our clergy and staff
Grace Church Searching for a New Rector
With the assistance of the Diocese of Chicago, our parish will search together for a new Rector. We invite you to check back here for regular updates and other important information.
The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate
Linda retired to Galena in 2008 having served as Rector of Church of Our Saviour in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago for 11 years. She and her husband live in the Territory. Prior to that she had been called to various parishes in the Diocese of Chicago as Interim Rector and was active in Diocesan life on the Standing Committee and as chair of several diocesan committees. Like many women in the 20th century, her call to ordained ministry was a second career; the first, was exercised in administration in universities and teaching hospitals. Her first five years as a priest were spent in hospital chaplaincy in Evanston. In Galena she spent one year as Interim Rector at Grace prior to Gloria Hopewell’s arrival.
She has served briefly in missionary settings in Africa, Haiti and Myanmar. She now assists at Grace, primarily in liturgy and pastoral care. She enjoys the vibrant community life at Grace in which growth in faith is supported and all are encouraged to carry their faith from pew to community both locally and internationally.
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Diane and her husband Richard were drawn to Grace after experiencing a very warm welcome during their first visit, and upon learning that this parish supported ministry internationally, nationally, as well as locally. Shortly after retirement, Diane began experiencing a call to the ministry of a Vocational Deacon. After a period of discernment, education, and field placement, she became ordained in August 2020 and has been serving at Grace and in the community since then. While baptized as an infant, she finds the promises made when we renew our baptismal covenant several times a year to be very important and meaningful, especially the responses to the questions, “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” and “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?"
Formal classes in her study to become a deacon were from Bexley Seabury and Church Divinity School
of the Pacific. Diane completed a PhD in clinical psychology and was in practice for over 25 years prior to retirement. She and Richard love spending time with their son Brian, his wife Michelle, and grandsons Dylan and Brody. They enjoy travel that allows them to learn and to meet people from other places. Diane likes to quilt and knit, and often uses these as contemplative practices.
Kris Egan, Parish Administrator
Kris lives in Dubuque
Robin French, Music Director
Robin accompanies the choir and plays the organ during our Sunday Eucharist.. She moved to Galena in mid September, 2014 from Salida, Colorado where, among many musical activities she served as music director at the Presbyterian Church. Prior to that, she served an Episcopal Church in Salida. Robin grew up the 5th of 8 children in a musical family, singing in church choirs and harmonizing in the car as a way of life. Since her mother was the director of all the choirs, Robin has been accompanying since junior high and to this day finds making music collaboratively to be the most fun and the most satisfying mode of expression. She has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho. She has taught music in public schools in Colorado and loves teaching piano lessons, especially adult beginners.
Nancy Cook, Associate Choir Director
Nancy joined the Galena church in 1988 and began playing the Erben organ on Mothers' Day the same year. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a double music major (vocal and instrumental), taught General Music grades 1-8 at Dodgeville, WI for five years, retiring when she started her family and began giving piano lessons. After moving to Cuba City, Wisconsin, she continued giving piano lessons and got a job teaching music at Holy Ghost School in Dickeyville, Wisconsin for fifteen years as well as teaching for eight years at St. Rose School In Cuba City. Nancy joined the Grace Choir when Pat formed it, singing in the alto section, which she continues to do in addition to her responsibilites as an associate director. During Sunday services, she plays the prelude, Communion and postlude in addition to directing the choir when Robin French is absent.
Teresa Burke, Sunday School Teacher
Teresa, who grew up in Galena and attended local schools, teaches children in the Godly Play education program on Sunday mornings before Eucharist. She is also an adult leader for the Grace Youth Group. During the week, she works at Security First Title Company in Galena. She has attended Cursillo and has received training in the "Godly Play" curriculum and the "Keeping God's People Safe" program through the Diocese of Chicago and is an EfM graduate.