Elliott May joined the St. Paul’s community in 2022. Prior to coming to St. Paul’s, Elliott served as Youth Ministry Director at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Elliott has theological degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div) and Boston University (S.T.M.), as well as the Certificate in Anglican Studies from Boston University’s School of Theology. He writes regularly for Grow Christians. Elliott has trained as a catechist at Bexley-Seabury Seminary is currently a postulant for priesthood in the Episcopal Church.

Elliott is an AmeriCorps alum who worked in public education before discerning a call to seminary, where he found the Episcopal Church. He’s always on the lookout for God and good conversation.

Elliott and his wife Molly have two young children, Lucy and Thomas. In his free time, Elliott loves reading and writing, watching sports, and trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Elliott can be reached by calling the parish office at 617-566-4953.

Andrew Clarkson has been the director of music and organist at St. Paul's since 2006. He began his piano studies when he was five years old with, among others, Anita Frank (classical), John Mehegan (jazz), George Shearing (jazz), Irving Shire (jazz), Carlo Pinto (classical), Patricia Zander (classical), Kirk Nurock (jazz), and Liz Gorrill (jazz). He has studied saxophone with Lennie Popkin, singing with Craig Wich, conducting with Akiko Fujimoto, and organ with Brian Jones. Andy began composing in 1993. His compositions to date are for piano, accompanied solo voice, and choir (both a cappella and accompanied), with a particular focus on sacred choral music.

In addition to his work at St. Paul's, Andy is the director of the AltarNatives, a chamber group of approximately 24 singers. The AltarNatives have produced two albums: A Celebration of Hymns: Hymns of Faith, Mystery, Healing, and Love and A Celebration of Hymns: Hymns of Praise, Reflection, Prayer, and Assurance. Their performances have included concerts at Trinity Church in Boston, St. Paul's in Brookline, and St. James in Woodstock, VT. Andy has also conducted the Trinity Choir of Boston, assisted in leading the Trinity Youth Choir, and directed the Advent Choir of Johnsburg, NY.

Andy's compositions are published by both Paraclete Press and Good Faith Press. His most recent recording is found on “I Wonder As I Wander,” by the Copley Singers on the Gothic label. In September 2011, following the tenth-anniversary choral commemoration of September 11 held at Trinity Wall Street, James Oestreich of the New York Times singled out Andy's arrangement of “We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder” as one of the highlights of the day, describing it as “a powerful setting.” More recently, John Robinson of the Boston Musical Intelligencer described Andy’s arrangement of “Away in a Manger” as “exquisite.”

When he is not involved with music, Andy teaches, consults, and writes in the field of organizational behavior. He can be reached at 617-566-4953.

Dale Pinkham Cavanaugh | Parish Administrator

Dale has been an active member of the Episcopal Church for over 30 years and joined the staff of St. Paul’s in 2023. She is a licensed CPA who serves part-time as a Congregational Consultant and Parish Auditor for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Southern New England Conference United Church of Christ. She served for many years in a variety of roles as a CFO, Controller, and Financial Consultant in U.S. and international non-profit, information technology, healthcare, and other service-based companies and organizations. Dale graduated from Boston University School of Theology in 2022 earning a Master of Divinity degree with certificates in Anglican Studies and Spirituality. She has also trained in clinical pastoral education at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA and the Maine Medical Center.

You may contact Dale by calling the parish office at 617-566-4953 or emailing her at office@stpaulsbrookline.org. Dale’s office hours are Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The vestry is the elected leadership group of the parish. Vestry members typically serve staggered three year terms. The vestry works with the rector (senior pastor) to discern and articulate the church’s mission, manage the church’s resources, and support the church’s program offerings. New members are elected at the church’s annual meeting each winter.

If you are a member of our community and are interested in serving on the vestry, get in touch with our office or a member of our clergy.

Members at Large

Jay Ballard

Jim Batchelor

Will Biedron

Molly Lanzarotta

Emily Linthicum

Robert Mallery

Linda Sanches

Rebecca Schultzberg

Pat Zifcak | Deacon

The Ven. Pat Zifcak joined the staff of St. Paul’s in September 2017 as deacon of the congregation.  As a deacon, her focus in ministry is the connection of church and world as the gifts of one and the needs of the other become known through intentional relationships. 

Pat has been a teacher all her life and spent thirty-two years teaching physical education at The Park School in Brookline.  In those years, she developed a program of “growth education,” counseled children and their parents as they prepared to leave Park for secondary school, coached a variety of sports, and directed the Summer at Park swim programs.  Teaching with her daughter, Dana, for many years in the same department was a unique and wonderful experience.

Pat has an M.Ed. in Health Education and an M.Div. from Andover Newton.  She is Archdeacon for Formation in our Diocese and coordinates the program of formation for deacons.  She has been a member of the Commission on Ministry since 2003 and serves as an administrative assistant to the Canon for Ordained Vocations.

Pat began bowling as a child and still competes as a league bowler.  Golfing and gardening are her other favorite pastimes.  She canes chairs and loves to read and do crossword puzzles.  She and her partner, Bruce, live in Pawtucket, R.I. Pat can be reached by calling the parish office at 617-566-4953.

Andrew Clarkson | Director of Music

Elliott May | Youth and Young Adults Ministry Director

Melisa Hall | Bookkeeper

Melisa serves on staff at her local church as the Office Manager/Bookkeeper and as the Women’s Ministry Director. She has experience with QuickBooks including payroll, fund accounting, recording donations, accounts payable, credit card/bank reconciliation, and generating financial reports. Her financial background includes a 15 year banking career, high school and college accounting courses, and self-paced QuickBooks and bookkeeping training courses.

Melisa is passionate about living out the purpose of the women’s ministry in which she serves, “to accept and love women of all ages; to encourage and equip them to grow in Christ, to serve in their families, church and community.” She leads Bible studies and oversees events for women in her church and community.

Melisa and her husband Jason live in Oxford, Michigan and have two children, Ryan and Courtney. Melisa enjoys vacations with her family, summer months, jigsaw puzzles and reading. You may contact Melisa at 617-566-4953.

Senior Warden

Beverly Estes-Smargiassi

Junior Warden

John Ferguson

Treasurer

Brett Foster

Clerk

Jennifer Schamel

Vestry