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The Rectory
 Father Gary J. M. Barker
Father Gary was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned his B.A. in English and German Literatures from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1980. He also holds an M.A. in English and American Literature from the University of Virginia. He received his M.Div. with honors from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, and was ordained a priest of the church in 1991. He and Gail married in 1984 and they have four boys.
Gary began his ordained ministry at Emmanuel Church in Harrisonburg where he served as assistant rector and chaplain to the students of James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite College (now University) and Bridgewater College. In 1993, Gary began a new ministry as Vicar of Grace Church in the town of Stanardsville, Virginia. Then, in 2003, Gary was called to serve here at Christ Church, Smithfield. Over the years, Gary has served the larger church in ministries of Social Concerns, Christian Formation, College Ministries, Congregational Development, Prayer and Healing, and Status of Congregations and Missions.
In his Sabbath time, Gary likes to read, write, sing, and garden. Otherwise, he loves being with his boys, wife, and friends.
To contact Father Gary, please call (757) 371-9382 or send e-mail to:garyjmbarker@verizon.net.
 Deacon Edith Raby
Edith Gilliam Raby, Our Deacon,
was born and raised right here in
Isle of Wight
County.
She was baptized at Old St. Luke’s and
confirmed at
Christ
Church.
She has a degree from Old Dominion
University in English with
a minor in Psychology.
Edith had a successful career in business
sales and marketing in
Philadelphia
and
Florida
before becoming a Deacon of the Church.
In 1986, she suffered a serious stroke and
had a vision of Jesus that changed her direction in
life.
After four years of study in the Institute
for Christian Studies in the Diocese of Central
Florida, Edith was ordained a deacon in 2000.
First as a lay person and then as a deacon,
she has served the disabled in many ways beginning
with her work at Goodwill Industries in Central
Florida. She
also has ministered to the homeless, those suffering
from addictions, and unwed mothers.
She seeks to keep one foot in the church and
one foot in the world as she reaches out to serve
and advocate for the disabled and the poor.
She also has long had an active ministry of
visitation to those in hospitals and nursing homes
and encourages all the members of our church to
serve God in the needy.
She served at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church,
Orlando, after her ordination until she moved home
to care for her mother in Smithfield in 2006.
Since that time, she has had an active
ministry at
Christ
Church singing in the
choir, serving as chaplain to our Daughters of the
King chapter, supporting the Sudanese and homeless
shelter outreach ministries, supporting the rector
and the entire congregation in their ministries. She is also active at the
Presbyterian Home for Mentally Challenged Adults in
conjunction with the Chuckatuck Possum Hollow
Ruritan Club. We assist with the dinners, games,
and other social events. Edith
has a son, daughter-in-law, and two
grandchildren
living in Florida and is grateful to God for the home
she has in
Christ
Church.
The Vestry
The Vestry of Christ Church is charged with the overall operation of the Church. Members are selected from the congregation to serve three year terms. The Vestry meets once a month and determines the budget, sets policy, and oversees the ministry of the Church.
Click here to view
Vestry Minutes.
 Wayne
Willis
(Sr Warden)
Back
Other Members: Mary Cole, Pam
Glanville, Ed Greskowiak, Eileen Locke, Mary
Mitchell, Betty Woods, Steward Davis, Bob Amato,
Donna Lowery, and Ann Christian
 Deborah Webb
Deborah joined us in August 2008, following her
administration and financial work at Sisters of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus & Mary in Wales UK.
Deborah is responsible for all
administration/internet duties and is actively
involved in many of the volunteering ministries for
Christ Episcopal Church.
Contact:
Email:
cchurchsmfd@verizon.net
Tel: 757 357 2826
The Music Department
Christ Episcopal Church has an adult choir and a youth choir, both of which are directed by Ms. Heidi Bloch. In addition to singing the liturgy, Christ Episcopal Church's choir learns a variety of anthems and other service music. The Adult Choir sings at all evening services (Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil). Previous music experience is not necessary, but patience, a sense of humor, commitment to rehearsals, and attendance at the 11:00 Sunday morning service is helpful.
Christ Episcopal Church also has a Celebration Band, which is comprised of parish-member musicians of all ages. Led by John Deifenbacher, the Celebration Band often accompanies the choir at church services.
 Ms. Heidi Bloch (Music Director)
Heidi Bloch has been Organist/Choir Director at Christ Episcopal Church in Smithfield, VA. since May 2001. She has had a similar position at Temple Sinai in Newport News for the past 24 years and also teaches in the afternoon Hebrew School program.
Heidi maintains an active Suzuki piano-teaching studio both in Newport News and as part of Smithfield's Renaissance School of the Arts (a local home schooling network) where she also directs a chorus of young teenagers.
Occasional organ recitals, piano programs, and a variety of volunteer responsibilities keep her idle hours at a minimum. She serves on the board of the Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg chairing the committee responsible for selecting ensembles for each subscription season, and has twice served as Dean of the Tidewater Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Heidi earned her MM at the University of Michigan and her BS at Old Dominion University.
To contact our Music Director, please call: 757-357-2826 or e-mail: heidibloch@cox.net.
The Choir Members
For many, music is the direct highway to a close
encounter with God. At our 11:00
a.m. Eucharist, traditional choral music,
accompanied by the organ, encompasses music of all
styles....from Renaissance to music written in our
own day...even and often for us by
contemporary composers....some of them local. Much
of the liturgy is sung with the choir providing
leadership from the chancel, or from within the
congregation, using texts in the Book of Common
Prayer. Our worship is occasionally enhanced by
soloists and guest instrumentalists. Hymns are
chosen predominantly from the 1982 Hymnal, but other
hymnals in the pew racks and in the church library
provide a wealth of additional texts and tunes.
Anthems, hymns, liturgical responses, Communion, and
organ music are all matched with the appointed texts
of the day and reviewed for several weeks in advance
during Thursday evening rehearsals. The Adult choir
is an eclectic group of friendly, fun folks. Prior
musical experience is not expected but is definitely
helpful together with patience, a sense of humor,
commitment to Thursday evening rehearsals, and
attendance at the 11 a.m. Sunday service.
Other Departments & Committees
 Ray Locke
Having been successful in the floral business, Ray is beginning a new journey on a career path toward the priesthood. He is currently completing his undergraduate studies in religion. Serving as Youth Director at Christ Church will not only provide him an immediate opportunity to fulfill his dream of serving the church in a professional capacity but will also provide us with a deeply committed individual who already has considerable experience in church affairs.
Ray Locke joined the Episcopal church at age ten in Rhinebeck, N.Y., has been deeply involved in church activities ever since and is now nurturing his family in a Christian home. Ray served in the United States Air Force for four years and was honorably discharged. He then attended SUNY in Cobleskill, N.Y., studying business management and Floriculture.
Ray married Eileen Ocia Rogers in 1986 and have two daughters — Meghan Rae and
Shannon.
His list of activities is legion. In New York he was in the choir, involved in youth activities, and performed well a variety of functions—lay reader and junior and senior warden of the Vestry, a Diocesan delegate and on the Diocesan Council, serving the Bishop. Now in Smithfield, Virginia, he is either leading or participating in many of the same activities: praise worship choir, lay reader, Outreach and worship committees and our JAM youth activities. His wife, Eileen, serves on the Vestry and is active in several ministries as well.
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