Meet our Staff

Search for a Rector Underway

*LINK TO SEARCH COMING SOON*

Meghan Murphy-Gill, Interim Rector

The Rev. Meghan Murphy-Gill is passionate about interim ministry and believes a time of transition can be extraordinarily fruitful for a congregation. She most recently served at St. John's in Chicago as interim rector for nearly two years. Mtr. Meghan studied systematic theology and church history at Catholic Theological Union as a Bernardin Scholar and was an editor for U.S. Catholic magazine for 10 years, eventually serving as managing editor before stepping down to focus on formation for priesthood. She is also an author and published her first book,The Sacred Life of Bread, in 2023. In her free time, you can find her throwing pottery, writing, reading, watching Jeopardy, or taking long walks by Lake Michigan.

Danielle Jacobs, Parish Secretary

Danielle Jacobs grew up in this church and even celebrated her wedding here, making it a place filled with meaning for her family. As Secretary/Administrator, she draws on her experience in sales, marketing, event planning, and non‑profit management. Danielle and her husband live in Pearl City with their youngest son. She is also Mom to two adult children and “MeeMaw” to two grandchildren. She is currently working toward finishing her marketing degree.

Laura Watson began attending Grace Church Freeport when she and her husband, Jon, returned to the area in 1998. Laura has been one of Grace’s organists since 2008. She loves liturgy, and contributing to worship through music.

Laura is also a member of the vestry. She began serving her 3 year term in 2026.

Laura Watson, Organist

Steve McMillen,

Music Director

Steve McMillen has been our Director of Music and co-organist since 2011. He oversees the music program, directs the adult choir, selects hymns and liturgical music, and provides music in many forms.

A native of Freeport, Steve has also served churches in Indiana and Tennessee. He brings experience in multiple Protestant denominations, especially in hymnody and its application to worship. At present he is also co-director of the Freeport Choral Society, a beloved community chorus.

Meet the Vestry

The Vestry are the legal representatives of Grace Church, in accordance with Canons of the Episcopal Church. Members are elected from the parish at the annual meeting. The Vestry appoints a Parish Treasurer and Vestry Clerk. Vestry duties include:

Define and articulate the mission of the congregation.
Support the church’s mission by word and deed.
Select a Rector.
Ensure effective organization, planning and management of resources and finances.

Vestry standing committees are Worship & Music, Building & Grounds, Finance, Endowment/Trustees and Memorial/Columbarium.

Shannon Lizer

Martha Furst

Laura Watson

Becca Francis

Allison Gush

Leadership Team

Wardens are the senior lay leaders of an Episcopal parish, elected to serve as part of the church’s governing body. Wardens work closely with the Rector and Vestry to ensure the parish’s spiritual, administrative, and operational health. Their authority comes from Episcopal canon law and parish bylaws, and they serve as trusted stewards of the church’s mission, property, and people.

Martha Furst, Senior Warden

Martha Furst has attended Grace regularly since 1995. She currently serves as Senior Warden for the second time. Over her years at Grace, she has participated in Green Grace, Journey to Adulthood, EFM, Cursillo, and Rector and Bishop Search committees. She retired from Furst-McNess company in 2021. She also currently serves as president of the Freeport School District Board of Education.

Shannon Lizer, Junior Warden

Shannon Lizer is a lifelong Episcopalian and began attending Grace Church in 1979. She and her husband Gregg were married at Grace Church in 1983. She is a nurse practitioner and has a PhD in Nursing. She has three children, two of whom were baptized at Grace Church, and eight grandchildren.

Sandy Terpening, Interim Treasurer

Sandy and her husband, Chuck, are long time members of Grace. She spent her career in the financial industry. She has two children and lives in Freeport.

Building and Grounds Committee

Chuck Breo, Gregg Lizer, Mark Moderow, Cathy Perkins, Chuck Terpening, Jon Watson

Endowment Committee

Don Doak, John Gush, Bernard Lischwe, Bruce Helm, Sandy Terpening

Finance Committee

Chuck Breo, Duane Price, Connie Olson, Sandy Terpening

Memorial/Columbarium Committee

Connie Burden, Peggy Isaac, Connie Olson, Chuck Terpening

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse