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The Rev. John Taliaferro Thomas, Rector

jthomas(at)emmanuelgreenwood.org

The Rev. John Taliaferro Thomas joined Emmanuel as rector on August 1, 2019.

John, or J.T. (as he is known around the Episcopal Church), served as Interim Rector at Grace Church Kilmarnock before moving with his wife Janice to Nelson County.

Prior to attending Virginia Theological Seminary, John was a clerk for Bishop Peter Lee and later served as Assistant Rector at Christ Church, Pensacola and Associate Rector at St. Luke’s, Atlanta. There he sowed the seeds of his love for parish ministry.

John has a proven reputation for servant leadership, excellent preaching, non-judgmental and loving pastoral care, clear thinking, deep spirituality, kindness and humor. He has extensive experience working with young people and young families, having served as a school chaplain (St. Andrews School, Potomac, MD) and Head of School (St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, Sewanee TN).

John grew up in Athens, Georgia and remains a Bulldog fan. He met his wife Janice during Clinical Pastoral Education at Duke University Hospital where she was working. She is an RN with Piedmont Pediatrics in Crozet and Charlottesville. John and Janice have two children: Emily, a fourth grade teacher in Hendersonville, NC, and Sam, who works in collegiate marketing with the Parish Group in Asheville, NC. Rounding out the family are two Golden Retrievers, Gus and Calvin, who may greet you enthusiastically at the church on weekdays.

Karulynn Koelliker began worshipping with Emmanuel in 2019 during Advent and joined Emmanuel in the role of deacon in February of 2020. Rather than a paid staff member, it is a calling to take a particular role in building up the ministry of the laity in worship and service. Karulynn was ordained to be a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Georgia in 2012. She is an accomplished needle worker, a math and philosophy major, who is originally from Charlottesville. Two years ago, she moved back here, after many years in Georgia, to be closer to family. Karulynn brings deep Church experience having served in a variety of finance and outreach related positions. She has completed Education for Ministry, and she will be assisting in the mentorship program for diaconal formation in the Diocese of Virginia. She loves to talk about her dog, Penny, the flowers in her garden, and whatever handwork project is in her basket.

Staff

Charles Chabot has been a member of Emmanuel since 1988 and has served the church as part-time sexton since 1998. He came to the area in 1968 to work on a PhD in political philosophy at the University of Virginia and was received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Lee in l992. In 2002 he did an internship in Clinical Pastoral Education at UVA Medical Center and then served as adjunct chaplain at UVA hospital. From 2011 to 2013 he was Missioner to the Aging for Region XV of the Diocese of Virginia and also served on the Diocesan Committee on Aging for a number of years. Although not ordained, he attended the Deacon’s School of the diocese from 2014-2016. He holds a B.A. degree from Birmingham Southern College and an M.A. from Florida State University.

Larry M. Smith joined Emmanuel as Director of Music in 2006 after serving for six months while the previous director was on sabbatical. Mr. Smith began his church music career when he was 14 playing for St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church. By the time he was finishing high school, he was playing four services every Sunday and working with one choir. While in college, he sang in the Presbyterian Church choir and substituted as organist. Upon graduation, he returned to his home church until moving to Richmond to pursue a Master of Music degree. While in Richmond, He served St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Petersburg, Boulevard United Methodist Church, and finally St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church before moving to Afton where he currently resides. He is a member of the Nation Association for Music Education (NAfME, and VMEA), the Charlottesville-Albemarle Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (music fraternity) and Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary society. He is the full-time music specialist at Hugh K. Cassell Elementary School in Augusta County. He has been teaching music in Augusta since 2003. Previously, he taught in Henrico County from 1990 until moving to Augusta, with past experience in Maryland. Mr. Smith received the Bachelor of Music Education with a concentration in organ from Longwood College and the Master of Music in organ performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is married to Jennifer Anderson Smith and has two children, Chris and Millie.

Welcome to Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood, Virginia. Whether you are visiting from the community or from out-of-town, new to the Christian faith or seeking a church home, we invite you to worship with us. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, we hope that you will accompany us.

Greenwood, Virginia is convenient to exit 107 on Interstate 64 and easily accessible to the thriving communities of Crozet, Charlottesville, Waynesboro and Nellysford/Wintergreen Ski Resort.

Clergy

The Rev. John Taliaferro Thomas, Rector

jthomas(at)emmanuelgreenwood.org

Staff

Vestry

Trustees

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