Who We Are - Church of the Messiah

Staff

Mother Jean DeVaty

Rector

Mtr. Jean DeVaty joined us as our Rector on January 1, 2021. She learned what it meant to serve our Lord by assisting her Mom who for many years was the Sunday School Superintendent at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, PA and working alongside her Dad who was always ready to lend a hand to a friend in need.

Others in that faith family also inspired her to a deeper love and commitment to our Lord, and through Youth Group and Christian Camping Mtr. Jean+ realized a call on her life to ordained ministry.

Over the years her opportunities to learn at Wheaton College, Wheaton IL (BA, Christian Education and Fine Arts, 1980; MA, Educational Ministries, 1990) and Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge PA (MDiv, 2005) deepened her understanding of God’s mission for his world.

Various calls to ministry and service from youth ministry to healing ministry, parish care to liturgical worship broadened her understanding of the needs and responsibilities of God’s Church in his world. Mtr. Jean’s hope and prayer for our parish family is that we grow deeper in our love and knowledge of the Lord and through the power of the Holy Spirit use the gifts He has given us to share God’s Good News of Great Joy with our neighbors near and far.

Sharon Carlsen

Music Minister

Sharon grew up in Van Hornesville, NY. At the age of 16, she played the organ at the Lutheran Church in Little Falls, NY. After graduating from Owen D. Young Central School, she attended SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music, completing her BM in 1985.

Her first teaching position took place at West Canada Valley Central School, Newport NY. After three years, she moved to the Glens Falls area where she accepted a music position at Hadley-Luzerne Central School while working on her Master’s Degree at the College of St. Rose in Albany. At that time, she was also the organist at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glens Falls.

In 2001, she accepted a K-12 Music position at Argyle Central School. After teaching for 33 years, she retired July 1, 2021.

Her passions include playing the organ/piano in a church setting and taking care of her cat, Munchkin, and Golden Retriever, Yogi.

Lisa Pratt

Secretary

Lisa joined us in November of 2021. She comes to us with nearly 30 years of experience in a variety of fields which utilized her administrative skills. She has worked in health care (both inpatient and outpatient), legal offices, and churches. Most recently, she was the studio manager at Glens Falls Music Academy. She holds a B.S. in psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh, and a certificate from the Mildred Elley Medical Office Assistant program.

Lisa enjoys crochet, sewing, music, and enjoying the beauty of Upstate NY. She has lived in the Glens Falls region her entire life and is a member of the choir at her home church, St. Andrew ELCA Lutheran in South Glens Falls, and of Adirondack Voices. Her pride and joy is her son, Jake. He is a paramedic in North Carolina, with a plan to become an RN and eventually a Nurse Practitioner. Lisa lives in South Glens Falls with her significant other, Pete, and their two cats, Izzy and Ollie.