Sunday Worship Times: 8am and 10am · Details

  556 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, IL 60022  ·   847-835-0458  ·       Prayer Request Give

St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church
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Clergy and Staff

The Rev. Adam Spencer
Rector
847-835-0458
|
The Rev. Larry Handwerk
Priest Associate
Walter Aldrich
Director of Music
|
Caryl Medsker
Director of Administration
847-835-0458
|
Abigail Pribble
Director of Children's Formation
|
Elizabeth Clemmitt
Associate for Spiritual Wellness
(312) 618-1238
|

The Rev. Adam Spencer

Rector
847-835-0458 |

Adam came to Saint Elisabeth’s after serving two years as Associate Priest for Pastoral Care at Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue in New York City.

He grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. He formally began discernment of a vocation to the priesthood while serving as the Youth and Adult Education Coordinator and Dean’s Assistant at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio from 2008-2012. He received his Master of Divinity degree at the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2016.

During his time at the Divinity School, Adam served as seminarian at the Church of the Atonement in Chicago and continued serving there after ordination as assisting clergy. He was ordained a transitional deacon in June of 2017 and a priest in June of 2018 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago. Before going to New York to serve at St. Thomas, Adam worked as Manager of Volunteer Services at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Adam is a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, the Cleveland Browns, Ignatian spirituality, and the poetry of Mary Oliver. He and his wife Rose share the rectory with their cat Fawkes.

The Rev. Larry Handwerk

Priest Associate

After over 50 years of ordained ministry, Larry has covered a lot of territory in church life. At St. Elisabeth’s he enjoys being among a group of people many of whom have that broad church experience as well. He also benefits from being with new church folk and seekers who keep him open to new perspectives. He has a passion for scripture, the interface between culture and religion, the 20’s and 30’s generation and pushing the boundaries of old and new. Outside of church, he enjoys reading, computers, travel, the arts, and his two grandchildren.

Walter Aldrich

Director of Music

Originally from Sacramento, California, Walter has worked as a professional musician in the Chicago area since Fall of 2018. As a pianist and singer, he performs regularly both locally and around the country; appearing both as a soloist and in several professional ensembles (including Chicago Opera Theatre, Stare at the Sun, Ensemble Affekten, Roots in the Sky, Grant Park Chorus, and the multi-Grammy winning ensemble The Crossing). Church music is an integral part of his life, and he has worked continuously as a professional church musician for over seventeen years.

Walter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from California State University in Sacramento, and a Master’s Degree in Music from Northwestern University. He appeared as an apprentice artist for two seasons with the Aspen Music Festival, and for one season with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood – where he starred in the American premiere of a new opera under the baton of Thomas Ades. He currently serves on the faculty of Lake Forest College where he teaches voice and assists with the college choral program.

Outside of music, Walter’s greatest passions are traveling (especially road-tripping), attending live performances (with a special love for Opera), exploring galleries and museums, and watching classic and international films.

Caryl Medsker

Director of Administration
847-835-0458 |

Caryl grew up in Arlington Heights, the same community in which she now resides with her husband, Alan, and their four cats. They have two grown sons, one engaged and one married, and the most adorable granddaughter in the world.

Caryl grew up in the Presbyterian Church and joined the Episcopal Church as a young adult. Caryl and Alan sing with Chicago Masters Singers, an auditioned community choir based in Palatine and performing in Glenview. They also enjoy welcoming young people from CBYX, a German young professionals exchange program, into their home for a year-long stay.

Abigail Pribble

Director of Children's Formation

Abigail is a senior music education major at Lake Forest College. Her favorite activities in school involve participating in choir, band, and playing her guitar at open mic events. Outside of school she is an avid reader, writer, and hiker. She greatly enjoys working with children and upon graduation will work in special education. Abigail very much looks forward to getting more involved in St. E’s community while working with the kids throughout the upcoming Sunday School sessions.

Elizabeth Clemmitt

Associate for Spiritual Wellness
(312) 618-1238 |

Elizabeth Clemmitt has been the Associate for Spiritual Wellness at St. Elisabeth’s since 2019. She offers opportunities for spiritual development to the St. Elisabeth’s community a few times a year through Sunday forums or special offerings during Advent and Lent. She also meets with individuals who are interested in pursuing personal and spiritual growth through the practice of spiritual direction (aka spiritual companionship). They meet in person at St. Elisabeth’s once a month for an agreed upon fee, and she is open to meeting over Zoom. Elizabeth is passionate about many spiritual practices including walking labyrinths, using Anglican prayer beads, journaling, yoga, centering prayer (a Christian method of meditation), and spiritual direction. With the encouragement of her spiritual mentors, she completed a two-year training course and received a certificate from the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin.

Elizabeth grew up in the Kansas City area, graduated from Colorado College with a Bachelor of Arts, and completed her Master’s in Music at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she met her husband, Richard. Elizabeth and Richard moved to Wilmette over thirty years ago when he was hired to be the full-time choirmaster and organist at Christ Church in Winnetka. They have raised two wonderful sons while Elizabeth has been working part-time as a music teacher at two area preschools and as the director of the youngest children’s choir at Christ Church. Elizabeth loves to share the joy of music with her young students and her enthusiasm for spiritual growth with her adult clients. If you are curious to try an initial meeting or are interested in starting a monthly practice, please contact her at (312) 618-1238 or through the St. Elisabeth’s office.

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Sunday Worship

8am Spoken Eucharist (Rite I)
10am Choral Eucharist (Rite II)

Glencoe Montessori School

556 Vernon Avenue
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
847-835-0458

Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
9am to 2:30pm

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Service Times

Sunday Worship

  • 8am | Spoken Eucharist (Rite I)
    • Spoken service with contemplative musical accompaniment.
  • 10am | Choral Eucharist (Rite II)
    • Sung service with congregational hymns and service music, featuring the St. Elisabeth’s Choir and instrumental accompaniment.

Worship Online

Location

St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church
556 Vernon Avenue
Glencoe, IL 60022

Contact Us
847-835-0458

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Welcome Inclusion Life Events Children The Episcopal Church

Welcome to St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church in Glencoe, Illinois!

St. Elisabeth’s is a faithful, vibrant, inclusive, and affirming congregation, and we are excited to welcome you to our community. We invite you to join us for worship (in-person or online), to get involved in our service and community ministries, and to contact our church office with any questions you may have.

Worship Services Upcoming Events About Us Contact Us

This faith community invites all persons to all levels of participation, leadership, and decision making within the church, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, physical or mental capacity, education, socioeconomic status, or marital status. We seek to establish meaningful connections with one another through worship, work, and play as we strive to understand God’s purpose for us in the church and in the world.

Accessibility All of our ground floor--including the Church, Chapel, Parish Office, Guild Room, Living Room, and washroom--is accessible.

Social Advocacy

Through sacraments and sacramental rites we participate in God’s graceful and tangible presence in our lives. Baptism, confirmation, weddings, and funerals are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. At St. Elisabeth’s, we are here to accompany you through these moments in your life.

Life Events Contact Us

Children of all ages are welcome at St. Elisabeth’s, and invited as full participants in our worship and programs. We are pleased to offer Children's Sunday School every Sunday after church, and a variety of programs and engagement opportunities for children and youth that join us – please visit our Children and Youth page to learn more!

Children & Youth

St. Elisabeth’s is a part of the Episcopal Church, a multinational denomination and member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The mission of the church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism, is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”

Locally, St. Elisabeth’s is a member church of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, which consists of 127 churches in the greater Chicago area. St. Elisabeth’s has also partnered with three neighboring congregations to form the Better Together Partnership, in order to share gifts and resources across a broader community.

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Make a Donation St Elisabeth's Legacy Society

Stewardship is giving of your time, talent, and treasure in gratitude for God’s work in your life. We invite you to make a donation to St. Elisabeth’s in order to support its ministries in the Glencoe community, or to become partners in the ministry in St. Elisabeth’s by making a pledge. If you are already a pledging member, you may also make a payment on your pledge.

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The St. Elisabeth’s Legacy Society serves to maintain and promote the church’s long-term trust fund (the Baehr Legacy Fund), which exists to support parish life, church operations, and the future of our church. We hope you will consider becoming a member of the Legacy Society by making a pledge to the Legacy Fund.

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