Epiphany's Staff
The Rev. Ron Feltman, Senior Pastor
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Pastor Ron Feltman became senior pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in August 2012 after having served as part-time associate pastor since 2006. Pastor Feltman is head of staff and has primary responsibility for worship and music, pastoral care, stewardship, First Bible/First Communion classes, and congregational leadership.
Pastor Feltman was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. He is an avid Gamecock, having graduated from the University of South Carolina. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
Between 1986 and 2003, Pastor Feltman served congregations in Elloree, Columbia, West Columbia, and Irmo, all in South Carolina. In 2003, after 17 years of parish ministry in South Carolina, Pastor Feltman answered the call to the full-time ministry of stewardship by becoming a financial associate for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He also worked as a recruiter, trainer, and compliance officer for Thrivent Financial. He was pleased to go back to his first vocational love—parish ministry—full time in 2012.
His particular passion in ministry is leading worship, preaching, and teaching. He also loves helping others become more generous disciples and discovering the ways in which faith can be a part of their everyday life. What he loves most about Epiphany is that it is a congregation with a big mission but the heart and personality of a small church.
His greatest joys in life are his wife, Heather, his son and daughter-in-law, Seth (a mutual fund manager) and Anna (a hospice nurse) Lancaster, his beautiful grandchildren, Grant and Zoey, and his beagle, Geoffrey. Heather is an ELCA diaconal minister who serves as the Director of Church Operations at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, IL. In his free time, Pastor Feltman enjoys napping with Geoffrey, building things with Grant, singing with Zoey, photography, playing golf, and playing the tenor guitar.
Pastor Feltman was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. He is an avid Gamecock, having graduated from the University of South Carolina. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
Between 1986 and 2003, Pastor Feltman served congregations in Elloree, Columbia, West Columbia, and Irmo, all in South Carolina. In 2003, after 17 years of parish ministry in South Carolina, Pastor Feltman answered the call to the full-time ministry of stewardship by becoming a financial associate for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. He also worked as a recruiter, trainer, and compliance officer for Thrivent Financial. He was pleased to go back to his first vocational love—parish ministry—full time in 2012.
His particular passion in ministry is leading worship, preaching, and teaching. He also loves helping others become more generous disciples and discovering the ways in which faith can be a part of their everyday life. What he loves most about Epiphany is that it is a congregation with a big mission but the heart and personality of a small church.
His greatest joys in life are his wife, Heather, his son and daughter-in-law, Seth (a mutual fund manager) and Anna (a hospice nurse) Lancaster, his beautiful grandchildren, Grant and Zoey, and his beagle, Geoffrey. Heather is an ELCA diaconal minister who serves as the Director of Church Operations at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, IL. In his free time, Pastor Feltman enjoys napping with Geoffrey, building things with Grant, singing with Zoey, photography, playing golf, and playing the tenor guitar.
Pastor Julie Grafe
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Pastor Julie Grafe began her work at Epiphany in February, 2024. Previously she served as Pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Aurora, IL from 2021- 2023 and has
provided pastoral supply and support to a variety of churches in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. In addition to her pastoral work, Pastor Julie currently serves on the Board of Directors for RefugeeOne, Chicago’s largest refugee resettlement agency.
Pastor Julie, graduated from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2020. As
registered nurse, Julie earned a B.S.N. from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 1990. Throughout her nursing career she specialized in home health care working both directly with patients as well as in several management roles. In 2013, she earned her certificate in Faith Community Nursing from Western Kentucky University.
Pastor Julie has a passion for worship, faith formation and a deep caring for all of God’s beloved children. She enjoys hearing the stories of others who are on their own faith journey and finds great joy in being a church community together where we grow, serve, support and love one another just as the people we are. Pastor Julie has a home in Park Ridge and lives with her husband, Luther and their wonder dog, Milo. While the nest is now empty she remains the proud mother of two Augustana College graduates, Abby and Ben
provided pastoral supply and support to a variety of churches in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. In addition to her pastoral work, Pastor Julie currently serves on the Board of Directors for RefugeeOne, Chicago’s largest refugee resettlement agency.
Pastor Julie, graduated from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2020. As
registered nurse, Julie earned a B.S.N. from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 1990. Throughout her nursing career she specialized in home health care working both directly with patients as well as in several management roles. In 2013, she earned her certificate in Faith Community Nursing from Western Kentucky University.
Pastor Julie has a passion for worship, faith formation and a deep caring for all of God’s beloved children. She enjoys hearing the stories of others who are on their own faith journey and finds great joy in being a church community together where we grow, serve, support and love one another just as the people we are. Pastor Julie has a home in Park Ridge and lives with her husband, Luther and their wonder dog, Milo. While the nest is now empty she remains the proud mother of two Augustana College graduates, Abby and Ben
Joan Halvey, Office Administrator
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Joan joined the Epiphany staff full-time in October 2019. She resides in North Riverside with her husband and best friend, Paul. They have two young adult daughters, Bridget and Kellie. To keep the house from being too quiet, they also have a dog, Juliet.
Prior to joining the Epiphany staff, Joan had a long career as a preschool teacher/director designee. Joan was a stay at home mom following a career in marketing/marketing research. In her spare time, Joan can be found listening to K-love music or making music with Paul and their friends.
Joan feels blessed to be part of the Epiphany family!
Prior to joining the Epiphany staff, Joan had a long career as a preschool teacher/director designee. Joan was a stay at home mom following a career in marketing/marketing research. In her spare time, Joan can be found listening to K-love music or making music with Paul and their friends.
Joan feels blessed to be part of the Epiphany family!
Clay Corso, Director of Music and Youth Director
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Clay Corso has played piano since the age of six, and has a diverse musical background. He is a 2019 graduate of the Elmhurst University music program. During his time as a student, Clay studied classical and jazz piano while performing in many ensembles. He has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Jazz á Vienne as a member of the Elmhurst University Jazz Band. He was a winner of Elmhurst University’s Concerto Competition in 2017, and was a winner of the NAfME Honors Recital in 2016. As a professional musician, Clay has performed at the Jazz Showcase, Winter’s Jazz Club, Fulton Street Collective, and more. He has also published educational articles for DownBeat Magazine and Chicago Jazz Magazine. Currently, Clay maintains a teaching studio of students of all interests and ability levels. In his free time, Clay enjoys tennis, going to concerts, and spending time with his family.
Clay also serves the leader of Ephiphany's youth group and leads our teens in their worship journey including LYO and summer mission programs for teens.
Clay also serves the leader of Ephiphany's youth group and leads our teens in their worship journey including LYO and summer mission programs for teens.
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Kerrie Samuelian, Director of Children’s Ministry
[email protected] Kerrie long served a valued volunteer for Epiphany families and now works in a part-time staff role leading Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and other family-related ministries. As a member of the church staff, she works with the pastors and other staff to provide leadership, vision, and planning for our various children’s ministries Kerrie grew up in Elmhurst and is a graduate of York High School and Elmhurst University. Kerrie earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Lewis University. Her full-time job is as Customer Success Manager at Aidin, a technology company that serves the medical community. |
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Paul Halvey, Custodian
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Paul Halvey serves Epiphany as custodian working weekdays. Previously he assisted with building maintenance on Saturdays. Paul is the husband of our Office Administrator, Joan Halvey. He recently retired from a position at a bank online support center and has also worked in programming and editorial roles.
Paul says, “It is a blessing to be here at Epiphany and a joy to help maintain the beautiful renovation of the building.”
[email protected]
Paul Halvey serves Epiphany as custodian working weekdays. Previously he assisted with building maintenance on Saturdays. Paul is the husband of our Office Administrator, Joan Halvey. He recently retired from a position at a bank online support center and has also worked in programming and editorial roles.
Paul says, “It is a blessing to be here at Epiphany and a joy to help maintain the beautiful renovation of the building.”
Geoffrey, Church Dog
Geoffrey Feltman, a miniature beagle, was born in Earlville, Illinois, in March 2017. He lives next door to the church with his mommy and daddy, Pastor Ron Feltman and Deacon Heather Feltman.
While Geoffrey doesn’t have regular office hours, he can usually be found in the church office when Pastor Ron is there. He especially enjoys coming to church on Sundays, where he helps Pastor Ron unlock the church, cleans up cookie crumbs left on the floor, and greets worshippers as they arrive. He especially enjoys playing with the children, giving kisses to anyone who gets close enough to get one, and begging for belly rubs.
While he loves everyone, he is particularly fond of Joan Halvey, our office administrator. We suspect that is because she gives him treats when he arrives every morning. Joan is closely followed by Paul Halvey, who gives the best belly rubs, and Clay Corso lets him sniff around in his office. Geoffrey would like to sing in the choir, but in his audition with Clay, he could only manage one note. He also lacks thumbs to hold his music. Clay does let him hang with the praise band during rehearsals, because, he says, every band needs a hound dog.
While Geoffrey doesn’t have regular office hours, he can usually be found in the church office when Pastor Ron is there. He especially enjoys coming to church on Sundays, where he helps Pastor Ron unlock the church, cleans up cookie crumbs left on the floor, and greets worshippers as they arrive. He especially enjoys playing with the children, giving kisses to anyone who gets close enough to get one, and begging for belly rubs.
While he loves everyone, he is particularly fond of Joan Halvey, our office administrator. We suspect that is because she gives him treats when he arrives every morning. Joan is closely followed by Paul Halvey, who gives the best belly rubs, and Clay Corso lets him sniff around in his office. Geoffrey would like to sing in the choir, but in his audition with Clay, he could only manage one note. He also lacks thumbs to hold his music. Clay does let him hang with the praise band during rehearsals, because, he says, every band needs a hound dog.
