Around the Diocese
Ordinations Peter Feltman-Mahan to the Sacred Order of Deacons Friday, March 19, 2021
P
eter has roots in the Capital region of New York and is trained as a classroom teacher, school psychologist, and school leader.
Peter was confirmed at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Albany. While teaching, he discerned the need to more deeply engage the scriptures and church history. Peter began attending Yale Divinity School in 2015 and completed an internship at St. Andrew’s Church in Albany, NY. Peter found “home” in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, and particularly at his sponsoring parish, Grace Church in the Southern Berkshires. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School in 2020. As a seminarian Peter has served at Trinity Church, Lenox since 2020. Peter is interested in ministries that build community, deepen our care for each other, and celebrate God’s presence in our everyday interactions. After ordination, Peter will be assigned to a congregation to be mentored and formed by the community. ♦
Rachael “Jac” Essing to the Sacred Order of Deacons Saturday, April 10, 2021
R
achael, also known as Jac, has been formed by All Saints Episcopal Church in South Hadley. Originally from the Diocese of Iowa, she gives special thanks to the youth and young adult ministries for providing a place to build community and practice living out Christian values at a young age. Jac moved to Massachusetts to serve with Lawrence House Service Corps. During this time, she discerned a call to the diaconate and has stayed since as part of her discernment and formation process. With All Saints as her sponsoring parish, she has served the community through her roles of lector, youth group leader, vestry member, and clerk. She was a student with Province 1’s School for Deacons and has most recently been an intern with Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield. After graduating Mount Holyoke College in December 2019, she became the Pastoral Associate of Lawrence House and has enjoyed planning and leading formation events with the interns there. ♦
Photos both pages: submitted
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