Stephen Singleton

“Trinity contributes immeasurably to our well-being.”

I have been an active parishioner since 1997. In years past I served on the vestry when I was Junior Warden and chaired the Building and Grounds Committee. I have served in a leadership capacity planning parish-wide events, holiday decorating of the sanctuary, two capitol campaigns including the funding of the 2017 landscape project, stewardship campaigns and fundraising to equip the then-new kitchen in 2011.

I am married to Christopher Teasley and we will celebrate 50 years together this year. We are partners in an interior design business based in Santa Barbara. We are physically active people and like to cook, entertain, travel, garden, listen to music, visit museums, hike, bike and play pickle ball.

We have seen many changes at Trinity over the years, yet sitting in the pew each Sunday (in person or virtually) is an integral part of our lives and contributes immeasurably to our well-being.

Nollie Lei Dawson

“A new appreciation of “seen” and “unseen.”

Being a Trinity parishioner since 1997, I’ve seen, felt, and experienced more of “church” than I can recall.

Knowing what Trinity provided pre-covid and what Trinity is providing daily during covid has given me renewed appreciation of every aspect “seen” and “unseen” and has redefined “service” personally.

It is with this renewed definition that I hope to honor another term as a vestry member. My husband Don would ask me daily “Did you do the best you could do?”

Max Rorty

“For fun I read books about whaling.” 

I have been an active parishioner since 2011, when Kate and I first moved to Santa Barbara and couldn't find any gay people anywhere but Trinity. I served on a ministry project called Soup and Sharing, created and led by Teresa Pietsch that brought together LGBT people to talk about their relationship with church. Soup and Sharing led Georgia Noble to start the local PFLAG chapter, and PFLAG led me to start the Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network. Isn't that cool? Good soup.

I have been a medical social worker at Cottage Hospital and at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and now I am a therapist specializing in medical providers. For fun I read books about whaling, and sing songs about feelings, and pick up smooth rocks. My kids Jo and Decker are hilarious and my wife is extremely attractive.

David Gartrell
Clerk

“Thoughtful worship combined with a passion for social justice.”

I have been an active member of Trinity since 2001, shortly after moving to Santa Barbara to work at UCSB as a Manuscripts Curator and Religious Studies Librarian. My wife, Susan, and I were drawn to the way Trinity and its people combine a thoughtful style of worship with a strong passion for social justice and inclusion. Our commitment only deepened when our son, William, was born in 2004. Watching him grow and mature as he experienced the children and youth programs has been a joy. I have tried to give back to Trinity a small fraction of what Trinity has given me, serving on the vestry from 2005-2008, two terms on Parish Council, and the successful search committees for our current rector and musical director. I also enjoy serving as head usher and as a member of Sustainable Trinity.

Paul Delaney

“Less judgmental and more accepting.”

I was following in my daughter’s footsteps in 2012 when I came to Trinity where Elizabeth Delaney Hess was already the head of children’s ministries. Who wouldn’t want to attend a church where Elizabeth Hess greeted children and the Rev. Mark Asman greeted all parishioners so warmly? After Mark retired, I loved the interim ministry of the Rev. Gary Hall. And now Trinity has the best possible clergy team: the disarmingly vulnerable Rev. Elizabeth Molitors, the gracious Rev. Sarah Thomas, and our superb deacon the Rev. John Draper all invite us to be less judgmental and more accepting. I’ve been involved in the Trinity Men’s Group for years. My attempts on Sunday mornings to read scripture with feeling prompted Steve Gibson to tell me I had “more ham than Farmer John.” Recently, Trinity’s Dinner with Friends has introduced us to new friends. Trinity is going from strength to strength, and I’m glad to witness the trajectory.

Susan Krutzsch

“Arriving here felt like coming home.”

My husband Jeff and I have been active members of Trinity for the last 17 years. Arriving here, after being members of many Episcopal churches in California, felt like coming home. I have been involved in lots of different ministries, including Hospitality Co-Chair and Children and Youth Co-Chair on the Parish Council. I have been a level one Catechist for the past eight years, and love working with the children; I am also a member of the CYC. In the community, I’ve been a classroom volunteer at Harding School for 10 years, a member of the Faulding Hotel cooking team, and am a founding member of the Santa Barbara PFLAG chapter. My three children and four grandchildren are a joyful part of my life.

Georgia Noble
Senior Warden

“Trinity was integral to healing.”

I came to Trinity 25 years ago in the middle of a painful divorce and with my 8-year-old, gay son, Christopher in tow. Trinity was integral to healing the hole in my soul and has remained a cherished part of my life. My best loved areas of ministry have included flowering the church and adult formation. I was lay staff for 10 years, responsible for coordinating shared ministry. My professional background includes 25 years in private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist and currently a semi-retired Facilitator for the Center for Courage and Renewal. It is an honor to be on the vestry and have the opportunity to support our efforts to be “good church” in these crazy times.

Susan Zink

“We enjoy singing heartily.”

I first met Elizabeth Molitors at dad's hospital bedside (Bill Beasley). We were so impressed with her that my husband Paul and I thought we'd try Trinity out, as we were between churches at that time. We were not disappointed and the rest is history. We enjoy singing heartily from the pew, visiting with, meeting and welcoming people to the church, as well as driving for Drivers Listos and leading the packing of non-perishable sack lunches for our unhoused neighbors. After retirement from 37 years of teaching, I enjoy playing Pickleball and Mahjong, reading for Book Group and taking afternoon naps. We have two grown children. I look forward to this new chapter of serving Trinity in a new capacity.

Jean Davis

“I walked into sacred space.”

I began my journey with Trinity lighting candles in the sanctuary. It was early 2003, and the drumbeat to go to war against Iraq and harsh and intolerant rhetoric attributed to Christianity were dominating the news. I needed to get away from all the noise. The front doors were open, and I walked into sacred space, and into peace. Trinity’s motto at the time was “open doors, open minds, open hearts.” The open doors brought me in; I experienced the open minds when I started to attend the book study discussions; and it was the open hearts that made me feel most welcome. That openness continues to this day: “wherever you are in your journey of faith, you are welcome to join us at God’s table” . . . So here I am, 20 years after first walking in, being asked to be on the vestry again. I am humbled and honored. I want to serve Trinity. Thank you for giving me another opportunity.

Mark Ismond
Junior warden

“We knew we’d found our people.”

I started coming to Trinity in 2013 after my divorce, and being shy, I mostly sat in the back, observing, trying to find my safe place, and leaving as soon the service was over. I was recovering from my upbringing in another denomination where being who I am wasn’t okay. I was looking for my people but many of my people don’t go to church because of their similar religious experience. In 2017, I met the man who would become my spouse. He was an Episcopal churchgoer and we both joined the church. We felt welcomed by so many, and we knew we were okay just the way we were. We knew we’d found our people. Trinity is where I was married and it’s where my family chooses to worship and serve. I am honored to call Trinity home and to serve on the vestry.

Sarah McCarter

“I love being able to see all the joyful Trinity faces.”

I began attending Trinity in 2013, shortly after retirement from the Santa Barbara City Fire Department. My retirement bucket list included finding a choir I could join, without having to audition. I was graciously welcomed by Grey Brothers, the minister of music at the time, and I joined the choir in spring of 2014. Not only is it a blessing to be able to sing such wonderful music, I love being able to see all the joyful Trinity faces from my seat in the chancel. During my years at Trinity, I have served on the choir guild, leading the altar guild, I volunteer in the atrium, and I’m a member of the audio guild. My husband Daniel and I have two adult children, Aidan, and Julia. I’m a volunteer for VNA hospice along with my therapy dog, Luna. At peace when doing anything outside, I enjoy swimming, jogging, biking, and hiking. I consider it an honor to serve on the vestry, knowing I have much to learn yet looking forward to the challenge.

Fred Williams

“What would I say if Jesus asked me?”

My career has largely been my thirty years in the Air Force, from which I retired as a colonel. I’ve spent ten years in civil service, and I currently live at Maravilla. As for my spiritual life, I’ve been an Episcopalian since 1967. I’ve been on six vestries, serving as both senior and junior warden. I was also on two search committees, and at various other times was a Sunday school director, choir member, usher, senior youth counselor and—last but not least—acolyte director to 54 acolytes! During my time at Trinity my volunteer work has been on the Finance Committee, where I help with the yearly audit. When Bill Ferguson asked if I would like to be on the vestry, I first said “no.” But then I thought about it for a couple of minutes, asking myself what I would say if Jesus asked me. So of course, I then said a heartfelt YES.

Sky Beard-Armbruster

“I could not be more grateful for this wonderful place.”

I’m Sky, a 16-year-old junior at Dos Pueblos High school. I run Cross Country and participate in Track and Field, act for the Dos Pueblos Theatre Company, and I fight for social justice mainly with local youth via the DP student union organization. I’m already a part of the Sunday services by being an acolyte and a lector. I’m also very proud to say I was a pupil of our beloved late Elizabeth Hess who taught me how to read from the pulpit. She was the director of children and youth during my time in the atrium which was very significant; not only for the teaching of all the biblical stories, but also to know that I could always turn to Jesus whenever I needed him the most. Above all else, I hope to faithfully serve our community and this place of worship because I could not be more grateful for this wonderful place, we all hold so dear.