Elections for Council Members to serve a 3-year term [July 2024-June2027] will take place at all three worship services, Saturday & Sunday, May 18 & 19. We will be voting on 4 vacant council posts.
Jim Flanagan
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I attended Penn State University and received a B.A. in Administration of Justice. I then started my career in law enforcement for 27 years, most of which were with the State Police. I retired as a patrol corporal at Gettysburg station in 2021 and started a business in mortuary transportation.
Chad and I have been together for 22 years and we were married in 2015. I moved to Gettysburg in 2012 and joined St. James in 2016.
Since being at St. James, I have had the honor and pleasure of serving in many capacities: usher, youth confirmation teacher, serving on our recent call committee, RIC and many volunteer hours.
Besides serving, I am able to join weekly bible study, volunteer to monitor the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as well as the first aid kits throughout the church.
St. James truly has been a welcoming community. I wish to pay the kindness and love forward by working with other council members who work so tirelessly in order to continue the work St. James does.
Jason Howe
I have lived in Gettysburg, or the close vicinity, for my whole life. I currently live in Carroll Valley with my wife Amy and daughter Bri. I have a variety of animals as well.
I have been a veterinary technician at the Emmitsburg Veterinary Hospital for 22 years. I have an interest in Great Danes. We have three Great Danes and have shown them in shows around the country.
I also love to sing. You may have noticed me around singing with Ernie Kranias at some of the services and I also sing with the Gettysburg Choral Society.
I have been a member at St. James for several years now. I love how our church accepts everyone as they are and welcomes them with open arms. I love the involvement of the younger kids at our church as well. You will most likely find me at the 8:15 service, but when I am singing we believe we should sing at all services, so you will find me at all three services.
Janina Kloster
Thank you for considering me for Church council nominations. My name is Janina Kloster and my family and I have been members of St. James for about 10 years. Let me just say how much I LOVE St. James! I currently serve on the Youth Committee (assisting with MS/HS youth breakfast) as well as the Endowment Committee.
I grew up attending a United Methodist church with my late grandmother until I moved out of my family home. If you listened to the sermon I gave during one of our mid-week services several years ago, you heard how much of an impact my late grandmother had on my faith journey. My husband grew up attending a Catholic church, so we felt Lutheran was a nice compromise. I love the open-mindedness of St. James as well as the feeling of family and community. I turn to God in prayer and thanksgiving during times of struggle as well as in times when I am in utter amazement of just how good our God is.
I grew up in Lancaster County where my family still resides. While going back home always leaves a sense of warmth and nostalgia, Gettysburg has been home for my family and I for the last 18 years.
I met my husband Dave while we were both working together at Cracker Barrel in Lancaster County. We started dating in October 2001, moved into our first apartment in Harrisburg in June 2002, was engaged in July of 2002, married in November 2002 and got pregnant with our first child in December 2002. I would say that the first year we were together was a whirlwind but I wouldn’t trade it. Dave and I moved around quite a bit for work during the first few years, eventually ending up in Gettysburg in 2005.
We have been blessed with 2 amazing children whom we couldn’t be more proud of. Natalie is 20 years old and finishing up her junior year at Georgetown University. She is pursuing a Human Science degree and will eventually be moving on to Med School (location TBD) to become a doctor. John is 18 years old, graduating from Gettysburg HS in a few short weeks. He will be attending Old Dominion University to study Applied Math. To say that I’m a proud mom is an understatement! I can’t forget to also mention our 2 beautiful fur-babies, Brisket (4 year old Bassett Hound) and Leo (12 year old Yellow Lab).
I have worked at AmeriHealth Caritas (behavioral health insurance under Medical Assistance) for 23 years. When I’m not working, one of my favorite things to do is go camping. My husband and I have a seasonal camp site at Waterside Campground in Lewistown where we spend the majority of the Spring, Summer and Fall months. I also enjoy spending time with family, listening to music, reading, spending time at the beach and vacationing (my husband and I love traveling to Punta Cana any chance we get).
I truly believe in living life to the fullest, being kind and counting my blessings.
Glenn Munsee
I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in a very religious, very conservative family. After moving out of my parent’s home at the age of 16, I felt I had very little need for religion, and I carried this mindset with me for a large portion of my early adult life.
In 1998, I had the opportunity to relocate to Hagerstown, Maryland, but my stay was short-lived, as I soon relocated to Jacksonville, Florida in 1999 and lived there until 2003.
In 2004, I purchased a home in Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania, and went on to meet my wonderful and loving wife, Bridget in 2008. Bridget and I were married in October of 2010 and our daughter Savannah arrived in September of 2011.
While pregnant with Savannah, Bridget and I (along with my newfound desire to rekindle a relationship with God) decided we needed to find a local church and hoped to find one with a strong youth focus. We tried out many different denominations and churches in the area, searching until we found what we were looking for, and joined St. James in 2011.
Since joining St. James, I have enjoyed participating in our Adult Sunday School, and have served as a Lay Reader, Greeter, Usher and Communion Assistant. I am currently serving on the St. James Finance Committee and served as Chaplain for the Call Committee 2022-2024, that brought Libby in as our new Associate Pastor.
I have been employed by Citigroup since March 1995, where I currently work as an IT Business Analyst for Fraud and Risk.
I look forward to the opportunity to continue my service to the congregation here at St. James and will work to find ways to grow and strengthen our connection to the community and to each other.