the Catholic Church. During her 12-year tenure at St. James, she was received into The Episcopal Church and entered our ordination process. Pastor Chris was ordained a Deacon in December 2019 and a Priest in November 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During her 30-plus years of ministry, while her official titles often included the words ‘Children, Youth, and Young Adult’, her ministry was to the whole church…young and older. She loved hanging with the ladies who knit but could never actually learn how to knit. Some of her favorite moments were with the preschool at St. James, where they asked the most amazing questions during chapel time.
She comes to us at St. John’s with her wife, Sara, a California native. They have three adult children – Kiera, a third-year law student at Michigan State; Clayton (Kiera’s twin), who is severely, multiply impaired and lives nearby in Beverly Hills; and Logan, a computer engineer who lives in Chicago.
pastor chris
meet
pastor chris
Pastor Chris, a proud, native New Yorker, has been in the ministry for over 30 years–
serving in churches and ministries throughout New York, New Jersey,
and Michigan.
OUR STAFF
Jessica Rienstra
Parish Administrator
Jessica Rienstra
Parish Administrator
Caleb Greniewicki
Director of Music
Marissa Johnson
Assistant Director
Melanie Notestine Draper
Handbell Director
Janet Sigmon
Nursery Staff
Deborah Chinitz
Nursery Staff
Caleb Greniewicki
Director of Music
Marissa Johnson
Assistant Director of Music
Melanie
Notestine Draper
Deborah Chinitz
Nursery Staff
click each staff photo for bios
Janet Sigmon Nursery Staff
Handbell Director
OUR STAFF
Jessica is a mom of 3, two of whom are now young adults, she clearly has plenty of experience in multi-tasking, so don't hesitate to stop in her office any time.
In her free time she enjoys gardening (and fighting off the neighborhood deer), cooking for her family (and making them wash the dishes), and hanging out with her rescue dog, Pippin (and preventing him from eating the furniture).
parish administrator
JESSICA RIENSTRA
Jessica
Rienstra
OUR STAFF
of Music
Caleb has been the organist and director of music at St. John’s since 2021. He particularly enjoys working with the St. John’s Houseband and the St. John’s Choir with his assistant director of music, Marissa Johnson. Caleb studied organ performance under Carol Muehlig and choir under Dr. Brian Altevogt at Concordia University, Ann Arbor.
Previously, he was the organist at Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church in Redford and the director of worship arts at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Canton. He has performed overseas in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and England. Caleb lives in Superior Township, where he enjoys composing in his spare time.
Caleb has been the organist and director of music at St. John’s since 2021. He particularly enjoys working with the St. John’s Houseband and the St. John’s Choir with his assistant director of music, Marissa Johnson. Caleb studied organ performance under Carol Muehlig and choir under Dr. Brian Altevogt at Concordia University, Ann Arbor.
Previously, he was the organist at Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church in Redford and the director of worship arts at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Canton. He has performed overseas in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and England. Caleb lives in Superior Township, where he enjoys composing in his spare time.
director of music
CALEB Greniewicki
Caleb
Greniewicki
OUR STAFF
of Music
Marissa Johnson has been involved a part of the music at St. John’s since 2021, and is currently the assistant director of music and leads the choir. Before St. John’s, Marissa was a section leader at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Newnan, Ga for several years.
She holds a masters in vocal performance and has nearly a decade of experience in teaching voice and piano. She is now the manager at a cleaning company based in Novi and lives in Livonia with her husband Cameron, a professional singer who regularly works with Detroit Opera and Cincinnati Opera.
Marissa Johnson has been involved a part of the music at St. John’s since 2021, and is currently the assistant director of music and leads the choir. Before St. John’s, Marissa was a section leader at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Newnan, Ga for several years.
She holds a masters in vocal performance and has nearly a decade of experience in teaching voice and piano. She is now the manager at a cleaning company based in Novi and lives in Livonia with her husband Cameron, a professional singer who regularly works with Detroit Opera and Cincinnati Opera.
assistant director of music
marissa johnson
Marissa
Johnson
OUR STAFF
Melanie has been a member of St. John's Episcopal Church since she was 4 years old. Melanie started her love of handbells as a child playing on a partial 2-octave set of John Taylor Handbells her paternal grandparents owned. Melanie rang in the youth and adult handbell choirs here at St. John's over the years. Melanie has rung handbells for 23 years with Classical Bells, a Detroit-based handbell choir. Melanie teaches piano out of her home.
She lives with her husband, three kids, and three dogs.
Melanie has been a member of St. John's Episcopal Church since she was 4 years old. Melanie started her love of handbells as a child playing on a partial 2-octave set of John Taylor Handbells her paternal grandparents owned. Melanie rang in the youth and adult handbell choirs here at St. John's over the years. Melanie has rung handbells for 23 years with Classical Bells, a Detroit-based handbell choir. Melanie teaches piano out of her home.
She lives with her husband, three kids, and three dogs.
handbell director
Melanie
Notestine Draper
Melanie
Notestine
Draper
OUR STAFF
of Music
Janet is a lifelong St. John’s member and one of the first children to be baptized in this church building. She has been a Pre-school teacher for over 35 years and has been working in the Nursery at St. John’s since the mid 1980’s.
Janet has lived in Plymouth my entire life and is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
She is an avid movie goer!
nursery staff
Janet sigmon
Janet
Sigmon
OUR STAFF
of Music
Debbie has been serving in the Nursery here at St. John’s since 2001 and has been a Pre-school teacher for almost 30 years. A graduate of Wayne State University, she has lived in the Plymouth/Canton area for 24 years.
When she’s not at work you can find her bowling, at Jazzercise, or at the movies!
nursery staff
Deborah chinitz
Deborah
Chinitz
OUR STAFF
In the Episcopal Church, the vestry is the legal representative of the parish regarding all matters pertaining to its corporate property. Vestry members are elected at the annual parish meeting. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. The senior warden leads the parish between rectors and supports the rector.
The vestry's basic responsibilities are to help define and articulate the congregation's mission, support the church’s mission by word and deed, select the rector, ensure effective organization and planning, and manage resources and finances. All adult communicants in good standing are eligible for nomination to serve on the Vestry.
vestry?
what is a
vestry?
Ken Sanders | Senior Warden
Andy Bagnasco | Junior Warden
Dan McGregor | Junior Warden
Tracy McCord | Secretary
Jim Knighton | Treasurer
Sue Dowswell
Karen Gabrys
Becky Nickles
Deborah Taracuk
Ken Sanders
Senior Warden
Andy Bagnasco
Junior Warden
Dan McGregor
Junior Warden
Tracy McCord
Secretary
Jim Knighton
Treasurer
Sue Dowswell
Karen Gabrys
Becky Nickles
Deborah Taracuk
OUR VESTRY
BOARD
OUR VESTRY
BOARD
