As rector, the Rev. Anne Bartlett has been leading the parish of Trinity
Church, Ashland with passion and vision since June 2000. Ordained in 1987,
Anne served two parishes in the Diocese of Missouri before moving to Oregon
in 1992 to be associate rector at St. Mark's, Medford. In 1995, Anne joined
the staff at the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Portland, Oregon as
associate rector, where she served until coming to Trinity.
Rev. Anne’s love for the Anglican tradition and passion for preaching
are both evident during worship. At the altar, her faithful, rooted presence
brings life, joy and inspiration to each celebration of Eucharist. In
the pulpit, she delivers intelligent, astute and often amusing sermons,
weaving scripture into present life with an intuitive and powerful directness.
Five of Anne's sermons have been published in the Morehouse series "Sermons
that Work." She frequently serves on staff for the annual Preaching
Excellence Program for Episcopal seminarians. In the Diocese of Oregon,
Anne has been on both the Board of Trustees and Diocesan Council.
She received her Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary
in 1984 and a post-graduate certificate of Anglican Studies from Seabury-Western
Theological Seminary in 1987. Anne also holds an M.A. and A.B. in history
(Phi Beta Kappa) from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Before
ordination, Anne was on staff at Care and Counseling, a pastoral counseling
center in St. Louis where she had trained for three years.
Anne and her husband Bill have four grown– and far-flung– children, seven grandkids, an Australian Shepherd named "Cat"
and a Golden Retriever - Murphy. Bill skis, Anne does yoga, and
they both enjoy biking, hiking, and are frequently found at the movies.
The Rev. Carol Jordan Howser, Deacon, was born and raised
in eastern Oregon, a land where you can see forever, where the wide open
spaces get into your heart and your head, and give you time to be alone
and quiet. Carol graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree
in Education, spent time traveling and then lived in Medford for over
a decade. When at last she moved to Ashland in 1974, it felt like settling
into a soft, well-fitting glove.
Before becoming a deacon, Carol raised three children, a son and two daughters,
and now has 3 grandchildren, much to her delight. For 16 years she owned
a bookstore specializing in books for children and teachers. After her
deaconate training, Carol was ordained in January of 1996 and has been
working as Chaplain and Chaplain Coordinator for Lovejoy Hospice in Grants
Pass since January 1997.
Her special ministry at Trinity has centered on pastoral care, particularly
with Stephen Ministry leadership, and the training and scheduling of Lay
Eucharistic Ministers. Sitting quiet and alone in wide open spaces these
days? Well, only now and then.
Meredith
Ayer Pech
Rev. Pech was born and raised in San Jose, California, and she attended
the University of California at Santa Cruz. Meredith considers herself
blessed to have been a “pioneer,” as a member of the first four-year
class (1965-1969), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in History with
an emphasis on American Studies. Upon graduation she furthered her education
by spending eight months traveling through Europe and working on a kibbutz
in Israel.
Following her travels Meredith spent a year working a minimum-wage job
and received an entirely different sort of education! She moved to Oregon
and obtained her standard elementary certificate from the University of
Oregon. In September 1972, she took her first teaching job in a fourth
grade class at Slater Elementary School in Burns, Oregon, a culture shock
that taught her much more.
In August 1973, she married Bob Pech. They have three daughters: Margaret,
Tessa and Laura. As Meredith’s partner in ministry, Bob is a model
of quiet service with deep faith. In 1977, the family left Burns and moved
to Ashland. In January 1981, Meredith began teaching at Walker School
where she continues to this day. In her 28 years in education, she has
taught grades 1, 3, 4 and 5. Teaching young children is both her passion
and calling in the world.
Growing up, neither of her parents were regular churchgoers, but she was
always called to be at church! She attended Presbyterian and Methodist
churches as a youth. She discovered the Episcopal Church on Palm Sunday
in 1979 when she walked into Trinity, and knew she was home. At Trinity,
Meredith has worked on education and outreach programs, served on Vestry,
as Senior Warden, reader and Lay Eucharistic Minister.
Meredith feels blessed by the support of the parish in her call to be
a deacon. She attended the Diocesan School for Deacons and was ordained
on St. Andrew’s day, November 30, 1996. “I find great joy in
liturgical service. I am humbled by and thankful for the opportunity to
preach.” She is the principal teacher of the youth at Trinity and
her ministries continue to focus on outreach, in particular through the
school and education.
Dr. Paul French was so moved by a single performance at age 18 that it changed the course of his life. As a college student sitting in a music hall he experienced a performance of Josquin's "Ave Maria." He was so inspired that he changed his major and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California at Berkeley and Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Music from the University of Southern California. After teaching and singing in the Los Angeles area for twelve years, French joined the music faculty at Southern Oregon University in 1990 and became conductor for the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers.
He is currently Director of Choral/Vocal Studies, and Artistic Director of the Vocal Arts Institute. French has extensive experience as singer, conductor and teacher. Ensembles under his direction have performed to acclaim at prestigious six-state conventions such as the American Choral Directors Association Northwest Convention (1994, 2002), the American Guild of Organists Northwest Convention (1997) and the Oregon Music Educators National Conference (2002). In 2003, French made his National Public Radio debut with the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers performing on "West Coast Live" for an estimated one million households nationally and Internationally.
Operatic conducting credits include Carmen, La Bohème, La Traviata, and Cosi Fan Tutte, as well as numerous light operetta productions such as Die Fledermaus, Sweeney Todd, and Candide. French has conducted for Rogue Opera, Jefferson Baroque Orchestra, Northwest Bach Ensemble, Chelan Bach Festival, Rogue Music Theatre, and made his Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra debut in a performance of Brahms' "Requiem" in Spring, 2002. In demand as a clinician and adjudicator, French has adjudicated Oregon's Music Educators National Conference state voice and choir competitions many times as well as MENC sponsored competitions in California and Alaska. He has conducted numerous Honor Choirs and regional All-State Choirs in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Nevada.
(Bio available in next few days)
Huberta Murphy
The Murphys moved to Ashland in 2005 from Spokane, Washington. Her husband is The Rev. Tom Murphy who officially retired in 2000. He continued to do supply and interim work in the Diocese of Spokane until Huberta retired after a 26 year banking career.
Huberta was born and grew up in Spokane. She is a livelong Episcopalian, being formed and nurtured at Holy Trinity Church, Spokane. As a young married adult, she and the family moved to California, later relocating to Seattle. Further moves were to Hoquiam, Washington; Fort Madison, Iowa; and back to hometown Spokane.
As a layperson Huberta’s ministry has included altar guild, child and adult education leader, mission board member, choir member, organist, Lay Eucharist Minister, lector, intercessory prayer group member, lay delegate to convention, Cursillo Secretariat. Huberta is an Associate of the Community of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to her professional education, Huberta is a graduate of the Education For Ministry program.
She and Tom have 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
