Dear Epiphany,
Sometimes you just need someone in your midst who shows up at the right moment—someone who, as I’ve been preaching lately, notices the fig tree and knows how to tend it so it can bear fruit.
At Epiphany, we are blessed with several such people on staff, but today I want to recognize one in particular: Laura Sargent.
Laura first stepped up in 2014 to fill a gap as our Youth Director, and she flourished in that role for many years. After bringing that ministry to full bloom, she transitioned in 2018 to become our Engagement Minister—welcoming countless newcomers, perhaps many of you, into the life of this parish. She not only organized events and gatherings but also managed our database, ensuring we remained a connected and cohesive community.
This role required the ability to juggle many responsibilities—a hallmark of Laura’s gifts.
Then, as Epiphany’s music department began to shift, grow, and flourish, we saw the need for stronger administrative support to help this vibrant part of our common life thrive. Laura stepped in as a part-time Music Department Coordinator, and it quickly became clear that for a music program to truly soar, it needs more than talent—it needs structure, vision, and skilled management.
While our musicians bring extraordinary artistry, they needed a partner who could create the organizational space for that artistry to thrive. Laura did just that. Her leadership has freed Zach to focus more fully on outreach, expanding the music program, and enriching it with outside talent like Wyatt Smith and David Boeckh. Her presence has directly enabled Zach’s creativity, productivity, and increasing his time on the organ.
To formalize and strengthen this transformation, we’ve invited Laura to step into a full-time administrative, organizational, and technical leadership role in the music department. I am thrilled to announce her as Epiphany’s new Associate Music Director.
While that title conventionally implies an organist, Epiphany is not a community bound by convention at the expense of transformation. Laura is herself an accomplished choral vocalist, having sung in our choir since 2012, and her musical understanding helps her work seamlessly with Zach to organize and support the program. But, to use a Formula 1 analogy, we only need one driver. What we also need is a finely tuned pit crew to keep the car on the track. With our strong bench of supplemental organists and Laura’s steady leadership, that’s exactly what we now have. The results are already clear: Zach is unburdened, the team is more cohesive, and the program is flourishing.
Laura complements Zach beautifully and supports one of the finest Anglican choral programs in the country.
Please join me in congratulating her on this new role and in offering deep gratitude for all she has done, and continues to do, for the life of this parish.
Doyt+