The Reverend Roy Kern, Deacon

Roy grew up in Carlisle and was baptized at St. John's on June 8th, 1958. For many years, inspired by his grandfather, the late Reverend Deacon Earl Painter who served for over 35 years at St. John's, Roy considered following in his grandfather’s footsteps. Roy completed the diocesan School of Christian Studies and did his Clinical Pastoral Education at the Hershey Medical Center. Exactly forty-four years after his baptism, he was ordained a Deacon on June 8th, 2002, in Rooke Chapel at Bucknell University. Deacon Roy’s parents, Gary and Judy Kern are very much active at St. John’s, as is his sister Lori Shover and her husband Mike and their son, Nathan.

Deacon Roy has served mostly at St. John's, but briefly was assigned to Nativity, Newport. When first ordained, taking communion to the elderly seemed to be the focus of his ministry. Most recently, however, he has been drawn to the teens and helping them develop and deepen their faith and life in the church. Along with senior warden, Mike Gwozdecki, he has led many mission work weeks over the years. He describes his ministry as "spreading the light of Christ to others" and recognizing that Christ dwells within each of us everyday.