Our Leaders
The Reverend Emily Anderson Lukanich
(Mother Emily)
Rector
Mother Emily and her family joined us from Vail, Colorado, where she served as Associate and Vicar for The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration since 2016. Her professional ministry has included a curacy at Christ Church in Blacksburg, VA, where she served both the congregation and the Virginia Tech campus. She holds a Master’s in Divinity from the Virginia Theology Seminary and a B.A. in French Language from the University of Illinois. Before attending seminary, she taught middle school and high school French in Virginia and South Carolina.
She and her husband Chris have been married since 2009 and have two young sons, Ian and Christian, whose adventures are usually accompanied by Whisper, the family dog.
Mother Emily believes that an exchange of experiences, both deep and broad, among well-intentioned and inspired Christians is a powerful asset in growing and strengthening the Body of Christ. As a gardener, she has learned that both gardens and congregations show the care they are given and that careful tending makes for deep roots, strong branches, sturdy shelter, and welcome respite. Gardens and churches allow us to grapple with the wilderness of the world, armed with a hunger for the fruits of the future, undaunted by the knowledge of arduous labors, anticipating the good things to come, and strong with faith in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Malik Jardine
Music Director
Born and raised in Queens, Malik had an interest in organ for as long as he can remember while growing up in church. Though he didn’t take it seriously in Highschool, he did find himself in Stagecrew, accompanying his Highschool choir and playing in the pit for various musicals. Malik decided in 2022, to enroll in school for music at Borough of Manhattan Community College in their applied studies program. Malik was the only organist in the Community College CUNY system at the time. While at Borough of Manhattan, Malik studied with Dr. Nathaniel Gumbs, who at the time was director of Chapel services at Yale University. In 2023-2024 Malik was the Organ Scholar at Trinity Church Wall Street. During his time there, he participated in their "Pipes @ 1" Recital series, accompanying the choir and congregation on many occasions. Working with Renowned Organists such as Dr. Alcee Chriss III, and Avi Stein. And worked with the Grammy Nominated Trinity Church Choir. Currently, Malik is a student at Westminster Choir College, under Dr. Thomas Gaynor, organist at St. Mark’s Epsicopal Church, PA. In his Off time, Malik enjoys musicals, video games and cooking.
