Rev. Neal Halvorson-Taylor

Neal has over 30 years of experience in parish ministry in both inner city and rural churches. He is committed to the development of diverse communities, eco-justice efforts, and eco-spirituality practices. He loves to read, hike, cross-country ski, and eat homemade granola. Neal and his wife, Martien, live in Charlottesville. They have two dogs and three children who are making their way in the world.

Contact: neal@gracechurchredhill.org

Emily Little

Co-Senior Warden

Emily serves as co-head of the vestry with Tori Macmillan. They work closely with Neal to shepherd our congregation. When she's not doing church work, Emily can be found working at the Charlottesville Free Clinic, doing climate action work with Community Climate Collaborative, shuttling her kids to dance classes at the Charlottesville ballet, building community with the Ministry of Imagination (meets at Good Shepherd Church on Mondays) and spending time with her husband, Charles and their three children, Maria (9), Serita (8) and James (6) and her cat/fur child, Foster.Contact: seniorwarden@gracechurchredhill.org

Hannah Twaddell

Music Director

Hannah delights in creating a wide range of “joyful noise” with Grace Church’s enthusiastic congregation and its many talented musicians. She is also a transportation consultant, policy analyst, and educator. Hannah lives with her husband, Gordon, daughter, Marion, and a few furry friends in an Albermarle County farmhouse built by Gordon’s grandfather.

Contact: hannah@walnutside.org

Kate lichti RN, M.Div.

Director of children’s ministry

Kate grew up Mennonite in rural Nebraska, where her church family was an extension of her biological family and a home through young adulthood. She and her husband, Caleb, found Grace Church Red Hill in 2016 as she was completing her chaplaincy residency at UVa hospital and discerning going back to school in nursing. They moved to Minnesota in 2020 and returned to Charlottesville in 2022, where they were delighted to find an abundance of families with children joining GC/RH. She is immensely grateful for this church, and loves thinking creatively about how to build a faith community that joyfully and deeply welcomes people of all ages. Leading children and family ministry has been a delightful coalescence of her various experiences in chaplaincy, outdoor education, CSA farming, and parenting. She holds an M Div from Yale Divinity School and uses her RN part-time at the Charlottesville Free Clinic.

Contact: youthchildren@gracechurchredhill.org

Meredith Keppel

Children’s Church Helper

Meredith Keppel's start in education began as the second youngest of ten kids-- there was quite a lot those big kids needed to know! As the auntie to 6 vivacious, tenacious, and precocious (now teenage) nieces and nephews, Meredith realized a love of working with little humans early on. Her work as a YMCA and Nature Camp counselor launched a lifelong love for developing curriculum and side-by-side learning. Meredith now works at UVA in the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation, though her background in environmental education and outreach has continued to inform how she mediates natural resource and climate conflict for big humans (i.e. adults).

Annie Wisz

Children’s Church Helper

Annie has three years of experience in youth ministry, in both rural and urban contexts. In her New York congregation she led middle school-age children in Bible study and faith formation using the Journey 2 Adulthood curriculum. In her Wyoming church, she co-mentored a group of middle schoolers as a member of the Episcopal Service Corps, as well as chaperoned the group on their trip to the Taizé monastery in France. She has a deep commitment to explorative faith pedagogy, and believes first and foremost in a youth ministry space that helps children form their own commitments and beliefs. Participating in youth ministry has been an important piece of her own belonging to faith communities in the past, and she's excited to help out at Grace Church.