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The Rev. Debra Asis, Curate
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(480) 355-9751 “We humans tend to imagine that it is up to us to work out our salvation. But no matter how hard we try, we trip all over our selves. Rather than succumb to a theology of despair, as Christians we are blessed with good news: Although it is impossible with humans … all things are possible with God.” So Jesus invited the disciples and invites us today to work out our salvation in relationship with God. All things are possible when we are in intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is what Debra’s ministry is all about. It is a ministry of accompaniment; of accompanying people as they deepen their relationships with each other and with God.
Debra’s journey has been like a meandering river, or perhaps you could just call it twisted. She has been in the Church and out of the Church, Presbyterian and Taoist, Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical. No matter the twist or turn along the way she has always been in conversation with God. For 20+ years, Debra has lived a contemplative life. The bookends of her day are prayer, with exercise, work, walking and engaging the scriptures in-between. It is especially life-giving for her to be in nature. She loves to paint, dance, ski and occasionally write poetry. She finds time in nature to be especially life giving and delights in her new role as GiGi with her grandson Alec. Debra has navigated several careers including researcher, psychotherapist, program designer and single mom. Her ordination to the sacramental priesthood of the Episcopal Church in 2010 marked the culmination and integration of her life steeped in the Holy Spirit. She hopes for God’s kingdom already not yet.
The  Rev. Philip L. Carlson, Associate
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(480) 355-9752 Father Carlson was ordained an Episcopal priest June 8. 2003. Prior to ordination and joining the staff of Saint Barnabas, Carlson was the President and CEO of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce from 1989 until 2003. Carlson came to Scottsdale from Peoria, Illinois where he was President of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. He also worked in Peoria as Chief Counselor for the Court Counselor Program and as Assistant to the City Manager. He was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1965 and relinquished his Orders in 1972 following pastorates in five central Illinois communities. Carlson received his B.S. degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1961 and his Master of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary in 1965. In 1979 he received a John J. McCloy Fellowship in Urban Affairs for study in Germany. In 1989 he received his Certified Chamber Executive designation.
Carlson is a Grande member of the Scottsdale Charros, a LINKS Senior Fellow and serves on the Scottsdale Healthcare Board of Director’s Quality Committee and on the Diocese of Arizona Congregational Support Committee. He is a past president of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Artist’s School and the Illinois and Arizona Associations of Chamber Executives. He has served on the boards of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Arizona Humanities Council, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley YMCA, American of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the ACCE Retirement Trust. In 2004 ACCE honored him with the Life Member Award. He has also served on the St. Barnabas Vestry. Fr. Phil and his wife Bonnie have a son and daughter-in-law in New York City and a daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren in Chicago.
 The Rev. Jim Clark, Rector
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(480) 355-9755
Jim made his way through pentecostal, evangelical, and charismatic traditions on his way to joining the Episcopal Church in 1987. He refers to himself as a contemplative follower of Jesus, a sacramental and sane evangelical pastor, and a grateful heir of our Episcopal heritage.
Jim has committed his life to following Jesus and inviting others to the same: “Jesus offers good news not bad news. He reveals a God who is for us not against us; a God who is present not distant; understanding not blaming; forgiving not shaming; embracing not rejecting. Jesus comes to us, moment by moment, in our imperfection and says, ‘I am with you always.’ That is good news!"
Jim’s hope and passion is for the maturation of the human family and the transformation of the world...in a phrase: the full arrival of the Kingdom of God. “It will happen, because it must happen. Our God is the God who makes all things well. So why not live into it right here, right now?” As the Christian family grows beyond reactionary-ism, Jim believes our contribution to the whole human family will be monumental. Jim and his wife Betsy celebrate over three decades together. They have four children. “When Betsy and I were married our pastor said, ‘Jimmy, you are marrying your seminary. She is the gift of the Holy Spirit to you. She will teach you all you need to know.’ Hyperbole? Yes. Nonetheless, what God has taught me through Betsy and the children exceeds all.”
 The Rev. Erika von Haaren, Associate Rector
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(480) 355-9753
Originally from Minnesota, Erika earned her M.Div. in 2006 from the General Theological Seminary in New York City before arriving in the desert. Erika oversees our Mission/Outreach programs, our Liturgical Ministries, and assists with managing the day-to-day at St. Barnabas. A life-long Episcopalian, she grew up falling in love with the church through diocesan events, Episcopal summer camp, TEC & the University Fellowship. Erika discerned her calling to the priesthood while completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, and her B.A. in Theatre Arts was finished in 2001 with a fair amount of religion classes as her electives! She spent the years between University & Seminary working as a Parish Administrator for an Episcopal parish in Minneapolis. Nowadays, she finds her focus to be on the various ways to make Christianity relevant & dynamic to those who have grown up without it or to those who have grown up with it, but have found it inaccessible or without joy. Shortly after arriving in Scottsdale, Erika met her husband, Alex, to whom she was married in 2007. They added a son, Christopher, to the mix in 2009. Erika enjoys reading, music, mysteries, many of the new children's toys & activities she never knew existed until she became a mom, and spending time with her family.
 The Rev. James Smith, Deacon Emeritus
Jim was born in Long Beach, California where he stayed until joining the Armed Forces in 1943. He went overseas in 1944 and joined the 7th Division Infantry in Okinawa. After discharge in 1946, Jim went back to college at USC and upon graduation in 1950 was hired by a national menswear corporation. Jim and his wife, Joyce, had 3 daughters and were a loving, church-going family. During his 40 years with the Arrow Shirt Company they moved several times across the country, finally settling in Phoenix in 1958. They found the Episcopal Church in Scottsdale and joined St. Barnabas in 1959. Joyce died in 1992 after a battle with cancer and Jim married Diane 3 years later. Soon afterward, Jim was asked to consider a call to become a deacon. He was ordained after two years of training at the Cathedral-all while in his early 70's! He likes to say that those years of education and spiritual growth taught him what it means to truly love our Lord and our fellow man. Jim has loved serving the Lord in outreach by helping found our lunch-making program for A New Leaf shelter, visiting shut-ins & hospital patients and more. Jim recently retired from active ministry and was named St. Barnabas' Deacon Emeritus on June 19, 2011.
Krystina Estabrooks, Assistant
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(480) 355-9754 Krys and her husband Lindsay have been members of St. Barnabas since January of 2002. When they moved here from Canada they wanted a church with a strong youth program and a place where they could grow with their three children. Since her arrival, Krys has been on several committees, served one term on the Vestry, is a Lay Reader and LEM and is a facilitator for the The ART of Engaging Holy Scripture. Krys is currently finishing a degree in psychology and is happiest when her children are all at home, and she is organizing, entertaining or gardening.
 Kate Fimbres, Youth Minister
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(480) 355-9731
Kate Fimbres, a Minnesota native, has served as Minister of Youth at St. Barnabas since 1998. She has a degree from Minneapolis Culinary Institute, so if there is food preparation involved at St. Barnabas - Kate and her band of Youth volunteers are usually involved! She worked as a youth minister in Minnesota for 10 years before coming to St. Barnabas. She has four beautiful children, Samantha, Joey, Jackson & Spencer. She annually organizes youth events such as Happening, mission trips to LA to feed the homeless, youth retreats, diocesan youth events and Chapel Rock summer camp. She and the youth have a wonderful food ministry here where they prepare and serve many of the fellowship functions that happen within our church community. She has developed a two-year confirmation program for 8th & 9th graders, which is unique in the Episcopal Church. She works hand in hand with the Children's and Music Ministries.
 Willard M. Hayes, Business Manager
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(480) 355-9757
Willard Hayes has served St. Barnabas since 1993. Currently, Willard is Memorial Garden Manager and a church staff member who aids with weekend facility functions and supports many financial functions of the church. Willard has a real love for people and enjoys his ministry on St. Barnabas church staff.
 Ann Hott, Director of Operations
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(480) 355-9733
Ann and her husband Tom have been members of St. Barnabas for over 20 years and raised two daughters here. Ann has served in Youth Ministry, on the Altar Guild, as a member of ‘The NINE’ Committee and one term on the Vestry. Currently Ann is a Lay Reader and Lay Eucharistic Minister. She also serves as a facilitator for The ART of Engaging Holy Scripture. Ann joined the St. Barnabas staff in July 2007 as Director of Operations and as such, she is Assistant to the Rector and Director of Administrative Staff. She brings to her position extensive experience in regional service operations for two financial services companies where her focus was teamwork and operational excellence. Although longtime AZ residents, Ann and Tom still consider Colorado home and travel often to visit family there. They are avid Denver Bronco fans and love fishing and hiking in Arizona and Colorado. Ann also loves to read and her definition of just about the best day possible would be a mountain hike to a lake with a good book to read (while Tom does the fishing!).
 Madeleine Jeffrey, Parish Secretary
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(480) 355-9754
Madeleine began attending St. Barnabas on Good Friday, 2004 and started working in the church office February of 2005. She is married with two adult children and one grandchild. Madeleine also enjoys gardening & being a facilitator for The ART of Engaging Holy Scripture.
 Paul Lee, Director of Music Ministries
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(480) 355-9735
Paul came to St. Barnabas in the fall of 2011 with a wealth of experience, most recently as the Organist & Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Laurel, Mississippi, where he was for 11 years. He grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, but his career has taken him to Hollywood and back again, even down the Panama Canal (21 times!) as the Music Director on a cruise ship in his early years!
Paul holds degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and Indiana University and has served on the music faculties of SMU, Fuller Seminary and Piney Woods School. Paul has been known to say, ‘I didn’t choose church music as a vocation, it chose me!’ and he’s been joyfully living into the Spirit’s calling for some 30 years.
 Cheryl Maher, Parish Administrator & Facilities Manager
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(480) 355-9756
Cheryl joined the St. Barnabas staff as Parish Administrator in February, 2004, and in March, 2009, was appointed to serve as Facilities Manager as well. Among her many duties are maintaining the parish calendar and supervising the use, care and maintenance of our wonderful facilities. Cheryl also enjoys coordinating St. Barnabas weddings in her spare time. A parishioner since 2000, Cheryl serves as a Lay Reader and Lay Eucharistic Minister and is a member of the Stewardship Committee and Parish Choir. She was born in Gainesville, Georgia, raised in Geneva, Alabama, and resided over 12 years in Franklin, Tennessee, all qualifying her for membership in GRITS (Girls Raised in the South). Cheryl holds both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama; hence, her blood runs “crimson” and her other "religion" is Alabama football. Married to Joe Maher at St. Barnabas in October, 2004, she has two adult children, Wade and Caroline, stepdaughter, Tara Maher, and a “four-legged” child named Lily.
 Susan Meyer-Weidhaas, Bookkeeper
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(480) 355-9759 I was born and raised near Holland, Michigan, the third of seven children. I attended Davenport College where I received by my degree in Accounting. After completing my degree I moved to California in search of a job. I worked at several different accounting type business’s before starting at TRW, Inc. where I worked for 14 years. During my time at TRW, I met my husband Mark and started our family. In 1998 we moved to Arizona due to a job transfer with Mark’s company. After taking six months off to get settled in Phoenix, I started working for Bechtel Corp., where I worked for five years. As our family grew I decided to take some time off so that I could spend more time with my husband, two girls, Hanna & Emily and three dogs. In September of 2006, I started working as a temp at St. Barnabas and in January 2007 was hired on as permanent staff. I enjoy working at St. Barnabas because I feel like I am welcomed and appreciated. I believe I have found that job I was seeking.
 Mary-Eileen Middleton, Director of Children's Ministries
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(480) 355-9730 Prior to arriving at St. Barnabas in 2007, Mary-Eileen served the Episcopal Church as a Sunday School teacher, vestrywoman, Parish Administrator, and most recently, Director of Children’s Ministry at St. Stephen’s, Phoenix. She is an accredited Godly Play teacher, and has served on the Children’s Ministry Program Committee for the Diocese of Arizona, and as a campus chaplain for Encounter with Christ. “My mission,” says Mary-Eileen, “is to show children, with all the love and care I can muster, what it means to carry the Light of Christ into the world.” Mary-Eileen and her husband Jim have lived in Scottsdale since 1972. They have two adult daughters, and in 2008 welcomed their first grandson, Tristan Murray.
Katie Vinger, Administrative Assistant
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(480) 355-9750 Katie, her husband, Tim, and their kids, Alex and Molly, joined St. Barnabas in the fall of 2008. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Katie and her family moved in 2004 to Scottsdale from Minneapolis, where she worked for several years at Wells Fargo Insurance. From 2005 until the spring of 2011, Katie worked part-time as an administrative assistant at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Phoenix, where the family attended prior to joining St. Barnabas. All the Vingers felt warmly welcomed at St. Barnabas from day one, and are excited to be involved in many areas of parish life. Katie joins the staff as Ann Hott’s assistant, and supports several areas of parish ministry and administration.
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