EMMANUEL
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
CLERGY
THE REV. JOSEPH BUTLER
Interim Rector
The Reverend Joseph Butler is our Interim Rector. Originally from the Diocese of Chicago, Fr. Joseph received a B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in History from the University of the South (Sewanee), and later received his Master of Divinity from the University of the South School of Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2018 in the Diocese of West Tennessee, where he served as the Associate Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Collierville, Tennessee. Before coming to Emmanuel, Joseph served as the Curate and eventually Associate Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Blacksburg Virginia. In addition to parish ministry, Joseph has previously served in Drug & Alcohol Recovery ministries, as supply clergy, Episcopal Campus Ministry at Virginia Tech, The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia Tech Team, and represented the New River Valley Convocation on the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia Executive Board.
Fr. Joseph has served Emmanuel since 2022.
Fr. Joseph publishes his sermons and other educational materials on his personal website revjosephbutlersermon.com
STAFF
DR. LINELL GRAY MOSS
Music Director
Dr. Linell Gray Moss serves as Music Director for Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Harrisonburg, and teaches music courses for Blue Ridge, Germanna, and Mountain Empire Community Colleges. Moss brings a broad background in music ministry, teaching, and performing. She has directed church music programs in Episcopal, United Methodist, Presbyterian, and Northern Baptist churches, and has sung as cantorial soloist in synagogues in Iowa and Virginia. Moss has taught at colleges and universities in Virginia, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music.
DR. BRAD LEHMAN
Organist
Brad and his family are members of Community Mennonite Church. He holds a doctorate in harpsichord performance from the University of Michigan. His undergraduate degree in music and mathematics is from Goshen College.
Brad's post-doctoral research has been into historical methods of tuning keyboard instruments unequally, especially a temperament used by Bach in The Well-Tempered Clavier. His several articles on this topic were published in 2005.
Brad also writes for American Record Guide, where he reviews about a dozen classical keyboard CDs in every issue. Much of his career outside of music has been devoted to designing and building interactive telephone systems.
Brad has composed more than 60 hymns. Six appear in Hymnal: A Worship Book, 1992, the current hymnal of the Mennonite and Brethren churches.
REBECCA SHANNON
Children, Youth, and Family Director
Rebecca Shannon is a first-year graduate student at James Madison University in the School Counseling Program. Rebecca graduated from JMU in May of 2023 with her B.A. in Psychology and minors in Nonprofit Studies and Family Studies with a concentration in Family Ecology.
Rebecca has previously served as a member of the Vestry at Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry during her undergraduate experience at JMU. She has also served on the Parish Youth Ministry committee in the Diocese of Virginia and on the Bishop's Search Committee for the 14th Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Virginia.
Rebecca is passionate about working with children and youth and watching them grow as people, and she has plans to work with elementary-aged children as a school counselor following graduation from graduate school.
DIANE D'AMICO
Parish Administrator
Diane recently retired from her career as an eLearning developer, instructional designer, technical documentation writer and instructor, voice-over specialist, and general software/technology whatever-needs-to-be-done person. Although she was very passionate about art when she was younger, she did not actually pursue a career in that genre but rather through other methods and still dabbles in sketching as a hobby.
Diane moved to Harrisonburg, VA from New York 25 years ago and has embraced the lifestyle here ever since that day.
While having one daughter and two granddaughters residing in Harrisonburg, Diane also loves to travel as much as possible.
A member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Diane can definitely relate to the teachings and beliefs of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and appreciates the kindness she receives from all its members.
VESTRY
Senior Warden: David Seiter Junior Warden: John Everett
Class of 2025
Paul Ackerman
Jeremy Aldrich
Katie Dredger
Ann Rice Yager
Class of 2026
John Everett
Karen Ford
Cannon Randle
Carol Warner
Class of 2027
Paul Copley
Lisa Kriel
David Penrod
David Seiter