STAFF

Jaime Sanders has served at Christ Episcopal Church in St. Helens since 2015. She worked as a tax attorney for 17 years before being called to serve God and the church. Jaime was a deacon at All Saints in Portland and became on ordained priest in 2008.

As vicar, she loves her job’s variety. “It might be a day of study, a hospital visit or imagining how to re-wild the church’s property,” she said. “I feel so privileged that people share with me the important things in their lives, the encounters with the sacred and the trials and struggles.”

While she had once been terrified of public speaking, Jaime now finds joy in preparing and presenting Sunday sermons. “I enjoy finding something new and true in the lessons and connecting it to people’s lives and what is going on in the world,” she said. “If one person has a new insight, it’s just amazing.”

Jaime would like to say to newcomers and those seeking a church home: “This congregation is genuinely a place to be your authentic self and to be welcomed for that. Here you can use your gifts and make a difference.”

Jaime and her husband Steve have two grown daughters, a dog and two cats. In free time, she enjoys weaving, kayaking, golfing and playing the upright bass.

Nancy Tarnai loves putting her professional experience to work assisting Christ Episcopal Church with community outreach. Nancy worked across the country as a newspaper reporter and public relations specialist, then landed in Alaska for 25 years. Nancy enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, walking, reading, traveling and yoga. "I feel blessed to be a part of this church, as everyone is welcoming," she said. "It is wonderful to watch our sacred outdoor space become a reality."