The Rev. Paul St. Germain, Rector

Paul St. Germain became the sixth rector of St. Mark's in 2007. A native of Vermont, Paul has served parishes in both West Virginia and Ohio after his graduation from Yale Divinity School in 1990. He believes the liturgy of the church is central to our corporate life, empowering us to move beyond the walls of the parish and extend our hearts and hands into the world. Paul uplifts the Lord's table as a sacred model for our Christian community, and believes there is a place at the table for all of God's children.

Paul enjoys travel, and views such adventures as spiritual pilgrimage. He has traveled extensively in Israel, Egypt, Turkey and England, and led over ten service trips to Russia and Guatemala involving hundreds of teens in the last decade. A favorite quote is that "We go on pilgrimage to learn to become pilgrims in our own lives. Too many people are merely tourists" (Sister Therese Ellias).

Upper Arlington is currently his home, and Paul is eagerly awaiting the next installment of The Chronicles of Narnia. He is single, a lifelong C.S. "Jack" Lewis devotee, a roller coasters enthusiast, and an avid cook and digital photographer. Please call him Paul!

The Rev. Bruce Smith, Associate Rector

The Rev. Bruce Smith came to St. Mark's in June, 2000 upon his ordination as Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati by the late Bishop Herbert Thompson. He was ordained Priest on January 6, 2001 at the cathedral. Bruce graduated from Ithaca College (NY) with a BA in History (1973) and then worked for New Jersey Bell Telephone Co and AT&T in New Jersey for 22 years, much of that time in the Law and Government Affairs Department. He received a Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude) from the Theological School at Drew University in NJ (1996) and a Master of Theological Studies degree from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (1999). Bruce is a life long Episcopalian and served the church for many years as a lay person.

In 2007, Bruce was elected by Diocesan Convention to a 3 year term on of Diocesan Council (the “vestry” of the diocese) and has been appointed to the Diocesan Budget Committee, He has also served as a member of the Diocesan Stewardship Commission since 1996. Bruce is also serving as Chair of the Central Ohio Advisory Board of Episcopal Retirement Homes, Inc. and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Center for Peace (located in Columbus).

Bruce's wife, the Rev. Dr. Susan Warrener Smith has served as Associate Pastor of Indianola Presbyterian Church in Columbus since July, 1996. Bruce and Susan enjoy the “arts”, reading, watching HGTV and “Seinfeld” reruns, hiking in the state parks of Door County, Wisconsin, and being with family (especially their kids and three grandchildren) as well as dear friends. Bruce and Susan live in the Clintonville area of Columbus.

Gary L. Garber, Organist/Choirmaster

Gary L. Garber studied with Mabel Zehner at Ashland University, with Ann Labounsky at Duquesne University, and with Karel Paukert and the late John Christian at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He attended the Royal School of Church Music in 1983, and since that year has been Organist-Choirmaster of St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

Michael Murray, Organist

Michael Murray has recorded thirty discs for Telarc and is the author of five books, including a biography of his teacher, Marcel Dupré. He became assistant organist of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in 1991. He is also Assistant Librarian for Collections and Public Services at the Ohio State University Music/Dance Library. He received an honorary doctorate from OSU in 2001.

Kristy Messler, Office Manager

Kristy Messler has been the Office Manager at St. Mark’s since May of 2003. Originally from Eugene, Oregon, she moved to the Columbus area in 1997 to attend Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Bexley. She has a Master of Theological Studies from Trinity and is now currently working towards a Master of Library and Information Science degree through Kent State University’s Columbus program.

The Rev. Joan Maynard, Deacon

The Rev. Joan Maynard, our Deacon since 1995, serves during St. Mark’s Eucharist as her work schedule permits. Joan’s regular position is Chaplain at the OSU Medical Center Department of Women and Infants and in the James Cancer hospital. Her gifts were best described in her 1998 Distinguished Staff Award (OSU's highest honor for non-teaching employees): "She always seems to be at the right place at the right time to offer support, advice, assistance and, most importantly, compassion when it is needed," wrote one of Joan's nominators. She ministers to mothers who are in the midst of high risk pregnancies, have a baby in the neo-natal intensive care, or who have experienced the death of an infant. At St. Marks she co-chairs the care of our Memorial Garden.

Lawrence German, Verger

Larry and family moved from Chicago to Upper Arlington mid-1976, electing to make Trinity on Capitol Square their church home until 1990 when they joined daughter, Ellen and family and transferred to St. Mark's. At that time Larry joined the St. Mark's Choir and took on the chair of the Personnel Committee for the rector. In time he became the Jr. and Sr. Warden and with Michael Jupin's (former rector) retirement was asked to be the Parish Administrator. This volunteer assignment lasted for three years. Soon thereafter at Vicki Smith's (former rector) recommendation and with the vestry's approval he became St. Mark's Verger, a volunteer member of the parish staff.