Dear Friends,
Ahead of our Annual Meeting when we vote on our new Vestry members for 2025, we thought you might like to know something more about the nominees!
Here is an introduction to our new Vestry nominees for 2025:
Geoff Emerson, 3-year term
Geoff has attended St. John’s for several years. He was confirmed while attending St. John’s, during Father Tim’s tenure. At the time he was looking for a new community of faith and fellowship. Father Tim was quite welcoming. Over the years he has helped with several church activities, especially the Not-So-Spooky Haunted House.
Geoff graduated Hingham High School, Harvard, and Boston University School of Medicine. His medical specialty is ophthalmology. He is affiliated with South Shore Hospital. He has two children and three grandchildren.
Geoff is glad to be a member of the St. John’s community.
Nancy MacDonald, 3-year term
Together with her husband and former vestry member Mike, Nancy has lived in Hingham for the past 24 years. Their initial introduction to St. John’s was through the Hingham Nursery School, which all three of their children attended when it was located in the basement of the Church. They have been active members since 2005 and were drawn to, and still enjoy, the incredible energy and fellowship found here. Nancy has helped out in various capacities including in the Sunday School, the Boutique, the Not-So-Spooky Haunted House, Helping Hands, and others. In 2018 all five MacDonalds were confirmed Episcopalian in a beautiful service presided over by Bishop Gayle Harris at the Cathedral in Boston. Outside of Church, Nancy works in the technology sector and has served on various Town boards and committees. In her spare time, you will find her running, gardening, reading, cooking, or planning her next trip. Nancy is honored to be considered for the Vestry and to serve a community that has given her so much over the past 20 years.
Michael Pizziferri, 3-year term
Michael and his husband Coleman joined St. John’s shortly after buying their first home in Weymouth in 2022. They felt warmly welcomed by St. John’s and the people here have helped the couple (and their dog, Serena!) establish a community on the South Shore. Michael was received as an Episcopalian at Trinity Church in 2022 after his Christian faith was reignited as an adult. At St. John’s, Michael serves as Co-Lead of the Church's Creation Care Ministry. This follows his leadership of Trinity’s Creation Care Ministry and service in the Diocese’s environmental efforts. Michael is the Senior Officer of Economic Affairs at the Canadian Consulate in Boston, which represents Canada in New England. He is an American-Canadian dual citizen and has spent the first decade of his career advancing US-Canada relations. Michael is a proud child of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate. He looks forward to serving the people of St. John’s as a member of the Vestry.
Elsie Olin, 1-Year Term
Elsie Olin is a junior at Hingham High School and has been coming to St. John’s since second grade. She has participated in Sunday School, Choristers, Youth Group, the planning of the Pollinator Garden, and the Youth Ministry Leadership Team. Through her school, she participates on the High School Crew Team three seasons of the year which takes up most of her time. In her spare time, she loves to read, cook, watch movies, and spend time with friends and family. She also enjoys skiing in the winter and working as a lifeguard at Black Rock in the summer. She is excited to further serve her community by bringing good intentions to the St. John’s Vestry this coming year.
Al Bernatavicius, Clerk, 1-year term
Al and his wife, Julia Booth, moved to Hingham in 2001 and have been attending St. John’s since 2012. Al and Julia both grew up Catholic and when searching for an alternative found St. John’s to be a very welcoming community. Al and Julia have two children, John (20) and Nora (18). They also had three dogs (Weimaraners) over time as part of the family, Fritz, Freud, and Rose. Al works in institutional financial services. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors in the woods, mountains and on the water.
Wardens Jody Jones Turner and Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn are each nominated for a second 1-year term.
Please pray for our friends as they prepare to serve our parish, and we look forward to welcoming them officially on Jan. 26!
With every blessing,
The Rev. Edward Thornley, Rector
Jody Jones Turner, Senior Warden
Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn, Junior Warden