Church Staff
Rev. Barbara Plimpton (Deacon)
Barbara is
a transitional deacon, which means that she serves as a deacon until she is ordained priest.
Upon their arrival in Asheville, Barbara and her husband Fred were adopted by Monty, a black and white cat
of imperial swagger; the three of them have been next door neighbors to Nancy Davis for five years.
Before coming to North Carolina for Barbara to enter the process for priesthood, the Plimpton's lived
near Portland, Maine. They have lived in Colorado, Alabama, Thailand, and Arizona.
Barbara has worked in human resource management, labor relations, and career development for the U.
S. Air Force, the State of Colorado, and Portland (ME) Public Schools. Also, she worked with homeless children
and adults in Portland and served as Community Services Director for Greater Portland for The Salvation
Army.
Her church work has involved peace and justice work and spiritual formation. She taught meditation
classes and led monthly quiet days for seven years at the cathedral in Maine. She is a member of the diocesan
committee on Christian education and a member of the Asheville-Buncombe Aging Coordinating Consortium.
She looks forward to serving as a transitional deacon here at St Luke’s and already finds us “a warm and
friendly community with an outstanding commitment to outreach.”
Molly Coffey (Youth Group Leader)
Molly has been working with the youth since January. She worships at Grace Episcopal with her family
on Sunday mornings, so you’ll most likely see her with the youth on Sunday afternoons. Here is a word
from Molly:
"I want to take a moment to introduce myself. I am Molly Coffey, and I am extremely excited to be the
new youth leader for St. John’s, St. Luke’s and St. Mary’s churches! I am married to Jarod and am the
mother of Stella and pet parent of Matilda. My background is in Social Work working with children
and youth of all ages and backgrounds. I love the energy, spirit and creativity of youth. I was raised in
the Catholic Church and was confirmed by Bishop Taylor at St. Matthias Church. Jarod, Stella and I
attend Grace Episcopal Church. I moved from Iowa City, IA to Asheville about 3 1/2 years ago to be
closer to my family. I enjoy hiking, yoga, playing with Stella, reading, cooking and family bike rides."
Julie Mascarella (Music Director)
I grew up in the Chicago area, got a BSM (B. Sacred Music) from Illinois Wesleyan University, and moved to Asheville in 1982 to study organ with Marilyn Keiser. I've held a number of posts in the Episcopal church, including interim organist/choirmaster at Cathedral of All Soul's and St. Jame's, Hendersonville, and organist posts at Grace Episcopal, north Asheville. I've been at St. Luke's, Chunn's Cove, since 1999.
I finished my master's degree in school counseling in 1994, working as a middle school counselor until our daughter, Emma, was born in 2003. I consider myself on "permanent maternity leave"! I am an avid gardener, quilter, and cook. My husband, Doug Aanonsen, and I have been married since 1993; I also have two grown stepsons, Jason and Michael.