Priest-in-Charge
Grace Church is grateful to have the interim services of The Rev. Christine J. Day, recently retired as long-term Rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Johnson City, New York. Grace is in the process of calling a permanent part-time Rector, The Rev. Ana Rivera-Georgescu was called to another ministry in October 2021.
Organists
Grace is fortunate to have talented musicians from Syracuse University contribute to our Sunday worship.
Asriel Davis, a graduate student of organ performance at Syracuse University, began serving as organist of Grace Church in fall 2021. Asriel Davis grew up in Stone Mountain Georgia, by way of the Bronx, New York. At an early age, he found a deep love for music. Asriel is a recent graduate of Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama, with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Piano Performance. He sat as one of the Organists at the Oakwood University church. He also served as pianist and organist for the Holmes Street United Methodist Church in downtown Huntsville.
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 (2022)*
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 (2022)
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
Sakari McDonald, Treasurer
Vestry Members
Jamal Adams (2022)
Josie Atkins (2024)
John Auwaerter (2023)
Judith Brooks (2024)
Wayne Grove (2023)
Ernestine Patterson (2022) *
Cathie Smith (2024)
Audrey Zaccarya (2022)
*The two-year term of the senior warden and three-year terms of three vestry members that expired in 2021 were extended by one year to promote continuity during the pandemic, per authorization of the vestry and vote of the parish at the annual meeting, January 31, 2021.