CRAIG MacCOLL, Rector

The Rev. Craig MacColl became Rector of Good Shepherd in 2005 after serving four different Episcopal congregations in Illinois, Oregon and Texas. Having spent 27 years in suburban ministry, Craig enjoys the energy, vitality and hospitality of churches in suburban settings, and he was drawn to Good Shepherd because of the warmth and welcome that have been a hallmark of this community for the past 30 years. Craig is a native Oregonian and received his ministry training in Chicago, Wisconsin and Oxford, England. Craig especially enjoys preaching, teaching and leadership development. As a trained pastoral counselor, he is deeply committed to offering opportunities for spiritual growth and supporting parishioners as they face the challenges of everyday life in suburban Denver. For Craig, part of the joy of living in Colorado, is the easy access to several cross-country ski areas and bike trails. On Sunday mornings, in addition to leading worship, you may find Craig playing the drums at the 11:15 contemporary service. Craig is married to Ann and they have two children, Alec, 20 and Megan, 18.

Fr. Craig's blog can be found at: http://blog.gshep.org/

MARTA IVES, Parish Administrator

“I love working with people who love God,” says Marta Ives of her position as our Parish Administrator. Joining Good Shepherd in July 1996, she continues to manage new and diverse responsibilities. Whether it is publishing the weekly bulletin or other documents, managing our busy office or assisting our parishioners with a host of issues, Marta is the foundation of our church’s ongoing success. She has three children and is the proud grandmother of seven who finds time to sing in the choir and assist on many committees and groups.

STEPHEN FIESS, Musical Director

Dr. Stephen Fiess joined Good Shepherd in 1998 as our church organist and is currently our gifted music director responsible for the beautiful sounds that accompany our services. He is a native of Ontario, Canada and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Western Ontario. After receiving his Masters degree in piano performance from Indiana University, Stephen relocated to Colorado and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1989. .

Dr. Fiess is a composer of church music, including three sets of published variations on Christmas carols and a setting of the Lutheran liturgy. Additionally, a book he completed on Prokofiev’s piano music was published in 1994. In addition to his duties at Good Shepherd, Dr. Fiess operates a large piano studio in Highlands Ranch.

CHRISTIN OLSON, Youth Director

New Youth Director of Ministries, Christin Olson, joined the Good Shepherd staff in March of 2008. Originally from Wisconsin, Christin has been in Colorado since January of 2007 spending the past year as an Americorps member. She worked for Mental Health America of Colorado in their education department coordinating an after-school, mental health, hip hop program for inner city high schools. She obtains a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has a true passion for counseling young people. She loves photography, volleyball, and telling people about her life changing trip to Alaska. Christin is young, compassionate and loves working with youth. She loves to spend time on the lakes of WI, hike, and fulfill her desire to be completely spontaneous.

AMY BAILEY,
Children's Ministries

Amy Bailey has been a parishioner at Good Shepherd since 2004 after moving to Colorado from the Southeast. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina and attended graduate school for Industrial Education/Graphic Communications at Clemson University. After working in the printing and marketing industry for many years, Amy chose to stay at home to raise her two daughters, Davis (5) and Savannah (3). In order to keep her creative juices flowing, she continued to do freelance graphic design and also began volunteering as a Sunday School teacher. A lifelong Episcopalian, Amy had previously been involved with youth ministries as a youth group leader and mission trip chaperone. Her new role with Children's Ministries was a perfect fit. It gave her the opportunity to participate in her daughter's programs while also channeling her creativity into making God fun for kids! Since joining the Staff in 2006, her excitement about Children's Ministries has increased ten-fold...as well as the joy of interacting with the children of Good Shepherd. Amy's husband Elton is also involved as a church volunteer, and the whole family has grown to love the warm & friendly church environment. In their free time, they enjoy traveling & exploring the many beautiful places & spaces in the glorious state of Colorado!

SARA BLAKE, Choir Director

Sara Blake is in her 5^th year as Choir Director at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.  A long time church musician, Sara worked for almost 30 years in various churches as both organist and organist / choir director.  She retired from being a church organist when she and her husband moved to Colorado in 1996, choosing instead to focus on singing, and is is her 10^th year with the Colorado Symphony Chorus, where she performs several times a year with the Colorado Synphony.  With the Symphony Chorus, she has also performed at the Vail Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival, and will sing in Vienna, Budhapest and Prague during the summer of 2009.  Sara and her husband, Maynard, joined the Good Shepherd choir in 2000.  When the choir director suddenly quit in late 2003, she took over the directing on a temporary basis, eventually accepting the position as permanent.  Now a widow, she counts the choir and the members of Good Shepherd as her Colorado family.  She has 4 children and 4 grandchildren living all across the United States, and she works full time as a systems engineer for a national company.

SUE LEFANT, Nursery Guardian

Sue was born in California and grew up in a loving Christian home and after moving to Colorado, she and her family started attending Good Shepherd while the church was still meeting in an elementary school. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation with an emphasis in working with disabled children.

She co taught Sunday school at Good Shepherd and after joining another church’s single’s program, became involved in their children’s program by teaching Sunday school to 2 year olds. She was offered a staff position at that church in 1994 and recently resigned from it October of 2007. Being promoted to the position of Director of Children’s Ministry was a highlight in her time at that church. It was a challenging, yet a very rewarding time until she heeded what she believes to be God’s direction to leave her position and seek His will in another capacity. She joined the staff at Good Shepherd in January and holds the position of Primary Nursery Guardian.

Sue and her husband Rick were married in 1988. They have two sons, Josh and Tyler. Sue enjoys spending quality time with her family, bike riding, reading, exercising and doing math and logic puzzles/problems.

MARGIE ROGERS, Bookkeeper