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Meet our Clergy & StaffThe Rev Elsa Worth, Rectoremail ElsaClick here to read her blog, "The Glow"
 Elsa came to Grace Church in July 2009 after serving at both Christ & Holy Trinity Church in Westport and St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk. She came to Connecticut from New Hampshire, where she was ordained in 2006 by the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson after serving as a hospital chaplain at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover. She served her diaconate at St. Thomas’ Church in Dover, NH from 2006-2007. Her greatest joys in parish ministry are conducting the liturgy, preaching, and helping others heal, grow and deepen in faith, ministry and leadership.
Elsa is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where she received her BA in 1982. Following college, she had a variety of work experiences, including teaching high school science, owning a bakery and restaurant, and having a holistic healthcare practice as a licensed massage therapist. Active participation in church had always been a constant in her life, and a call to ministry had been tapping her shoulder since her youth, so in 1992 she went to Andover Newton Theological School, where she earned her MDiv with honors in 1996. Elsa was ordained at King’s Chapel in Boston in 1996 as a Unitarian Universalist minister, and then served as the minister of the Second Parish in Hingham, MA. There is a pretty long story behind her journey from being a Unitarian Universalist minister to becoming an Episcopal priest, and she’d be happy to tell you about it. But the short story is that she is grateful and immensely glad to have finally discovered her place and found her home in the Episcopal church. In one way or another, feeding and healing have always been a part of what she does.
Elsa and her husband, Steve, moved into the rectory in the summer of 2009 with their two youngest sons, Carl and Bo. Their oldest son, Orion, is a talented musician, baker and strategic game player living in Boston. Elsa enjoys reading and writing, needlework, knitting and gardening and is particularly interested in the issues of sustainable agriculture and eating locally produced food. She is a gluten free vegetarian who loves a potluck supper more than just about anything. She enjoys finding ways to integrate these gifts and interests into her ministry here in Trumbull.
The Rev. Nancy Gage, Deaconemail Nancy
Nancy moved to Connecticut from Massachusetts in 1962. She attended different churches in Fairfield County until finding St Paul’s On The Green in Norwalk in the 1970’s. She served as an acolyte and was active in various positions within the vestry for many years. It was at St Paul’s where she felt a persistent call to serve on a deeper level in the church and she sought to explore this call in the two-year MEEP (ministry education and exploration program). Upon completing MEEP she attended the two-year Deacon Training Program of the Episcopal Diocese of Ct. Nancy was ordained a Deacon in September 2007 by Bishop Andrew Smith. She has served at two churches, where she has been involved in helping people become more aware of and involved in various programs assisting those who live with few resources, has served as Deacon in the Sunday liturgy, and has been instrumental in helping to grow ministries of healing. Nancy is a CT state licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselor and worked at Norwalk Hospital for over 21 years as such, retiring from the hospital in 2003. She completed training at the Westchester Institute for training in counseling and psychotherapy, and has attended many workshops since then in her field. She did her clinical pastoral education at Bridgeport Hospital. Nancy continues to work with people who have addiction problems.Nancy lives in Stratford Ct with her husband Dave, and great granddaughter Mikaella. Her interests are the piano, crocheting, gardening, and spending time with her family. Dave McWilliams, Minister of Music
Originally from Seymour, Connecticut, Dave studied music education with a vocal emphasis at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford. He studied piano with renowned concert pianist, Dr. Paul Rutman and spent much time touring and competing both nationally and abroad. Most extensively, Dave has served as the accompanist for the Connecticut Children’s’ Chorus and has completed two international tours to both France and Italy. Dave is an accomplished and dedicated educator. Upon graduating magna cum laude from the Hartt School in 2009, he immediately began teaching both general and vocal music to grades K-6 in Wethersfield, CT. He also served the Connecticut State Department of Education during this time as he worked to develop and pilot state benchmarks music assessments in the areas of singing and composition for grades 2 through 8. In 2011 Dave went on to assume the full-time post of choral director at the middle school in Wethersfield, CT where he directed three choirs: the 7th and 8th grade chorus comprised of 150 singers respectively and also the select auditioned chorus, Chorale. Dave is also an active member of professional music and educational organizations such as the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), where he has presented and performed at both national and state music conferences. Currently, Dave serves as Head of Music at the British International School in Manhattan, NY; a private independent school for children 3 to 14 years old. In addition to teaching, Dave is an accomplished musician. Prior to his appointment at Grace, he served for 6 years as the organist and choir director at Plainville United Methodist Church in Plainville, CT. Dave currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. He loves hosting friends and family in NYC, reading, and throwing his own pottery. (He’s getting better!!) He is thrilled to be serving as Minister of Music at Grace Episcopal Church where he hopes to use his talents to help create a meaningful worship experience for all.
Sarah Ginolfi, Seminarianemail Sarah |
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