John Michael (Michael) Jupin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1942, the only child of John and Maxine (Kelly) Jupin. He attended public schools and became a member of the Episcopal Church in 1952 through a paid boy’s choir at Trinity Church. A graduate of Brown University, Michael received the BD from the Episcopal Theological School where he studied with the Rev. Dr. Joseph Fletcher, author of Situation Ethics.

Ordained deacon in 1967 and priest in 1968 he served as assistant at the Church of the Epiphany, Winchester, MA, St. Christopher’s Church, Gladwyne, PA, and Grace Church. Providence, RI. From 1974-84 Michael was Canon of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, OH. While at the Cathedral he began leading people into the practice of Contemplative Prayer and undertook the work for the degree of Master of Sacred Theology (STM) in Spiritual Direction at the General Theological Seminary, granted in 1986. Also while at the Cathedral he began a Sunday lunch program for the homeless that has grown and continues today.

From 1984-90 Michael was rector of Christ Church, Corning, NY, overseeing the planning for a renewal of the church’s buildings including a revamping of the worship space. From 1990-98 he was rector of St. Mark’s Church, Upper Arlington, OH, taking “early retirement” in 1998. Until June 2002, he was spiritual director to seven to ten persons and a supervisor in the Wellstreams program of the Spirituality Network, Columbus, Ohio, a formation program for persons called to a ministry of spiritual direction. In addition, from January 1999 through April 2003, he served as part time vicar of two missions in Southeastern Ohio - St. Paul’s, Logan, and Epiphany, Nelsonville.

Also since “retirement” Michael has spent increasing time as a facilitator of a series of "Healthy Congregations" workshops and as a Bridgebuilder consultant, both based upon the family and natural systems perspectives of Dr. Murray Bowen, Rabbi Dr. Edwin Friedman (with whom he studied from 1992-96), and the Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke. His systems consultation experiences in eight congregations grew in him an interest in interim ministry that resulted in basic training through the Interim Ministry Network. Since his training he has served as interim rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Athens, Ohio, from May 2003 to January 2006, when he became interim rector of Christ Church, Clarksburg, WV where he served until November, 2007. He also currently chairs the board of Healthy Congregations, Inc., located at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Bexley, Ohio.

Married to Barbara Ann Emser with one adult son, Michael and Barbara live with Patches, a seven year old Jack Russell Terrier, a half mile north of the Ohio University Lancaster, Ohio campus.

Rob was born in Colorado, and still claims the Rocky mountains as home - it really is God's country. He is a third generation Episcopal priest, and moved often in the early years of his father's ministry. The most challenging moves were from rural Wisconsin to Columbia, South Carolina, and then three years later at the age of 15 to rural Iowa - it was 1968. What a decade! The changes in geography and cultures throughout his life have served him well as an adult, adapting and making a home wherever he finds himself.

Having graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1975 with a BA in Psychology and Philosophy Rob began his professional career selling shoes - who says God doesn't have a sense of humor. He also worked as an Nurses Aide in the community hospital in Alamosa, Colorado, where his grandfather practiced as a physician years before. While in Alamosa he began graduate studies in Psychology. Then his wise and loving Bishop in Iowa made him an offer he could not refuse - go to seminary to discern his calling to ministry. You see, growing up as a Priest's Kid did not endear him to the ministry. But in the fall of 1976, following the General Convention that ratified both the "new" Book of Common Prayer and the ordination of women, he entered Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois (on the campus of Northwestern University). Those three years were some of the most challenging and formative in his life.

As a priest of the Church for the past 28 years, Rob has served in five very different congregations, most recently as Vicar of the Church of the Good Samaritan, an Intentional Restart Mission in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati. During his three years there, he met his wife Donna, who is a native of Columbus and a 31 year veteran of the Columbus Public Schools teaching Spanish. In August 2004, he was hired as the part time Associate Rector for Christian Formation and Pastoral Care. He moved to Gahanna where he and Donna live with their cat, who believes he is the center of the universe. Rob and Donna do not have children of their own, but take delight in the many children in their lives.

Sara has earned degrees from the College of Wooster and the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington in both Organ Performance and Church Music. Her primary teachers have included John Russell, Christopher Young, and Marilyn Keiser. Sara has served as Organist & Director of Music at St. Alban's since 2001. What started as a 10-hour a week staff position has gradually increased to full-time over the course of her tenure; Sara is continually working to develop a comprehensive music program that complements the mission of St. Alban’s. Sara is also the staff accompanist for the Thomas Worthington High School Theater Department. She and her husband Ted welcomed their first child in January 2007.

Click to learn more about Sara's Personal Philosophy of Church Music.