Wardens
Bruce Nobel
sr. warden
I am pleased to move into the role of Senior Warden at St. Matthew’s and thank you in advance for your support. In 2019, I retired from a 33-year career with the National Park Service. My wife Pat and I have been members of St. Matthew’s in two stints: from 2004-2007, when I was Superintendent of Colorado National Monument, and again from 2016 to the present. At St. Matthew's, I have also served as Treasurer, Co-Chair of the Rector Search Committee, a shuttle driver, and as a Delegate to the Diocesan Convention. I also serve as a member of the Colorado Episcopal Foundation Board. In my spare time, I play tennis, work as a part-time Vail ski instructor, and am writing a book about Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Roger Smith
Jr. warden of building & grounds
Jana and I moved to Grand Junction two years ago after I retired from my job in Texas. Prior to retirement, I managed environmental remediation projects for a large oil and chemical company. We feel very fortunate to have landed in such a beautiful place.
One of the things we are most thankful for is the church. We have found St. Matt's to be a warm, welcoming community that encourages us in our faith. We are currently drivers for the church’s van and I am very appreciative of the opportunity to serve St. Matt's in a new capacity.
I also volunteer for the National Park Service at the Visitor Center in the Monument. My educational background is in geology and one of the joys of being here and volunteering at the Monument has been the opportunity to learn about our geology and to share this information with visitors to help enrich their visits. My other interests are hiking, running (now more like jogging) and learning about local history.
rebekah feigh
Jr. warden of technology
I started attending St. Matthew’s on Easter Sunday in 2019, just a few days after arriving in Grand Junction in our RV for my husband Adam’s travel nursing assignment at St. Mary’s. Adam and I instantly fell in love with Grand Junction and with the community at St. Matt’s. After renewing Adam’s contract twice, we decided to officially make Grand Junction our home. I returned to working as a social worker after taking almost two years off to be a traveling stay-at-home mom to our daughter.
The Episcopal Church’s long history and connection to the past, combined with its commitment to radically loving all God’s children, immediately drew me in and helped my faith to grow in new and wonderful ways. I am excited for the opportunity to serve on the Vestry at St. Matthew’s as a way to give back to this amazing community and to help it continue to grow and welcome all.
Kathy Lyn
JR. Warden of Community Life
Kathy discovered her love of learning and teaching at an early age, so she became a special education and literacy acquisition professional. She spent over 40 years serving students and families in the educational field. Kathy raised 5+ children and now has 4 grandchildren. She and her husband love to play outside with hikes, bikes, kayaks, swimming, horses, and world travel adventures. Kathy loves to scuba dive and jet ski as well.
Her faith journey began as an infant. She was baptized in the Methodist church her family attended regularly. Curiosity led her to explore many denominations over the years. She was introduced to the Episcopal Church in 1987 and has always felt at home in this faith community. She originally joined St. Matthews in June of 1989. She rejoined the community in August of 2022. She is excited to serve this parish as the Jr. Warden of Community Life so she can lead the organizing of parish parties, dinners, and special events that allow everyone to deepen relationships and share some laughs.
Vestry Members
Oliver plank
I was born Jan 6, 2006, in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised here in Grand Junction. I am currently an Electrical & Computer Engineering Student at Colorado Mesa University, a Sophomore. I have worked in St. Matt’s Sunday School and Nursery for 4 years now. My Eagle Scout project was achieved in partnership with my church community, and was awarded in September 2023. I have been a member of this church for most of my life, and I am very excited to help the church community through Vestry. I love spending time in the outdoors and taking trips on the mesa whenever I can.
Janette Deagle
I am very excited to be serving on the Vestry for my third time. I believe that St. Matt's is on a positive path, and I am eager to be a part of the growth that will take place in the future. I have been a member of St. Matt's for about 12 years. I am a member of both the Outreach Team and the Care of Creation Team. I help out with coffee hour after the 10:00 service, I drive the shuttle, and I am a lector. I enjoy attending WWJD as well. When I'm not at the church, I enjoy spending time with my husband Gene. I also love hiking, golfing, knitting, cooking, and reading. I am a member of PEO (which raises money for scholarships for women in need). Volunteering at the Day Center is a recent addition to my list of activities. In the past three years, I have been on four Caminos in Spain (three with Mother Jan and Deacon Teri), and we are planning another for the fall.
Anna Crickmer Shannon
I have been a member of St. Matthew's since I moved to Grand Junction in 2017. I am a member of the choir, drive the van, and help with Vacation Bible School. I have been an Episcopalian since birth, but have worshiped with Roman Catholics, American Baptists, and the Disciples of Christ as the need arose. I am an engineer and have managed facilities for more than 40 years for the VA Hospital, the State of Washington, the Department of Transportation, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and (for 10 years) the United States Air Force. I was born in Seattle and raised in the Army in many different locations. I have a BA from the University of Texas at El Paso, a BCE from Seattle University, and an MPA from Golden Gate University. I married Bill Shannon in 2018 at St. Matthew's. We met at an episcopal youth group dance in 1974, and became fast friends in college the year after. I have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and two tiny grandsons, who all live in the Seattle area. I visit them several times a year.
Sue Emerson
I have been a member of the Episcopal church since 1984. I served as the church secretary, 1995 - 2005, and have been a member in good standing of St. Matthew’s, Grand Junction, since July 1993. Over the past 31 years, I have served on the Vestry for 8 years, 4 of them as Jr. Warden for parish/community life. I was a member of the choir, on the Altar Guild, and twice a convention delegate. I also taught Sunday School when our girls were young. I have served on three discernment teams. I have been a leader for the Colorado Cursillo Secretariat and served on 7 Cursillo teams, of which I was the lay leader for one. I am currently an active member of our Outreach Team, the Refresh committee, the Care for Creation team, and the kitchen manager. I have been married to my husband, Dave, for 49 years. We have three daughters and three grandchildren.
Jan Marie DeLay, Ph.D
I grew up in Southern Idaho, where my family attended the Methodist Church. In adulthood, Ken and I raised our children, Nicholas and Claire, in the United Church of Christ in Longmont, Colorado. I assisted the church community with coordinating Sunday School services for several years.
I was a teacher and coordinator of parent education and family literacy programs in my early career. I also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for 3 years in Thailand. I completed my career in Colorado public education after serving for seven years as the Superintendent of Schools in Sterling, Colorado. Ken and I moved to Grand Junction in 2021 and happily found St. Matt’s in 2022.
Janet azbell
Janet has served as the clerk for the vestry for the past year. During this time, she has had the opportunity to see what exactly the vestry does for our church community. As a person born and raised in the catholic church, the vestry, and even some Episcopalian practices are new/different/welcomed. Janet and her family started attending an Episcopal church about seven years ago. Initially, stating, “We are Catholic, but we attend an Episcopal church" seemed accurate but has moved to, "Why yes, we are Episcopalian!"
Janet is married to Joe, and they have two sons. She attended The Ohio State University College of Nursing and works as a registered nurse. When not working or driving kids around, Janet enjoys reading, kombucha brewing, and all outdoor activities, especially mountain biking.
John hatch, Ph.D.
Christie and I have been members of St. Matt’s since moving to Grand Junction in 2022. Prior to retirement, I worked as a professor of Communication Studies at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) and Eastern University (Pennsylvania), where I served as department chair for six years. My scholarship has focused on public dialogue, race relations, reconciliation, and popular music (both secular and sacred). I’m currently writing two books on the music of a pioneering contemporary Christian artist, and Christie and I enjoy leading worship music or performing the offertory at St. Matt’s from time to time. In the 1990s, we did teaching/mission work in Kazakhstan for three years. Having come from low-church/evangelical backgrounds, we found a more grounded home in the Episcopal Church in 2012. I appreciate the historical rootedness, open-heartedness, and via media approach of the Anglican Communion; and St. Matt’s epitomizes these qualities.
sandra moore
I was born in Grand Junction and graduated from Grand Junction High School. I also graduated from Mesa State College at the fun old age of 60 and worked as an accompanist in the music department for many years.
Dale and I have been married 59 ½ years and have 5 children, 8+ grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 2 dogs. Before settling back in Colorado, we lived in many states where I always seemed to end up on the organ bench. I began playing piano & organ at St. Matthew’s GJ with the junior choir during the seventh grade when St. Matt’s was on North Avenue.
As one can tell, my ministry has always been music so with your approval I would like to branch out and be a member of your vestry. Having been appointed this last year to fill a one term vacancy, I find I very much enjoy serving in our church. It certainly gives me a different perspective of the church and its workings. I am a life-long Episcopalian and have business experience. While living in Nebraska I served on the Alliance Public Schools Board of Education for nine years, owned a small gift shop and owned a travel agency. Thank you for this opportunity.
Marty McDaneld
I grew up in Michigan, where we attended the Methodist church. When I found the Episcopal church in my thirties, I knew I had found the right spiritual community for me. Professionally, I worked in personnel management at a large corporation and later switched to teaching. I taught kindergarten at a multicultural/ multilingual school, a job that was fascinating and enriching every single day. My interests include cooking, painting, traveling, gardening, and getting together with friends. I am married to Terry, who sings in the choir, and our family is composed of our two sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandsons, and two grand dogs. I look forward to serving you and our church community as a Vestry member.
