St. Paul's Episcopal Church

We, the Search Committee, are very excited to be an integral part of the process at St. Paul's in finding a new Rector.

We are a loving, caring, generous church family who truly care for one another and those in our community. We are friendly and welcoming to newcomers from all walks of life. We come from all backgrounds and see this as a strength. We are a spiritual, prayerful family who seek God’s guidance as we work together to fulfill God’s calling and mission for us. Along with our surrounding community, the Church of St. Paul is poised for growth and progress.

We are enthusiastic about expanding our relationship with Northern Illinois University and the greater DeKalb area. Myriad possibilities exist to build on our outreach efforts to students and local residents, thereby enriching our church family.

David Anderson, Chair of the Search Committee has been at St. Paul's since 1985 and was raised a Lutheran. He serves St. Paul's as lector, usher, coffee hour host, has been on the Vestry and was also Senior Warden. He is the Live Lobster Guy at the annual Lobster Boil. David retired in 2006 from a long career as a high school educator, AP and US history teacher, and department chair. He was the head coach of two state championship teams in basketball and track. He is currently University Supervisor of student teachers for the NIU History Department. He is married to Ellen, Senior Warden. Email: searchchr@stpaulsdekalb.org

Terry Dickow, is a rebounder to St. Paul. He and wife Jackie were married in the church in 1969. After graduating from NIU, they moved and in the mid 1990s returned to St. Paul's as parishioners. Both Terry and Jackie have served on the vestry, both as senior wardens. Terry also currently serves as a sub deacon. Terry retired from teaching in 2008. He enjoys traveling, reading, riding his bike and performing in community-theater. He and Jackie have two children, one of whom lives in Rochelle and the other in Switzerland. No grandchildren, but there are four "grand-dogs."

Kristin Duffy is a Research Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Projects at Northern Illinois University. Kristin holds a B. A. in History from Hope College and the M. A. in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program (SUNY Oneonta). She is also a part-time registrar at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum. Kristin studied oboe and played in music ensembles throughout her college years and enjoys playing her oboe for services at St. Paul's. Kristin is married to Michael and they are the proud parents of Nora.

Freyja Rasmussen-Johns is a lifelong DeKalb resident--she lives in the house she grew up in! She and her husband, Rick, have four adult children and two cats between them. She joined the St. Paul's choir in 2000, at the behest of the then-choir director, her mother Virginia Rasmussen, and found her church home at St. Paul's. Freyja is also a member of the DeKalb Festival Chorus and she works in the NIU Biology Department.

Mary Lincoln discovered the warmth and friendliness of St. Paul's in 1985, when she and her husband, Bruce, joined the church. Since then, she has served on the vestry and participated in many parish events. Last year, she retired from Northern Illinois University, where she had worked for over 30 years first as editor, then as director of the University Press. In addition to spending time with her grandchildren, she enjoys hiking and gardening.

Peggy Newby joined St. Paul's in 2004, and is currently serving on the Vestry as well as the Search Committee. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother, and is a registered nurse at the DeKalb County Health Department. She has lived in DeKalb County all but two years of her life, and is lucky to have nearly all of her family nearby. Peggy enjoys her work on the Altar Guild, and also serves as a lector and usher. She has experience on a search committee, having served in that capacity in her previous church.