Rector
Steve Moore is rector of Grace Church and vicar of Church of the Saviour on James Street in Syracuse. He also is the director of the Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse. He trained in spiritual direction at the Haden Institute/Mt. Carmel Spiritual Center in Niagara Falls and Loyola House in Guelph.
Organists
Grace is fortunate to have talented musicians from Syracuse University contribute to our Sunday worship.
Joseph Maxwell Ossei-Little is a graduate student at Syracuse University studying organ performance. A citizen of Ghana, West Africa, Joseph is a licensed pharmacist and was a resident musician at the Good Shepherd Methodist Church in Ghana. He studied for an organ performance diploma with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, ABRSM, UK. Joseph is married and looks forward to his wife joining him in Syracuse soon.
Abbie Wood of York, Pennsylvania is a student at Syracuse University majoring in organ performance. She plays the piano, organ, violin, clarinet, saxophone and guitar and sings. She also enjoys composition and improvising. Abbie has participated in many musical ensembles, including the Pennsylvania All-State Orchestra and Concert Band and the York County Honors Choirs. Her dream is to become a music director at a cathedral and to help people find spiritual healing through music.
Wardens and Officers
(term year in parentheses)
Susan Keeter, Warden (2023)*
Susan Keeter, a lifelong Syracusan, has been a member of Grace for nearly 20 years. She helped lead the church’s celebrations of O-ku-ha-tah and St. Philip’s Church and produced the book, “Amazing Grace.” Her daughter, Sara, was an acolyte and daughter, Emma, cares for children during Sunday worship. Keeter’s family is multi-faith: Baha’i, Jewish and Christian. Outside of church, Keeter works at Upstate Medical University in marketing and for MB Artists doing illustration. Most recently, Keeter and her daughters have been doing mission work in Ghana, focusing on reproductive health and disabilities.
Barbara Slater, Warden (2023)*
Barbara Slater worked as a teacher at Corcoran High School. Since joining Grace Church in 2006, she has been a lector, taught Sunday School, and been part of the team that operates Grace Church’s long-standing food pantry for the needy of the community. She has served as warden since 2018.
Anne Messenger, Clerk of the Vestry
(vacant), Treasurer
Vestry Members
Jamal Adams (2023)*
Josie Atkins (2024)
John Auwaerter (2023)*
Judith Brooks (2024)
Emily Czerkies (2024)
Wayne Grove (2023)
Alex Lawson (2024)
Ernestine Patterson (2023) *
Audrey Zaccarya (2023)
*The two-year term of the senior warden and three-year terms of three vestry members that expired in 2022 were extended by one year to promote continuity during the pandemic and interim period without a permanent rector, as approved at the 2023 annual meeting.