Mike found and was found in the Episcopal Church after being nourished by myriad stops along the way: ordained Southern Baptist ministry, participation in almost every mainline Christian denomination and study in five differently confessional seminaries, teaching high school math, coaching wrestling, fishing for salmon in Alaska, and being built up by love after having puffed himself up with knowledge. He is the grateful spouse of Rebecca and the proud father of two children, Daniel and Emory, and caretaker of his canine associate, Maggie the goldendoodle. He eccentrically makes soap, mills grain, produces stained glass windows and custom cabinetry, plays the guitar, shops at livestock auctions, and wants to know more about, well everything, especially you!
Clergy and Staff
Jenny is originally from eastern Pennsylvania. She was raised in a large Presbyterian church is especially grateful for her youth program. After college Jenny was involved in Christian ministry in New Zealand and India. After a while she felt the need for more theological education, which lead her to Canada. She earned her M.Div from Regent College in Vancouver. While in Vancouver for 5 years, Jenny was an active lay member of a special Anglo-Catholic parish. This was her introduction to the Anglican tradition and she quickly felt like she had come home. After Vancouver, Jenny then served in an Episcopal church in Pennsylvania for two years before hitting the road once again, this time to Sewanee, Tennessee for a year of Anglican Studies. Jenny loves being outdoors – running, hiking, or simply relaxing with a good book.
Garmon grew up in South Africa, the son of Anglican missionary parents. After serving as Director of Music at the Diocesan College, Cape Town, and Director of the Cape Town Symphony Chorus for a number of years, he accepted a scholarship to study a Masters in Choral Conducting at Yale. After his studies there he was called to be Music Director at a large Episcopal parish in Tucson, Arizona, before moving to Houston, where he is Chair of the Performing Arts Department at the Episcopal High School. He was appointed Director of Music at St. Thomas in 2011.
Miriam Griffis
OrganistMiriam Griffis has over 60 years of experience as a church organist, and has been the organist here at St. Thomas for over 10 years. In that time she has become a well-beloved part of our community. Everyone knows and loves Miriam. Miriam has a Bachelor of Music from Baylor University and a Masters of Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary, where she was acquainted with both Paul Tillich and Reinhold Niebuhr.
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