Our Church Staff:
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth A. Foss - Pastor
Elizabeth grew up in a Navy family and has an interesting collection
of books from childhood—how many little girls had a nuclear
submarine section in their childhood libraries? Visits to the U.S. Naval
Academy, dinners aboard various submarines, and getting to ride from
Newport, Rhode Island to New London, Connecticut aboard the USS
Stonewall Jackson (and submerging for a half hour) are fond memories
from a Navy childhood. Though moves were frequent, participation in
church life was a constant and provided a meaningful foundation of
faith and community life.
At the University of Virginia, where she was an economics major,
Elizabeth came to discern her call to ministry in part through her
participation in the Wesley Foundation campus ministry. Following
graduation, she moved to Atlanta, where she worked in the medical records
department at Egleston Children’s Hospital to put herself through
seminary at Candler School of Theology (at Emory University). Returning
to Virginia for ordination in 1989, Elizabeth has served rural,
small town, suburban, and urban churches on the Eastern Shore, Alexandria,
and Charlottesville Districts. She received a D. Min. from
Wesley Theological Seminary in 1997.
Elizabeth is energized by hearing the faith stories of others,
working with children, visioning, and preaching and considers the vocation
of ministry to be a wonderful and rich privilege and joy.
Pastoral Assistant – Kevin Connelly
Kevin Connelly is a graduate of Tufts University and William and Mary Law School. He is graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary and is working toward ordination in the United Methodist Church. Kevin is married with two girls.
Business Manager – Gerry Stock
Gerry Stock holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Mathematics. He is a graduate of North Dakota State University with additional graduate course work at several other universities. Gerry is retired from TRW where he was involved in computer software development, program planning and management, business management, and career development. He is a member of the National Association of Church Business Administrators.
Music Director – Jim Gibbs
A graduate of the University of North Carolina with a Masters in Music, specializing in voice from the University of Maryland at College Park, Jim was a member of the US Army Chorus for 28 years. He is also in his 30th year as a teacher of voice at NOVA Annandale. Jim directs the Sanctuary Choir and others as needed. In consultation with the pastor, he coordinates the music program for the congregation.
Organist – Gwen Frazier
Gwen Frazier has been active as a Church musician/director in the Metro area and Northern VA & DC American Guild of Organist chapters since the late 1980’s, having moved to Manassas from Lexington, KY. She holds Bachelor/Master’s degrees in Organ Performance from the University of Kentucky (Lexington) with some postgraduate work and has earned the Service Playing and Colleague Certificates in Performance from the AGO. She has both served a wide range of denominations/liturgies, both having served Virginia/DC as a free lance musician and a permanent staff member. She has most recently served as Music Director/Organist of St. Luke’s UMC in Washington, DC and completed Interim assignments as Interim Organist at Pohick Episcopal Church, Andrew Chapel UMC, and Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church. In the daytime she is a Sr. Administrative Assistant with Computer Science Corporation in Chantilly, VA.
