Our Staff

Deacon Donald (Don) Myers

Minister of Congregational Care
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Deacon Don is a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church. After graduating from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, he was an instrumental music teacher in the Carroll County Public Schools, and also did graduate study in music education at Indiana University.

Several years later, Deacon Don entered into the family business, Stu’s Music Shop, with his brother, Larry. After the business was sold in 2013, he began study at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary) and graduated in 2016 with a Master of Arts in Ministerial Studies degree. Soon afterward, Deacon Don was called to be the Associate Chaplain at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster.

Deacon Don is married to Gail Myers, a retired nurse who worked as a Program Manager at the Carroll County Health Department. They have two children and four grandchildren. Deacon Don’s interests include pastoral care, music, running, reading, photography and especially spending time with family.

Erik Piisila

Director of Contemporary Music
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Erik Piisila is Grace Lutheran’s Director of Contemporary Music. You will most often find Erik leading rehearsal’s with Praise Team members on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in Grace Hall. Coordinating music selections with scriptures and sermon themes is a regular part of Erik’s weekly routine at Grace. You can count on 6 or more different contemporary praise songs from week to week during the 9:00 a.m. service in Grace Hall.

Erik has been involved in contemporary music at Grace in some form or fashion since the early 90′s. Erik brings his vocal, guitar and percussive leadership to Grace from Baltimore secular bands such as Planetary Zygote, Thread and Three Sheets and The Wind as well as contemporary Christian groups such as Prodigal Son and The Jordan Wade Band. Erik has also volunteered his music talents with ecumenical praise teams serving the Emmaus and Chrysalis communities.

He has previously spent over a decade filming projects in developing countries for Lutheran World Relief and continues to use his video and graphic design talents as an art director for a Marketing Agency in Frederick, MD. Erik spends his free time with his wife Emily and son Makai (the bassist in Grace’s praise team). He has been known to show up for service some Sundays on his Harley Davidson – another of his passions in life.

Jacob Ziegler

Director of Traditional Music
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Jacob Ziegler has been involved in music for most of his life. He started with piano lessons when he was five years old and learned to play other instruments throughout grade school. When he was a senior at Hereford High School, Jacob began taking organ lessons with Lee Pogue at St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hampstead, Maryland. Around 2013, Jacob began serving as the minister of music at St. Marks, where he also directed a few choirs and contemporary worship band. He served there until the autumn of 2023. Back in 2019, Jacob graduated with his master’s degree in musical performance, focusing mainly on the organ. Throughout his career in music, Jacob has also given both piano and organ lessons at an elementary and collegiate level.

Sandra Harrison

Director of Little Friends of Grace Preschool
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I have my bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Salisbury University.

My experience with LFOG began in 2001 when my oldest daughter attended. I fell in love with the safe nurturing environment the school created. I volunteered in her classroom and was exposed to wonderful teachers. These teachers inspired me to begin my career as a teacher. I first started as an assistant teacher in 2004 and became a teacher the following year. In 2024, I became the director of LFOG

I live in Westminster with my husband of 27 years. I have two daughters, 26 and 23 years old. GLC is my home church. In my free time I enjoy my dogs, the beach, family and crafting.

Kristi R.

Communications, Parish, and Membership Associate
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Joined Grace staff full-time July 2021. Kristi has 25+ years of administrative and managerial experience, including owning and operating her own business for more than 15 years. She returned to college late in life and earned a degree in Multi-Media Communications, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

She is a Westminster native. After living on the Delaware shore for 21 years, she has returned to Westminster to be close to her family and assist her elders. Prior to moving to Delaware, she was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Uniontown. Currently, half of her family attend Grace and the other half attend St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church in Westminster. She is contemplating attending both St. Ben’s and Grace, but becoming a member of St. Ben’s.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reads avidly, fancies the outdoors/nature, loves photography, and spoils her cat Two-Bit.

Angela Procario

Bookkeeper
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Angela joined our staff at Grace part-time in May 2009. She comes to us with over forty years of accounting experience and a B.S. in accounting/business administration from George Washington University. She has experience in the federal government, the private sector and non-profits. Prior to arriving at Grace, she worked full-time in the finance department at a local continuing care retirement community. Angela also goes on Project Serve mission trips when she can.

In her spare time, she allows her Amish neighbors to use her land for cattle, enjoys reading, music and knitting. She attends church at Uniontown Bible Church where she volunteers in the Youth Ministry and folds bulletins on Fridays.

Doreen Capece

Contributions Recorder
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She came out of retirement to join the staff at Grace Lutheran Church in September 2022 as the part-time Contributions Recorder. She had retired 8 years previously after a 39-year career as bank branch manager.

Doreen is a life- long member of Grace, even raising her children in our church. Through the years she has participated in numerous committees including Christian Education (teaching, Sunday School, VBS and Confirmation), Finance, and serving on Council.

Today she chairs the Fellowship & Hospitality Committee and you can often find her buzzing about the kitchen and Grace Hall if there is a church event taking place.

Marian Shipley

Website Associate
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Marian has been at Grace Lutheran Church since September, 2016. She has over 12 years of combined experience between administrative and IT support. Prior to joining the staff at Grace, Marian has volunteered with us weekly serving our community members during Ardent Folk. Marian has a strong desire to help and serve others; she felt that working with us would be a continuation of this desire.

Marian lives in Westminster. She and her husband, Michael, have three children. Stephen is a Store Manager at Walmart and lives in Westminster, MD. Kayla, a recent graduate of Carroll Community College, is working toward her teaching degree. Mary is a 2019 high school graduate and plans to continue her education to become a nurse. Marian also has another daughter, Tina, she is a nurse and lives in Salt Lake City, UT and 2 grandchildren. Jesse and Alexia, also in Salt Lake City.

In her free time, Marian likes to read, play bingo, crochet and be on her computer, but most important to her is spending time with her family!

Ronald Wentz

Facilities Manager
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Ronnie has served on the facilities staff at Grace since 2007. As Facilities Manager, he is responsible to manage Grace’s large building and grounds, coordinate set–up and clean–up of all activities, and supervise the custodians and the facility volunteers. Ronnie also oversees the security needs of the building, including opening and closing the building each day.

A native of Carroll County, Ronnie has spent his life in the central and northern areas of the county. In October, 2015, he completed his High School Diploma after much hard work.

Ronnie is a fan of the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Orioles. He lives in Manchester. In his spare time, he enjoys using his bar-b-q, working in the yard or planning next year’s train garden.