[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column width=”1/2″][tt_member member_image=”11099″ socials=”%5B%7B%22social_icon%22%3A%22facebook%22%7D%5D” box_type=”small” member_social=”” member_name=”The Rev. Mike Stone” member_job=”Rector” member_url=”mailto:rector@sttaec.org” external_url=”mailto:rector@sttaec.org”][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”member_intro”]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 associates, Dora the Newfypoo and Freddie the Irish Wolfhound. A NOLS Wilderness First Responder, Mike enjoys leading outdoor renewal retreats for parishioners and clergy, belaying climbers and rappelers as a Scouts BSA Climbing Director, and trying to make sense of his faith and study as an author. He eccentrically makes soap, mills grain, produces stained glass windows and custom cabinetry, plays the guitar, shops at livestock auctions, paints in watercolor, runs and swims long-distance, is a certified TABC Bartender and Food Manager, and wants to know more about, well everything, especially you!
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The Rev. Sean Steele
Associate Rector and Program Director of Respite Ministry
The Rev. Sean Steele is an ordained Episcopal priest, church entrepreneur, and traditioned innovator always on the lookout for those left-out by how we traditionally gather as Church. He was the founding pastor of St. Isidore Episcopal Church in Spring Texas where he spent eight years as vicar. Prior to that he served as Associate Rector for 4 years at Trinity Episcopal Church in the Woodlands.
Sean initially started his career in finance, studying at The University of Texas McCombs School of Business. After accepting his call to serve the Church professionally, he received an MA in Theology from Creighton University and an MDiv from Seminary of the Southwest. Sean is a fully trained mediator, Licensed Daring Way Facilitator, and ICF Coach. He is currently completing his coursework toward a Doctor of Ministry through Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Sean is married to Rebecca, a professional artist known for her beautiful murals throughout Houston, and he has three teenage children Margaret, Sebastian, and Eleanor.
When he is not working, he enjoys sports and good conversations with friends, and has been known to smoke a pipe, cigar, or hookah occasionally. Some may say he has an unhealthy love of tattooing.
sean@sttaec.org
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Courtney Whittington
Missioner for Parish Life
Courtney’s first Episcopal church family was at St. Matthias in her hometown of Whittier, California. When she first moved to Houston to begin her work at St. Thomas the Apostle, she felt like she’d found her new home. She served at St. Thomas for 6 years followed by 7 years at Church Pension Group. Courtney is grateful to be rejoining St. Thomas in a new role.
Courtney holds a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University. She likes cooperative games, crossword puzzles, and movie nights. She and her husband Brian live in Houston and are proud cat parents of their adorable Bertie.
courtney@sttaec.org
[/vc_column_text][tt_member member_image=”7262″ socials=”%5B%5D” box_type=”small” member_social=”” member_name=”Garmon Ashby” member_job=”Music Director” member_url=”mailto:garmon@sttaec.org” external_url=”mailto: garmon.ashby@stthomasepiscopalchurch.org”][vc_column_text el_class=”member_intro”]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.
garmon.ashby@stthomasepiscopalchurch.org
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Spiritual Director in Residence: Julie Merritt
Julie is a former pastor and educator who was ordained in 2007. But upon moving to Houston in 2016 with two young children, she followed her passion to become a spiritual director and began her spiritual direction practice in 2018. As a spiritual companion, Julie helps individuals and groups deepen their relationship with the Holy, work through their “alchemy of heartbreak,” walk paths of discernment, and hold space for their spiritual questions or whatever needs expression. She uses various modalities in her spiritual direction practice including spiritual practices, writing, and dream work to name a few. Her formal training includes a BA in English and a Masters of Divinity. She is also a graduate of the Haden Institute’s Spiritual Direction training and Dream Work training programs. She is also on staff at the Haden Institute where she serves as a mentor to those who are training to be spiritual directors. Julie enjoys good meals with friends and family, reading, writing poetry, and is always at home in a hammock!
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Artist in Residence: Christine Alexander
St Thomas the Apostle’s mission is to welcome, serve, learn, and worship. Informally, we say with courage, “We can do more together!” Art has become an integral part of that vision and mission. Art is transcendent; it represents the best of what makes us human. It connects us to others and also to ourselves with courage, beauty, creativity, and wonder. The artist in residence codifies the parish commitment to art and invites the surrounding community to share in beauty, expression, and transcendence.
St Thomas proudly partners with long time parishioner, Christine Alexander, as its inaugural resident artist. Christine is a master artisan, most recently designing and crafting a stained-glass installation in a memorial chapel. Christine has the unique ability to combine faith with reason, imagine ineffable tenets of faith and science, and harmoniously combine the most granular detail with the abstract. Christine continues to offer both her art, currently designing another two large glass arrays (to be fabricated and installed by 2023) and her oversight, connections, and invitations with the greater Clear Lake and Houston arts communities (especially in rotating art exhibitions at the church and school).
Christine’s tenure as artist in residence has already begun informally and extends farther into the future than the commissions currently on the table as the parish and school continue to celebrate the awe and wonder of the arts.
chrisalex1138@hotmail.com
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