Jim Bennett, Director of Music Ministry

I have been making music for most of my life---starting with piano at age 6, singing in the children's choir, studying music in high school and college, playing for musical theater, accompanying classes in modern dance and ballet, singing with the Richmond Symphony Chorus and the James River Singers, as a free-lance solo pianist and recording artist, teaching piano, and in ministry as a church musician. Music is a huge part of who I am; it is my vocation. This is not something I could confidently say earlier in my life, but it gradually became clear---I hear God's call to the ministry of music. I am also a husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, and preacher's kid. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and have served several United Methodist churches over many years. It has been a joy to have served in the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement since 2014.

To be always learning is something I try to live into---whether that be music, faith, relationships, community, or science (I love the intersection of science and religion...) I think that if we stop learning and discovering more about Creation and our role in it, we cut ourselves off from something essential.

In the future "The Church" will likely look different than now, just as now looks different than in generations past. I believe there is a need in many churches for leaders to help bridge the divide between the older/traditional elements and newer/different elements. My role and ministry in recent years has been to help communities navigate at least some of those differences, and to nurture and support the growth and deepening of their musical life. I believe many of the seeds I've planted have sprouted and taken root---and that some of the seeds have found good soil in which to grow. At the same time, there are ancient practices within the church which are finding new life with each new generation; this is important to recognize and to nurture.

You can find recordings of my solo piano arrangements of hymn tunes on all the usual streaming services. If you prefer a CD version, they are available directly from me.

The Rev. Briggett Keith, Priest-In-Residence

Briggett taught for 11 years at John M. Gandy Elementary School in Ashland before being called to the priesthood. She attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria and was ordained deacon by the Right Rev Peter Lee then before being called to the priesthood. She attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria and was ordained deacon by the Right Rev Peter Lee then bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. She was ordained priest in 1992. Her first church after ordination to the priesthood was in Ohio. She then moved to Newark to serve two successive churches there. She retired in July 2016 and moved back to Virginia.

The Rev. Heather K. Baggett, Priest-In-Residence

The Rev. Frank Castellon, Deacon

Frank was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church on June 9, 2007. After his ordination, he served at St. Matthew's in Pennington, NJ until moving to Virginia, and as member of the national faculty of the CREDO Program until he retired in 2017. Presently, he participates in the food pantry program at St. Thomas in Ginter Park as a volunteer and as a member of the Board; he serves as a Trustee of the Dean Adam's Trust at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, NJ; and he helps in the Spanish Ministry and the food pantry at Holy Comforter. His passion is to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being.

He retired in January 2007 as the founder and CEO of an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Prior to this, Frank was president of the Investment Advisory Arm for the American Medical Association and previously worked with a major institutional investment manager on Wall Street and as a political appointee in a Governor's Cabinet. Frank was born in Cuba and he has a BS degree in engineering from the University of Florida and an M.S. degree from the University of California (Berkeley). Frank is married to Patricia, the love of his life. They have four children and five grandchildren, and love to travel.