Priest-in-charge Kit Wang
St. John the Baptist welcomed the Rev. Kit Wang as our Priest-in-Charge
on March 2, 2023.
Parson Kit wrote to introduce himself to us…
I’m so delighted to be with you! I look forward to getting to know each of you by name and face, through Sunday mornings, participating in the regular life of St. John the Baptist, and through smaller gatherings either in person or via Zoom. Look for more info on those opportunities in the weeks to come.
Please call me “Parson Kit,” if you feel the need for a title. I’ll likely answer to whatever you call me, but I avoid “Father.”
It’s lovely to be joining you during Lent, and with time to prepare for Holy Week and Easter. I’m a bit of a liturgy geek, and have a great love for facilitating meaningful worship, especially during this most holy of seasons. I’ve spent much of my life teaching, and have been trained in Godly Play, the Montessori-based Episcopal formation program. Godly Play shows up regularly in my preaching and teaching.
When I was ordained in 2008, I served at St. Stephen the Martyr in Waterboro ME , where I heard great stories about Fr. “Mac” MacDougall, preceding his tenure here. I most recently served the Seacoast Shared Ministry in Portsmouth and Hampton.
I value the work of community ecumenical and interfaith groups, as well as diocesan, provincial, and Episcopal Church-wide organizations, boards or committees. I’m currently a member of the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the (next) Presiding Bishop, as well as on the steering committee of TransEpiscopal.
In my life, work, and wider ministry, I am passionate about gender justice and expansive inclusion, particularly as demonstrated in worship, and for children, youth and LGBTQ+ folks in our congregations.
In addition to things church, I spend time walking or snowshoeing, often with my rambunctious dog, Sam; knitting lace shawls, baby blankets and hats; reading murder mysteries, practicing yoga, and enjoying the community of craft beer afficionados.
music MINISTERS
Music has always been an important part of worship at St. John the Baptist. We have a wonderful pipe organ and piano, both of which are used regularly. We also use percussion instruments played by our talented and enthusiastic volunteers regularly in the summertime and for special occasions during rest of the year. Variety in the styles of hymns and other music helps to make worship an uplifting and meaningful experience.
JUDY GRAY, ORGANIST AND LINDA LOUCONY, PIANIST
For almost 20 years, St John’s has been blessed by the dedication and musical talents of Judy Gray and Linda Loucony. Linda and Judy moved to NH from their life long home in CT in the summer of 2001. “After just one Sunday at St. John’s in 2003, we knew were home,” shared Judy, “after 3 months of sitting in the back pew, we moved to the organ and piano benches in the front of the church and we have been there ever since.”
Judy’s love of church music began in the church of her childhood, a Congregational and UCC church in New Haven with a magnificent pipe organ played by a succession of organists from the Yale School of Music. She masterfully completed a self-designed major at Connecticut College, “Music and Worship in the Christian Church” in 1982 and has served as organist and choir director in UCC, American Baptist and Episcopal churches.
After serving as St John’s Music Director since 2003, Judy stepped down in late 2021 for a much deserved hiatus. We are delighted she and Linda have returned to our Music Team recently on a part-time basis more fitting for them.
“Our life is filled with the goodness of family and friends including a wonderful daughter and son-in-law, their two beautiful children, and an amazing Irish Wolfhound”, offered Linda. After a recent move to the beautiful Maine coast they continue to travel to St. John’s as they love “to offer their music ministry for worship” and find “fulfillment in the loving fellowship of St. John’s.”
Carol Branca, Pianist
The talented Carol Branca joined St. John’s Music Ministers in 2022. Carol began playing the piano at around five years old and she’s ‘dabbled’ in her loves of music and art ever since. She joined St. John’s when she and her late husband Joe moved up to Middleton, NH in 2001. Before moving to this area, the Brancas lived in Hudson, NH for a few years, but long-term called West Newbury, MA ‘home,’ as it is where they raised their family of three children and she was an Assistant Music Director at her former church. She’s occasionally filled in at other churches as well. Prior to retirement, Carol also loved her nearly 50 year career as an Occupational Therapist. While she misses Joe who passed away in 2021, Carol enjoys her close knit neighborhood and her family (including 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandkids and more on the way). St. John’s is grateful when Carol fills in at the keyboard with her jazzy style and warm smile.