Vestry
OUR VESTRY
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden,” - Matthew 5:14
The Church of the Good Shepherd Vestry is a group of dedicated souls and that act with faith, wisdom, and strength to steward our church. The Vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. The number of vestry members and the term of office varies from parish to parish. Vestry members are usually elected at the annual parish meeting. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. There are usually two wardens. The senior warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support person for the rector. The junior warden often has responsibility for church property and buildings. A treasurer and a secretary or clerk may be chosen. These officers may or may not be vestry members. The basic responsibilities of the vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances.
Vestry members are elected by the congregation at the January Annual Meeting as the governing body of the parish. The Vestry gives support and guidance to the Clergy and Congregation.
Our Vestry is comprised of about a dozen at large members who serve alongside four Executive Committee Members: Senior Warden (President), Junior Warden (Vice President), Clerk and Treasurer.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Susan Nutting: Senior Warden
Susan has been a member of CGS since 2011 and a resident of Nashua for over 50 years. She and her husband have three adult children and four grandsons. At CGS, she serves as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Reader, and Worship Leader, and recently completed four years as Vestry Clerk. She serves on the Stewardship Committee, helps stream services, participates in the Prayer Shawl ministry, and contributes to parish life in fun ways—like making icing for the Gingerbread Village.
Outside of CGS, Susan is a Companion in the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (SCHC) and a graduate of Education for Ministry (EfM). Before retiring, she worked as a paralegal/office manager for over 20 years and now teaches expressive and mixed media art classes. She enjoys reading, all kinds of crafts, reading the latest action thrillers, spending time with friends, and making memories with her family.
Don Yelton, Junior Warden
Don has been a member of CGS since 1997. He is a member of the Stewardship Committee and the Fundraising Committee. Don is also a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM) and serves on Finance Committee and the Communication Committee. CGS and our fellow parishioners are an important part of our family’s life. CGS and other churches are at a pivotal point and I want to contribute to making this church an important beacon of light for our congregation and for our community.
John Rowntree, Treasurer
John Rowntree has been a member of the parish for 30 years and currently serves as one of our Vergers. He represents Church of the Good Shepherd on the Nashua Area Interfaith Council, where he also serves on the board and is a past President. As a long-standing co-leader of the Education for Ministry program, now in his 15th year, John continues to mentor and support faith exploration within the parish. Deeply committed to stewardship and justice, John has helped secure external funding for capital improvements, most notably the parish’s recent solar installation. He has served on the NH Episcopal Earth Care Commission, the Mission Resources Commission, and is a member of the newly formed Micah 6:8 Commission. This marks his fourth term serving on the Vestry.
VESTRY AT LARGE
Jennifer Atherton.
Mark Crepeau
Mark Crepeau was raised in Biddeford, Maine where he attended parochial school and later, public high school. He then moved further north and graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Biology. Soon after graduating, he moved to southern New Hampshire and worked with hazardous waste firms in the Massachusetts area. His work later shifted to the Health and Safety field, in which he still works today, locally.
Growing up, Mark was raised in the Catholic Church but began attending the Episcopal Church in Dover, NH and was soon accepted into the Episcopal Church by the Right Reverend Gene Robinson. At CGS, Mark is a member of the Property Committee and assists with maintaining the grounds. He also serves as an Usher, regularly attending the 8am Services. Mark lives in Nashua with his wife Andrea and dog Shelby. He enjoys working around the house and rooting for Boston sports teams.
Lila Monahan
Lila is a cradle Episcopalian who, along with her husband Jim and their children Cassie and Nick, joined CGS after moving to Nashua in 2003. Her faith was deeply shaped by her parents and continues to grow through her lived experiences as well as the love and fellowship she finds within the CGS community. Lila is a pediatrician who lives and works in Nashua. She and Jim enjoy traveling, hiking, skiing, spending time with their Old English Sheepdog, Brodus, and visiting their grown children in Colorado.
Amanda Blair
Amanda (she/her) has been a parishioner at CGS for her entire life, growing up in our Sunday School and Youth Group programs. After moving home from living abroad after college she decided to return to CGS in large part due to the growing LGBTQIA+ community and the strong emphasis on love and affirmation. She currently runs the social justice committee and is an usher.
Amanda is a Reference Librarian by trade and works down the street at the Nashua Public Library. She is an avid fan of science fiction and queer romance and treats reading like a competitive sport. She has a very sweet but very shy Australian Shepherd named Merlin.
Michael Engelsen
Michael was raised in Laconia, NH, where he and his five younger brothers grew up as “cradle Catholics”—with a dash of Southern Baptist influence through Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and Youth Group. In 2021, Michael accepted a position in Hudson, NH, as IT Administrator for Life is Good. After COVID-19, Michael felt called to explore churches that were more inclusive, and welcoming to all.
Michael’s first encounter with CGS occurred at 9am on a Sunday morning, when he either arrived an hour early—or an hour late—for the Sunday service. Thankfully, someone was waiting at the front doors and was able to direct Michael to Coffee Hour, where he was warmly welcomed. Since being received into the Episcopal Church in 2023, Michael has become a committed member of the IT/broadcast team, the contemplative prayer group, and serves as a lay eucharistic minister (LEM), in addition to his duties as Vestry Clerk. Outside of CGS, Michael enjoys cooking for loved ones, visiting family in the Lakes Region, and taking long walks with his (practically perfect) border collie, Cody.
Lucy Ndegwa
My name is Lucy Ndegwa, I am originally from Africa - Kenya and am a mother of 2 boys Brandon & Justin and 2 step daughters Aria & Olivia. I am a working mom, I am a Realtor and also a Caregiver at Bridges By Epoch Memory Care Assisted Living Facility. I am a Sunday school teacher for the 0-5yrs kids. Am happy to serve others as Christ did
Jeff Cooley
Danielle English
Bob Rausa