Church of Our Saviour has called its 15th rector, The Rev. Charlotte Johnson, and she will join our community on April 22, 2025. Until then, please contact Deacon Jess with any pastoral needs. We look forward to welcoming Charlotte soon! 

The Rev. Jess Elfring-Roberts (she/they), a vocational deacon, is a product of diocesan youth ministry from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, holding a B.A. in Acting from Columbia in Chicago and an M.Ed. from Moreland University (Washington, DC). As a speaker and facilitator, Jess is renowned as a catalyst for positive transformation. They have pioneered a unique approach to social impact by bridging spirituality and comedy, using improv to break down barriers, spark creativity, and inspire empathy and trust. With authenticity and connection, Jess empowers individuals and communities to create a more vibrant and equitable world.

Jess's vocational ministry focuses on youth and young adults, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. In the broader Episcopal Church, Jess has made contributions as a deputy to the General Convention in 2018, 2022, and 2024. Jess has also partnered with the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing and the Office of Youth Ministry's pilot program on Racial Healing, serving as a chaplain. Additionally, Jess has been part of the Episcopal Youth Event Design Team and currently sits on the Council of Advice for Safe Church, Safe Communities. During the biennium, Jess chaired the Standing Commission on Formation and Ministry Development.

As the Executive Director of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers, Jess draws upon 20 years of experience in camp and hospitality ministry to build up inclusive, enriching environments. Their dedication to pastoral care, community advocacy, and bridge-building creates spaces where everyone feels welcomed and affirmed. Jess resides in Chicago alongside her wife, Rebecca, and their two daughters Eliza and Tilly. Jess enjoys being creative either performing improv with the group Part Dog, teaching at Second City, or making film shorts with Urban Pebble Productions.

Br Will has been on staff at Church of Our Saviour since 2017 and brings nearly two decades of experience in business and property management and administration. His leadership at Church of Our Saviour includes the areas of administration and finance, building and grounds, communications, and relations with the diocese and the larger Church. His own ministries both here at COS and at his primary parish of the Church of the Atonement in Edgewater include preaching, altar guild and flowers, adult formation and small groups, Education for Ministry (EfM), liturgical coordination. He has served on Vestry's and Diocesan Council previously. 

Br. Will continues to hone his skills as a Spiritual Director and is a professed member of The Community of the Mother of Jesus, a vowed religious community in the monastic tradition of the Episcopal Church. He also supports the work of the National Association of Episcopal Christian Communities. He loves his work and is grateful for the opportunity to explore his vocation within the Church. He lives in Evanston and he shares his home life with his partner Johnard and their corgi Lily. 

Like many Episcopalians, Gregory Peebles (he/him; they/them) started life as a Baptist. However, unlike many others, Gregory spent the first two decades of life singing gospel and bluegrass music on the Alabama revival circuit.  

Once in undergraduate school, Gregory devoted as much time to the musical theatre as he did to the concert hall, providing musical direction to department productions, and even writing an original confessional rock-musical. After graduation, Gregory moved to Chicago and began singing with prestigious groups like the choruses of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. In 2008, Gregory completed and received a Master's degree from Roosevelt University. 
Gregory sang hundreds of concerts on three continents from 2008 - 2014 with Chanticleer, the San Francisco-based, GRAMMY-award winning ensemble, for which he was also the assistant music director from 2012 - 2014. 
 
After logging almost 500,000 miles of travel in 6 years, Gregory stopped living life on the road and came “home” to Chicago. Following so much travel, Gregory is pleased to be a “home body,” spending his time learning how to cook (finally!), and spoiling his kitty, Meowgustine. In addition to his work at COS, Gregory also supports the parish church of St Matthew's, in Evanston.

Cate Mascari and her husband Michael have been leading music ministry at Church of Our Saviour since 2007 after starting their careers in 2001 at Grace Episcopal Church in New Lenox, Illinois. 

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With Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Instrumental and Choral Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Cate taught high school choir and band for thirteen years, with the final nine years in Chicago Public Schools at Lake View High School. She currently serves as Director of Donor Relations for the Harris Theater for Music in Dance in Chicago, and also sings with the Chicago Chamber Choir as their Alto section leader.

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She is honored to collaborate each Sunday morning as a singer, pianist, and clarinetist with fellow COS Music Ensemble members Anton Hatwich, double bass; Michael Mascari, bass voice, guitar, and cello;  Kari Nelson, soprano voice, clarinet, and saxophone; Justin Peters, percussion; and David Washington, tenor voice. Cate and Michael's daughter and son also perform with the group when they are in Chicago: Ariana Mascari, viola and alto voice; and Leith Mascari, violin and tenor voice.