Leadership

Shelley Byrnes

In 2018, when I interviewed for the position of Family Minister, the first question I was asked was, “Do you know what you’re getting into if you move to Deerfield, IL from Arizona?" I reassured everyone that I went to high school and college in Wisconsin and could deal with the winters once I bought some new clothes. Then, when I saw the Prayground (soft space for children to be children during services) in the church, and the beautiful Upper Room for the youth, I was sold! I could see that St. Gregory’s truly valued families!

I see God in the faces of children and am so blessed to be involved with them as they grow in their faith and mature. Teenagers are some of the most interesting “Children of God” because they grow more at that age than any other in life: physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually. It is such a gift to be able to witness that growth and support them as they ask questions such as, “who am I to God?” or “why am I here?”

I have been involved in Christian Formation in various roles from Sunday School Teacher, Camp Counselor, Nursery Coordinator, Youth Group Leader, Social Service Director, Sunday School Administrator, Chalice Players Administrator to Family Minister over the course of 20 years. I have served churches and schools in Washington DC, Denver and Golden CO, and Scottsdale AZ.

I have a certificate in Children and Family Ministries from the Diocese of Arizona and a Certificate in Leadership in Lifelong Christian Formation from Forma and Virginia Theological Seminary. I also have a BA in English from Ripon College (3 credits short of a religion minor) and an AAS in Massage Therapy.

I have two adult daughters who bring me joy and help me laugh at myself! I have a granddog, Athena, who works with me in my office and three kitties: Max, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. As you can tell, I’m a bit of a Harry Potter fanatic. I can’t wait for it to be safe to swim again. I enjoy walking, yoga and movies.

Kathryn Duncan

I'm not exaggerating when I say that music is pretty much my entire life. Years ago, I read an article about finding one's "ikigai" - and as a Japanese-American, I was fascinated. "Ikigai" can be loosely described as someone's reason for getting up in the morning. It encompasses 1) what you love, 2) what you're good at, 3) what the world needs, 4) what you can be paid for. I have come to understand that music is very much my ikigai.

When I'm not at StG's I work as a professional chorister, singing with many organizations including the Chicago Symphony Chorus (where, as someone who played the violin for many years, it's a struggle to maintain my professional composure and not just completely geek out when I get to sit behind that incredible world-class orchestra!), the William Ferris Chorale, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the High Holy Days Choir of Temple Sholom, the studio recording choir for World Library Publications, and many freelance singing gigs all over the city.

When I'm not singing, I love doing hands-on projects around the house, playing with my dear dog Charlie (a 5 year old boxer beagle) and rambunctious young cat Bellatrix (she was originally Isabelle, but her spicy personality soon led to a more appropriate name change!). One of my favorite therapeutic activities is mowing the lawn with the zero-turn mower - there are more than one video passed around my family of me zooming past the camera at breakneck speed, cackling madly while I cut the grass. :) I also love changing my hair color frequently (from purple to green to bubblegum pink, and everything in between), so if you come to StGs I'll be the one with hair some unspeakably unnatural shade. :)

On a more personal note: in May 2021, Chris, my sweet husband of 14 years, died three years after a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer. He was 38. It's been a difficult but profoundly human experience to try to renegotiate my life without him. I find that working at StGs, among people I love dearly, brings me deep solace. I have always been one to find the joy and beauty in any circumstance, and I am grateful that my ability to do so has not been dampened even in the face of profound grief. I am grateful for the years I had with Chris, and keep him alive and ever-present in my heart.

I've been a musician my whole life - I grew up Mormon, so one of my earliest memories is going to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing live. I knew from that moment that I wanted to sing in a choir, and that shaped most of my schooling and extracurricular choices from grade school through college, and eventually became my career. Even though I'm not Mormon anymore, sacred music has become part of my DNA - and I've come to deeply appreciate how important it is in both weekly communal worship and in building a personal relationship with God. While music is, for me, the medium through which I find spiritual connection, I also truly believe it is one of the most restorative and empowering forces for good in the world.

When I started singing at StG’s as the alto soloist and section leader, it didn’t take long for my Sunday mornings to no longer feel like a job… this church became my spiritual community and home. It’s the greatest pleasure and privilege of my life to get to raise my voice in worship and song with all the welcoming and loving souls in this community! It is my honor to serve at StG’s Music Minister, a capacity in which I take no greater joy than encouraging people of all ages and all skill levels to experience the transformative power of music.

Kirstie Felland

Organist at St. Gregory’s since 2018, Kirstie accompanies the weekly liturgy, as well as the professional quartet and adult choir. Prior to this, she held several church music positions in the Chicago area, which included organ, adult, children’s and handbell choirs.

Originally from Madison, she began piano at age six and organ at 15. She won first place at an AGO high school organ competition in Milwaukee, earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in organ performance from Wartburg College and Northwestern University, and studied one year at the Berlin School of Church Music.

Kirstie enjoys spending time outdoors, striving to improve her Sudoku skills, dreaming of travel again, and being entertained at home by two wonderful German Shorthair rescues, Greta and Harriet.

Anita Tasher

Casey Kremer

Casey Kremer has been known to wear many hats. She has been Sexton at St. Gregory’s for over ten years and is also the Communications Director.

Casey was born in New York, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from high school in Tarrytown, New York ... so it made perfect sense to get a BA in Fine Arts at Knox College and an MS in Accounting at DePaul University, both schools in the great state of Illinois. Casey has competed at the national level in four different sports: sailing, racquetball, golf, and curling. Yes, curling, that strange Olympic sport that you only see every four years.

Casey used her accounting degree to work in the commodities market while getting her foot in the door in Chicago’s advertising world. When Apple computer arrived on the scene, Casey started her own design firm, serving many clients including Ryerson Steel and the National Restaurant Association.

When she realized that she was spending days staring at a computer screen yet not talking to anyone, Casey got a side job as an usher at Wrigley Field. She still loves the Cubbies!

How did Casey find herself at St. Gregory's in Deerfield? The golf course, where she has been Ladies' Club Champion several times, is just down the street. Chicago Curling Club is close, as well. She now has the best of both worlds ... a computer screen upstairs and a virtual community downstairs. Looking forward to StG's again being filled with our congregation.

Max Smith

Charlene Vanderhulst

Chicago area born and raised, Charlene and her husband Paul have called Riverwoods their home for over 30 years. They have 2 sons who attended schools in Deerfield and were Troop 50 scouts at St. Gregory's.

After graduating from DePaul University with a Computer Science degree, she worked for over 10 years in software development, spending most of that time writing systems for an options trading clearing firm. After taking some time off to be with her children, she returned to work as a substitute teacher for District 109. In 2006, she began her career in Church administration.

On her time off, she spend as much time as possible with family and friends. She enjoys yoga, travel, walking and hiking, movies, and attending the ballet and live concerts.

Dennis Lietz

I am a farm boy from Minnesota, the lake endowed state and home of the mythical Lake Woebegone. I attended an agricultural college forty miles from home all the while vowing that I would ultimately get as far from the farm as I possibly could. In order to assure this, I pursued a subject that I loved, chemistry, ultimately earning a BS degree in Chemistry and an MS degree in Organic Chemistry from South Dakota State University. While there I met a female chemistry student and ultimately married her. We have five wonderful children who have given us six grandchildren.

After graduation, I landed a job in Cleveland with the Colton Chemical branch of Air Products, a manufacturer of emulsion polymers and there learned to do this seemingly exotic form of science. I spent my entire career in research doing emulsion polymerization although not always with the same company. It seems that after four years in Cleveland, Air Products decided to close the laboratories there and move them to New Jersey. That was too close to New York City to please a country boy so I changed jobs and moved to the Chicago area where I worked for a small laboratory doing research for several paint companies, all doing emulsion polymerization. I have also worked briefly for the adhesive industry. Both the paint and adhesive industries use emulsion polymers. I closed out my career working for Stepan Chemical in Northfield, IL, a manufacturer of surface active agents, substances used in emulsion polymerization.

In 1991, I was finally convinced by a parish couple to attend a Cursillo weekend, something that I did primarily to keep others from hounding me to go. It was while on this weekend that the call came from God to serve Him as a deacon in the church. I was ordained in 1996 and have served in this capacity at St. Gregory's since.

Interests

My interests include reading, almost anything that I can get my hands on from novels to biographies to tomes on the boundary between science and religion. I got started reading by collecting comic books and still love the funny pages of the newspaper. But perhaps the second most appealing parts of the newspaper for me are the editorial and op-ed pages. I also rarely miss doing the crossword puzzle and have become a fan of Sudoku. I love travel and movies. Hobbies include photography and genealogy. This latter hobby has led to my meeting relatives that I did not know I had, some as close by as Kankakee and some as far away as the state of Washington. I feed birds and chase squirrels. I gave up ice fishing when I learned that shacks were not allowed on the ice in Illinois. I like to cook, especially casseroles and other one-pot dishes. To me the kitchen is just another laboratory but one where it is not necessary to keep a notebook. Unfortunately, I like my own cooking a little too much and it seems to go to waist. I like eating out, too and that is even worse.

Meredith Woods Potter

I spent my formative years in Japan, returning to the U.S. to attend Tufts College and then San Jose State University, where I majored in Mathematics (because it was the easiest and most fun of my subjects!)

After being married and having four sons, I returned to graduate school – again in mathematics – earning advanced degrees at Western Michigan University. I taught mathematics at Rockford College in Rockford, IL for fifteen years where I founded the department of computer science. Combining my love of mathematics and the outdoors, I became engaged in environmental research and developed a number of computer models to predict fire behavior in forest ecosystems in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Then in 1982 my life changed directions. I embarked upon a journey toward the realization of a childhood dream to become an Episcopal missionary and priest. I enrolled at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, received my Master of Divinity in 1985 and my Doctor of Ministry in congregational development in 2000. After serving the Episcopal Church in ministry to Korean immigrants in Chicago and in Asian ministry for the National Episcopal Church, I returned to Seabury to teach mission and congregational studies. In 1995 I became associated with St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church where I served as vicar iuntil January 2012, when I formally retired from active ministry. However, I continue to remain actively involved in the life and ministry of this wonderful parish community.

Interests

I love everything electronic and mechanical. I have been known to take almost anything apart, and often succeed in repairing computers and appliances. I love to read (in English and Japanese), solve Sudoku and cryptography puzzles, and work out at the fitness center. I'm also a bridge enthusiast!

Susie Dutcher

Susie and her husband Jon are long time members of St. Gregory's.

She has served in a number of areas in the parish and diocese, but upon retirement trained as a Eucharistic Visitor. Parishioners are grateful and never seem to forget when you bring communion to them in the hospital. It is a joy to establish or rekindle a relationship with a church member who is unable to attend regular services. Bringing St. Gregory's to them (news, the bulletin, flowers, prayers and communion) is a privilege.

Fran Ingram

Fran has been a member of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church since moving to Buffalo Grove in 2002. She has served one term on the Vestry and has been on Altar Guild continuously since 2002. She was active in the small groups Better than Evers and the Grovers for many years. Along with her duties on Altar Guild, she is an active member of the Thursday Bible study fellowship and is a Circle of Care leader.

Sudi Johnson

My first 'God' experience may have been when as a young couple, my husband Roger and I were church shopping. A friend of Rog's mother asked us if we'd found a church yet. She said "We love our church - we will wait for you at the red doors". And that is all it took - we fell in love with the Episcopal Church right there at Grace Episcopal in Sterling, Illinois. A job change for my husband took us to Wisconsin and eventually to St James Episcopal, Manitowoc, where I stayed for 30 years experiencing 5 rectors. When my husband entered into hospice in 2002, that little church took care of us both - morning prayer was led in our home, food provided, and friends rotated through the house all day and night for 3 weeks so that I was never alone. I'll never forget it. Lots of churches use that slogan "All are Welcome" - but at St James it really was lived out. Watching a family of 10 arrive late every Sunday with their blend of biological and racially diverse adopted special needs children reinforced that BIG TENT sentiment I love about the Episcopal Church.

I moved to Covenant Living of Northbrook in January, 2019, not knowing anyone, but with a college friend in Glenview. I used the first few months to explore 4 Episcopal Churches within 15 minutes of my home. With Mother Anne's warm welcome and others, it didn't take long for St Gregory's to feel like a good fit. I look forward to our life together with the challenges and opportunities we face during this unique time.

Marjie Koons

My journey as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor started about nineteen years ago in Michigan when I was asked to expand our visiting ministry and include taking communion to those unable to attend church services. I found that my love grew for each person I visited, sharing our lives, our difference, our faith and then ultimately sharing communion together. It is a joy, privilege and honor to share in this ministry.

My most laughable memory comes from a visit with a 92 year old. I was training someone to take my place before moving to Illinois, and when we were preparing for the visit, the trainee asked if she could offer a hand massage after we finished with the communion service. I suggested she ask first. After sharing communion and enjoying the hand massage, my dear sweet shut-in, once a writer for the Michigan newspaper said very seriously, "Is this what you call communion with benefits?"

Val Seilheimer

A cradle Episcopalian, joined St Gregory’s in 2012. As a member of St Gregory’s, Val is a self proclaimed "data nerd" using her unbelievable spreadsheet skills to order altar flowers, exercise aficionado (especially loving TRX, Body Pump, and Deep Water Running), and can also be found Sunday serving as a liturgical minister or sitting with her family. She looks forward to this new experience representing St Gregory’s with a smile.

Cissy Singleton

Susan Hitch-Zint

Susan became an Episcopalian when baptized at age 7 at St. Martin’s, Des Plaines. She joined St. Hilary’s, Prospect Heights in 1984 and joined St. Gregory’s in 2009. She has participated in several small groups when her career enables, such as the Rector Search Committee and most recently on the Invite Welcome Connect task force.

Sudi Johnson

My first 'God' experience may have been when as a young couple, my husband Roger and I were church shopping. A friend of Rog's mother asked us if we'd found a church yet. She said "We love our church - we will wait for you at the red doors". And that is all it took - we fell in love with the Episcopal Church right there at Grace Episcopal in Sterling, Illinois. A job change for my husband took us to Wisconsin and eventually to St James Episcopal, Manitowoc, where I stayed for 30 years experiencing 5 rectors. When my husband entered into hospice in 2002, that little church took care of us both - morning prayer was led in our home, food provided, and friends rotated through the house all day and night for 3 weeks so that I was never alone. I'll never forget it. Lots of churches use that slogan "All are Welcome" - but at St James it really was lived out. Watching a family of 10 arrive late every Sunday with their blend of biological and racially diverse adopted special needs children reinforced that BIG TENT sentiment I love about the Episcopal Church.

I moved to Covenant Living of Northbrook in January, 2019, not knowing anyone, but with a college friend in Glenview. I used the first few months to explore 4 Episcopal Churches within 15 minutes of my home. With Mother Anne's warm welcome and others, it didn't take long for St Gregory's to feel like a good fit. I look forward to our life together with the challenges and opportunities we face during this unique time.

Sarah Kettlewell

Sarah and her family started coming to St. Gregory’s in 2019, after moving to Deerfield a few years earlier. She works at the Walgreens corporate campus and sidelines with her husband as a chauffeur/cook to her 2 busy kids. When not spending time at a desk or in her vehicle, Sarah takes care of her backyard honeybees, traveling, hiking and sewing. During the warmer months, she can be found wandering around the St. G’s labyrinth or at the pumpkin patch and is excited to be a part of the vestry.

Don Kiva

Don's parents were Episcopalians, and so he has been an Episcopalian since birth. He grew up more than 400 miles north of here in Marquette, Michigan.

Jim Millspaugh

I am in the Golf Business, working as an independent sales rep for 40 plus years.Hoping to retire sooner than later!My wife Cyndi and I have been at St Gregory’s since 1986.I attended the Baptist church in my childhood and was received into the Episcopal Church shortly after we became members. We raised our three children, Craig, David and Lynn in Deerfield and our family enjoyed volunteering and participating in many of St. Gregory’s programs and activities including Vestry, Youth Group, Sunday School and Boy Scout Troop 50.

I love golf, curling, watching sports, walking in nature and grilling out!

This is my third time on the Vestry, looking forward to keeping St Gregory strong!

Jill Polzin

Jill moved to Deerfield, with her husband and two daughters, in 2016 and joined St. Gregory’s in 2017. She has a background in chemistry/project management and works in pharmaceutical Portfolio Program Management. In her spare time, Jill enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, playing games, and volunteering. She has served St. Gregory’s in the choir and on the Invite, Welcome, Connect Committee. Jill looks forward to this opportunity to serve on the vestry and to discovering new ways St. Gregory’s can serve the surrounding community.

Butler Sharpe

Butler has been a member of StG's since 1981, Butler has served as Sr. Warden (2) different terms, past Vestry member, taught Sunday school, member of several committees, past trustee of the Episcopal Church Charities. He is retired some 24 years and has dedicated 50yrs. to criminal justice.

Val Seilheimer

A cradle Episcopalian, joined St Gregory’s in 2012. As a member of St Gregory’s, Val is a self proclaimed "data nerd" using her unbelievable spreadsheet skills to order altar flowers, exercise aficionado (especially loving TRX, Body Pump, and Deep Water Running), and can also be found Sunday serving as a liturgical minister or sitting with her family. She looks forward to this new experience representing St Gregory’s with a smile.

Sharon Henley-Gramer

Fran Ingram

Fran has been a member of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church since moving to Buffalo Grove in 2002. She has served one term on the Vestry and has been on Altar Guild continuously since 2002. She was active in the small groups Better than Evers and the Grovers for many years. Along with her duties on Altar Guild, she is an active member of the Thursday Bible study fellowship and is a Circle of Care leader.

Dan Nicholas

Kathryn Duncan

I'm not exaggerating when I say that music is pretty much my entire life. Years ago, I read an article about finding one's "ikigai" - and as a Japanese-American, I was fascinated. "Ikigai" can be loosely described as someone's reason for getting up in the morning. It encompasses 1) what you love, 2) what you're good at, 3) what the world needs, 4) what you can be paid for. I have come to understand that music is very much my ikigai.

When I'm not at StG's I work as a professional chorister, singing with many organizations including the Chicago Symphony Chorus (where, as someone who played the violin for many years, it's a struggle to maintain my professional composure and not just completely geek out when I get to sit behind that incredible world-class orchestra!), the William Ferris Chorale, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the High Holy Days Choir of Temple Sholom, the studio recording choir for World Library Publications, and many freelance singing gigs all over the city.

When I'm not singing, I love doing hands-on projects around the house, playing with my dear dog Charlie (a 5 year old boxer beagle) and rambunctious young cat Bellatrix (she was originally Isabelle, but her spicy personality soon led to a more appropriate name change!). One of my favorite therapeutic activities is mowing the lawn with the zero-turn mower - there are more than one video passed around my family of me zooming past the camera at breakneck speed, cackling madly while I cut the grass. :) I also love changing my hair color frequently (from purple to green to bubblegum pink, and everything in between), so if you come to StGs I'll be the one with hair some unspeakably unnatural shade. :)

On a more personal note: in May 2021, Chris, my sweet husband of 14 years, died three years after a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer. He was 38. It's been a difficult but profoundly human experience to try to renegotiate my life without him. I find that working at StGs, among people I love dearly, brings me deep solace. I have always been one to find the joy and beauty in any circumstance, and I am grateful that my ability to do so has not been dampened even in the face of profound grief. I am grateful for the years I had with Chris, and keep him alive and ever-present in my heart.

I've been a musician my whole life - I grew up Mormon, so one of my earliest memories is going to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing live. I knew from that moment that I wanted to sing in a choir, and that shaped most of my schooling and extracurricular choices from grade school through college, and eventually became my career. Even though I'm not Mormon anymore, sacred music has become part of my DNA - and I've come to deeply appreciate how important it is in both weekly communal worship and in building a personal relationship with God. While music is, for me, the medium through which I find spiritual connection, I also truly believe it is one of the most restorative and empowering forces for good in the world.

When I started singing at StG’s as the alto soloist and section leader, it didn’t take long for my Sunday mornings to no longer feel like a job… this church became my spiritual community and home. It’s the greatest pleasure and privilege of my life to get to raise my voice in worship and song with all the welcoming and loving souls in this community! It is my honor to serve at StG’s Music Minister, a capacity in which I take no greater joy than encouraging people of all ages and all skill levels to experience the transformative power of music.

Cameo Humes

Keanon Kyles

Keanon Kyles, praised by CNN for his “incredible bass-baritone voice” and by Scottish Magazine, Opera Scotland for his “beautiful technique”. Kyles was raised in Chicago where his musical journey started and where he received his bachelor’s degree in music from Chicago’s Columbia College. Keanon made his opera debut as Colline in Puccini's “La Boheme”. Conducted by Metropolitan Opera’s Maestro David Jackson, he made his Italy debut in Trento, Italy as Betto in Gianni Schicchi and Peter in Hansel and Gretel. Keanon was featured as Billy Evans in the world premiere of Floating Opera Company’s production of “War and Peace”. Kyles made his Chicago Opera Theater debut as Daggoo in "Moby Dick", shortly after he was asked to return perform the role of Tommie in the opera, "Freedom Ride" with Chicago Opera Theater. He has ranked one of the top 5 singers in the National Association of Negro Musicians competition. He made his Lyric Opera debut by way of Lyric Unlimited’s production of “Earth to Kenzie” and soon after made his Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut as a featured soloist in their “Purpose Over Pain” concert.

Okay, okay enough of the “text bookie” talk lol outside of singing I’m deeply rooted in fashion and interior design. For years I would co-host fashion shows in downtown Chicago for Columbia College’s Fashion Department all while being an Assistant Manager/Visual Merchandiser for department store, Tuesday Morning. So, if you went into their Lakeview, Lincoln Park or Niles store and said, “Oh my what wonderful displays—it was I! *Shameless plug* so feel free to call on me when you get into your spring cleaning! Life is full of surprises, good and bad, I live each day accepting everyone as they are, sharing God’s love, sharing the gift God gave me, speaking life into people trials and tribulations and making sure I smile through it all. Smile—because a smile heals and nourishes the soul with positivity!

Viki Rill

I was born and raised in the Chicago area, starting in Jefferson Park, then moving to Des Plaines at the beginning of 7th grade. Since then I've lived in Wisconsin, Ohio, Italy, then back to Palatine, IL, and finally back to Chicago proper. I'm a city girl at heart, and have found my perfect spot in Lincoln Square where I live with my adorable cats. My current day job is as the Associate Director of Total Rewards at the Illinois Institute of Technology - I've always joked that human resources is great for the right half of my brain, while musical endeavors are for the left half!

Many people know that I'm a huge Cubs fan - I finally got my season tickets in 2019 after 13 years on the waiting list! In the summer there's nothing better than a warm, sunny day at Wrigley Field with the Cubs in the lead. It's also one of the avenues I use as an excuse to spend time with my fantastic nephews and niece, who are some of the brightest spots in my life and who I enjoy spoiling rotten. When I'm not at Wrigley I love traveling to see the Cubs in other cities - I'm on a mission to visit all 30 MLB parks, to see the Cubs play in as many of them as I can. I also love just traveling and new experiences in general - my other mission is to do my favorite Bodypump workout in all 50 states. When in Chicago, I love playing tour guide for family, friends, and the aforementioned nephews and niece.

For several years now St. Gregory's has been another musical home of sorts, as well as a spiritual one. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to sing with such incredible musicians, and to be part of such a vibrant and welcoming community. It is my sincere hope that I can give back to St. G's as much as it's given me.