Member Since: 2014    
Personal: My wife Michele and I moved our family to Colorado in 2012. Prior to that, we’d lived in Oregon for over a decade, which is where we married and started our family. We love that we're still close to mountains, but now get to see the sun. We have three kids - our daughter Jessie (6), and our twin boys Noah and Simon (11). I hail from an extended family of Midwestern Lutherans, though I grew up with my family in Connecticut, and my wife Michele grew up Catholic, in Atlanta. We’ve happily made the Episcopal Church our family’s spiritual home for many years.
Professional: I’ve worked as an environmental attorney for 17 years. I started my career in private practice, but always felt a calling to public service, and have worked in state and federal government for over a decade, most recently with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in EPA’s Denver office. I’m a graduate of Duke University, and while I often tell people that I attended college on a basketball scholarship, I’ve never fooled anyone yet. I’m also a graduate of Stanford Law School, where I met my wife Michele.
Why do you wish to serve on the vestry: My family feels blessed to be a part of St. John’s, and in thinking about how I could contribute my time to the parish community, I’ve become very interested in serving on the vestry. In my professional life, I’ve worked as part of an executive leadership board at EPA’s Denver office, and would seek to apply the experience I’ve gained there to the benefit of the vestry, in serving as part of the vestry team to provide leadership and stewardship to our church. As a parent of young children, I’m also keenly interested in representing the perspective of young families at St. Johns.
What qualities or skills do you bring to vestry service: As mentioned above, in my professional life I’ve worked as part of an executive leadership board which exercises some similar functions to the vestry - articulating and communicating organizational vision, resource management, personnel matters, and development and implementation of major initiatives, among others. I would hope to transfer that professional experience to work on the vestry in a way that benefits our church. Also at work, I help lead an Inclusion and Diversity Council, and would seek to do all I can to continue to foster inclusion and diversity in our church, and in our ministries. And as a parent of young children, I would bring insights into the interests and needs of the faith lives of young families at St. Johns.
What dreams do you have for our parish: Like many, I feel blessed to be a part of St. Johns, and wish to see our church continue to thrive, both as a source of spiritual community for the parish, and in serving the needs of the world.

Hobbies: I love to spend time with my family outdoors - hiking, backpacking, Nordic skiing, and anything else we can think of. I ride my mountain bike as much as I can, climb one of the Flatirons every year or so, and am an avid college basketball fan. Finally, although I’m not sure this qualifies as a hobby, I enjoy spending a good portion of each day chasing and wrangling our kiddos.

STEVE TILSON

Personal: I joined the St. John’s community in about 1992. I have been active in a variety of roles, (see below). My wife of forty-one years, Sally Johnstone, has shared my time in the congregation. Yes, she is a wise and patient woman. Our daughter, Emma, was brought up at St. John’s and still, I believe, holds a unique distinction. Em is the only person to portray both Baby Jesus and Mary in the Christmas pageant at St. John’s.

Professional: I am a retired historian and history teacher. I worked in the Colorado community college system for a number of years, and have taught and worked in various colleges and universities for over thirty years.

Why I wish to serve on the Vestry: I have been active at St. John’s for a long time and have benefited from being part of this supportive Christian community in many ways. If I can continue to serve and help St. John’s to grow and thrive in the future I would be very happy to do so.

Qualities and skills I bring to Vestry service: Sally and I have been members of St. John’s for over twenty years. I was co-Director of the Soup Kitchen; Sally and I coordinated acolytes; I am honored to have been involved in the beginnings of the Verger ministry here and to currently serve as a Verger. I also usher, with Sally, and am a Lector, mostly at the 7:30 service.

Dreams for our parish: The spiritual needs of the parish are of course in the capable hands of our clergy. The logistic and administrative needs are the purview of the Vestry. I would hope to see St. John’s continue to be a viable, valued community and a strong contributor to our city, especially to those most vulnerable and in need. I would like to see all the ministries currently serving less fortunate and underserved people continue and perhaps to expand. Maintaining the physical elements of our parish is an ongoing process requiring constant attention and commitment. Finally, in my view in these troubled and troubling times one of the most important things we can do as a faith-based community is to foster contact and interaction with other groups from other traditions and perspectives, and to always be ready to reach out to people of good will, whoever they may be.

Hobbies: I am a semi-serious, that is more enthusiastic than expert, birdwatcher. I like to cook, and eat. I will talk about history endlessly at almost any time.

PEGGY SCHEIDKER

Member since:  February 2017.

Received: 1983 or 1984, Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves, MO .

Personal:  Born in Marquette, MI, baptized in the Catholic Church.  I attended Catholic Schools in St. Louis through the 5th grade.  My family moved to Springfield, MO in 1963 where I was able to attend public schools.   In 1979 I met Steve, and we married in 1982. Our son was born in 1985.

Professional:   Fabric Store - assisted customers in finding patterns, fabrics and notions that worked well together, and rang up sales.  Southwestern Bell Telephone Company - keypunch operator, eventually moving into management positions, reviewing and approving Independent  Telephone  Company  cost studies.  I was also Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Vice President in the department.

When our son went into first grade, I began working in schools so I could have more time off with him.  I worked in the library at an elementary school, and continued in schools until he graduated from high school.  I then worked at the school district office in accounts payable, until I transferred  to a middle school, where I retired in December 2016 and moved to Colorado.  Zack is now a pilot, something he wanted to do since he was 8 years old.

Why do you wish to serve on the vestry:  In looking at my involvement in previous churches, I feel a desire to give back more of my time to St. John’s.  St. John’s has given so much to us in the 2 years we have been attending, and I have been so moved by the spirituality and the feeling of community at St. John’s.  I also appreciated being a part of the Adult Formation on Spirituality.

What qualities or skills do you bring to vestry service:  I was a volunteer bursar for 3 years, and started a Parents Day Out program at Emmanuel church in Missouri.  We were very active in Parish Family Life, serving on the Mardi Gras Committee which was a huge fundraiser for the Church preschool. I also co-taught in the 3 and 4 year old classroom.

At St. Thomas church in San Antonio, I joined Daughters of the King.  We were responsible for funeral and wedding receptions, as requested.   I also served on the committee that brought in speakers for Sunday Adult  Education, and prepared a light breakfast for the attendees.  I served on the vestry and represented the School (Pre-school thru 5th grade).  I attended the school’s meetings as well, reporting back to the vestry each month.  I was an usher,  lay reader and Eucharistic minister.  I also played in the bell choir!  I took communion to those not able to make it to the service on Sunday.  I was responsible for the St. Thomas Valentine Dinner/Dance. This involved finding a venue and band, determining the menu and cost, printing and selling tickets.

What dreams do you have for our Parish:  I have nothing but warm feelings for St. John’s.  My dream is that we continue to work and pray together as the beautiful church that we are.  I hope to get to know those in the parish through God’s eyes, praying for and with each other.  I would like to see the parish continue growing spiritually, with an open heart and mind.  I would also like to see the parish grow financially in order to continue doing what the Lord asks us to do.

Hobbies:  Steve and I enjoy hiking with the hiking group and traveling.  I enjoy sewing and cross stitch, cooking and baking, working in the yard, walking (alone and with the dog!)

• Thank you to everyone who shared and continues to share their time, talents, and treasures with St. John's. We are so very blessed for each and every one of you.