Meet your Parish Profile Committee

Deacon Johnine Byrer

I was formally a Special Education teacher for over forty years. My husband, Don and I have been married for 51 years; we have four adult children and five grandchildren. I was ordained a deacon in 2002 after completing a three-year program entitled the Deacon Formation Program while teaching full time. I served as a deacon at Church of the Holy Spirit in Lebanon, New Jersey for 13 + years where I began three different prison ministries, a Shawl Ministry, a We Care Ministry (being present to the church members in any kind of need), and other parishioner-involved ministries. I participated in Pastoral Care interactions in homes, continuing care facilities, and hospitals.

I love being a part of the Church of the Holy Spirit here in Harleysville. The faithful members of this faith community continue to overwhelm me with their generosity of time, talent, and treasure. Every one of my interactions with the members have been spirit-filled. What joy!!!

I believe I can bring a balanced reflection of who we are as a faith community and who we are looking for as our next rector. The heartbeat of this faith community is alive and vibrant. It is a joy and a privilege to be COHS’s deacon.

Todd Greiser

I'm Todd Greiser. I'm retired from post office. My wife Linda and I are members of COHS for some years. We moved to Oregon for 5 years but recently moved back and live in Gilbertsville.

Emily Knorr

It was music that first brought me to Church of the Holy Spirit ten years ago, when I moved back to my home state of Pennsylvania to start a new job. Fellow choir members at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Essex Fells, New Jersey had sung with the COHS choir in the past and suggested I visit. I immediately knew I had found my new church home in this warm and welcoming community. Since then, I have enjoyed singing in the COHS choir and playing flute during services. I also enjoy co-teaching our youngest Sunday School class, God’s Children Sing, and getting to know the children and their families.

After majoring in Music Education in college, I went on to study Library & Information Science, and I currently work as a children’s librarian in a public library. I am passionate about my family, travel, opera, chocolate, books, and being a part of the Church of the Holy Spirit family.

Al La Tourette

I, and my family, Karen and Mike, joined the Church of the Holy Spirit in early 1995 when it was a store front location in Harleysville Commons. Mike was baptized by Rev. Anne Ritchings, soon after we were received into the Episcopalian church.

I quickly grew active in the church community by first ushering, which I continue to this day and then by joining the Mission Committee, now the Vestry, as Stewardship and Fund-Raising Chair.

I subsequently served as Stewardship Chair for both the founding Vicar and then Rev. Kathy Andonian, a total of 13 years. Additionally, I chaired a Capital Campaign in 2000 and served on the Discernment team for our last leadership transition in 2003-04.

Presently, I chair the Endowment Board and serve on the Finance Committee. I also partake in the Men’s Spiritual Growth Group as well as offer prayer to those in need as a member of the Prayer Chain.

Joanne Pascoe

Lifelong learning is also important to me. I jumped into the Education for Ministry (EfM) program right away. Everyone I asked about the program encouraged me to participate. Retirement has given me more time for the in-depth reading and discussions, as well as gaining a new group of friends. Year 1 (2022-2023) was the Old Testament – pretty much a “30,000 ft view” as background for Year 2 (New Testament (2023-2024).

You may have seen me knitting or crocheting at meetings. I’m an avid needleworker – embroidery, canvas work (aka needlepoint), and prayer shawls. Some of my work was in last year’s Advent Fundraiser (sled ornaments). I enjoy the process as much as the results.

Church of the Holy Spirit offers many activities. I enjoy choir, EfM, Compline, First Friday and similar programs, Prayer Shawl meetings, concerts, and ENCORE outings. Our congregation is in a time of transition. I look forward to participating in the efforts to discern and direct where we go from here.

My name is Joanne Pascoe. I’m a relatively new member of Church of the Holy Spirit (COHS), but a life-long active church member. I recently retired after many years in the IT field – programming and later involved with project documentation. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania all my life – growing up in the Reading area, graduated from Penn State, and living in the northwest Philadelphia suburbs since then.

“Music is praying twice” resonates strongly for me. I’ve been in church choirs most of my life, including at COHS and the Exeter Cathedral trip August 2023. We’re blessed to have two strong musicians, Sue Ellen Echard and Seth Trumbore, leading and supporting us.

I’ve always been a reader. My first involvement with COHS was through the book club on Zoom. We’ve had an interesting selection of books. I learn from the books and from the discussions – very much enjoying the community aspect.

Janet Paul

I came to COHS after relocating from Boston about 2 years ago. I was looking for a place to connect, grow, and serve. COHS delivered on all accounts. I have found a womb-like love here that is safe, nurturing and compassionate for all people and that has encouraged me in my spiritual journey in new and exciting ways. Having retired from 30 years as a physical therapist, I have continued to offer my gifts of care and support to my aging parent(s) and 3 adult daughters (1 local, 1 in MA, and 1 in CA), as well as our 3 grandchildren (ages 3 years, 2 years, and 1 month). I have served in many varied lay positions of church involvement my entire life including, music, children’s and women’s ministries, leadership, and all aspects of the helping ministries. I enjoy spending time with my husband, Wes, and our two Labradoodles, Cricket and Mowgli, gardening, cooking, laughing, hiking and pursuing a more contemplative life.

I am excited to journey with COHS through the transition as we vision, profile, and search collaboratively, with love for ourselves, each other, and Our Beloved above all.

Hobie Simms

In the 1990s, I began searching for a church community; I needed a new spiritual home. In my search, I was looking for a church that was welcoming, a church that affirmed all peoples, a safe place to openly question the difficult issues of faith and a place where my God given skills were appreciated. One day in 1998, out of curiosity my partner Vince and I visited COHS, shortly after it opened; we were curious about the Episcopal church, and questioning whether we would we feel welcomed.

The welcoming was overwhelming. Rev Anne and parishioners were gracious, warm and inviting; we were invited back to a potluck dinner the following week. During the dinner people were friendly and engaging and we immediately made friends with people which have lasted to this day.

Previously, I was married and raised two children and worked as an Engineer for 33 years and was deeply involved in another faith community for several decades. During midlife, I realized I needed a better fit for a church community - thus the search began. I also decided to go back to college and study Counseling Psychology. I graduated and became a licensed mental health counselor and I retired from my previous career. Counseling people is a much better fit.

My involvement at COHS has included facilitating groups like Spiritual Friends, First Friday Faith Forum, small group discussion, pastoral care, prayers at the font, Reiki and music (piano).

COHS has been my spiritual home since 1998 and I feel deeply blessed.

As Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz at the end of her search: “There’s no place like home …”.

Jen Wager

I was born in 1945 and raised Presbyterian in St Louis, MO.

My husband, Don, and I became Episcopal Church members in 1971. We moved our family from Missouri to Pennsylvania in 1974 and lived in Coopersburg until his death. Our four sons gifted us with 2 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, and 1 great-grandson.

I retired as wage tax collector of Milford Township, Bucks County, in 2012.

My 52-year Episcopal Church history includes lay-reader, sacristy team, vestry member, EfM graduate, EfM Co-mentor, and a 12-year term as treasurer at St Margaret’s in Emmaus.

I met my Joe and moved to Schwenksville in 2010. I have been a member of Church of the Holy Spirit for the past 13 years.

It is a privilege to be a member of this Profile Committee.