PRIEST-IN-CHARGE:
REVEREND ALISHA KING- VOCATIONAL DEACON
Alisha’s journey to the diaconate began at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, Maryland; and it was from there that she was ordained on October 11, 2020.
After joining St. Alban’s in 2013, Alisha had the opportunity to serve as a Worship Leader, Eucharistic Minister, vestry member, junior warden, Eucharistic visitor, and alternate delegate to the 2017 Convention of the Diocese of Easton. She served as a chalice bearer during the Investiture of Bishop Santosh. She was a lay deputy to General Convention, a lay deputy to the Province III Synod, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Easton. In years past, she received the blessing of being able to spend a few Saturdays on Assateague Island with some of the kids from AGAPE.
Alisha was raised in the United Methodist Church, in South Carolina. In 2006, she joined the Episcopal Church and was confirmed by Bishop Jones at St. Paul’s on-the-Hill in Winchester, Virginia. During her years in the Diocese of Virginia, she served in leadership positions at both the parish and diocesan levels. She moved to the Eastern Shore from the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, 7 years ago.
Alisha believes we are all charged to keep the promise of the Baptismal Covenant “to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” As part of the Jesus Movement, she seeks out those folks who feel they have no
voice and make sure that they know that she and God love them. She says, “Most days that look a lot like – going to Assateague with some kids who’ve never been to the beach, volunteering at a food bank, listening to someone that wants to be heard, or picking up trash.
DONALD O’GRINCE- ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Retired after thirty two years of service in the Corporate World of Global Information Technology Management, Don and his wife Kathy immediately relocated to Ocean City to spend time with two of their five grandchildren. The other three reside in Jacksonville Florida and Kathy and Don spend a lot of time traveling to be with them as well. In August 2013 their oldest grandson left Ocean City for Virginia Tech (Honors Engineering) to pursue a degree in computer science engineering. To date Don feels that his administrative career at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea has been very rewarding as he attempts to seamlessly integrate new technologies and processes into the traditions of the church. “I am enjoying the magnificent Ocean City life style and the never ending challenges of working in a church!” The office is located in the undercroft area with the main (handy-cap) door entrance at ground level off 3rd street facing Baltimore Ave.
MRS. SHIRLEY TOMS HAILEY- ORGANIST/PIANIST AND CHOIR DIRECTOR
Shirley says that “God has been good allowing me to use the gift of music that he gave me for 67 years. My very first piano lesson was at age 10 and I have never tired of playing. This has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people from around the world while I have traveled very little. I have sat on the piano/organ bench playing in beautiful Ocean City for 41 years and have never desired to go anywhere else. I started playing in church at age 12 and have continued to this day. I consider myself blessed!”
Shirley plays the pipe organ and the piano and collaborates with the Rector to determine music selections each week. She directs the St. Paul’s by-the-Sea choir. New singers are always welcome!
JODY FARLEY- BOOKKEEPER & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Jody has always been very involved in the life of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea. She was the Parish Secretary in the early 1990’s. In 2016, she joined the staff again, creating bulletins and helping in the church office. She became the bookkeeper for the Red Doors Community Center in 2017 and later for the church as well. In 2020, Jody took on the newly created role of Communications Director to oversee the various aspects of digital communications between the church and the congregation, as well as the church and the community.
Jody has been a member of SPBTS since 1975, when she and her parents moved to the area from Northern Virginia. She has been a choir member, an acolyte, a Sunday school teacher, the director of Christian education, and a co-chair of the Parish Life Committee. She literally grew up in the church and considers it her home.
In the “outside world,” Jody has worked in many area churches, most of them being Episcopal. She has also held management positions in both the retail and restaurant industries. She loves traveling abroad (Italy is her favorite destination), photography, reading, and being creative.
ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER STAFF
The church relies on volunteers to maintain church operations, programs, and ministries. Paul Rogers is our Treasurer; Cheryl Nottingham is our Registrar; Amy Rothermel is Chair of the Memorial Fund; Nancy Knotts is Chair of the Shepherd’s Crook Food Pantry; and Karen Cramer is our Historian.
OFFICE LOCATION & TIMES OF OPERATION
The St. Paul’s by-the-Sea church office is located in the front, at ground level, off 3rd street facing Baltimore Avenue. There is a cement walkway to the left of the front steps of the church.
Office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-12:30pm.