Pastor David Grainson was born and raised in Baltimore.  After graduating high school, Pastor David attended Towson University where he got his degree in psychology with a minor in world literature. 

During his college years, Pastor David felt a deep pull and call to a life of service as an ordained minster. Having been raised Roman Catholic, he entered the seminary to study to be a priest the September after he graduated college. 

During his time in the seminary, he was privileged to serve in very diverse forms of ministry. Some of these include a congregation in the South Bronx, the Caribbean, work with developmentally disabled adults, and a hospital chaplaincy in New York City.

After he was ordained in 1998, he served among the people of the Caribbean for three years. At that time, he discerned that, as much as he was suited for ministry, he felt a profound and persistent call to marriage and family.

After a great deal of discernment, he left the priesthood. He moved to New York and began working in the field of social service. He eventually earned his master's degree and a New York State license in Social Work. He worked for 13 years with youth and their families struggling with mental health diagnoses.

He met his wife Sarajean in New York, and the two were married in 2001. They welcomed their first son Luke in 2006 and twins Matthew and David in 2009.

Still feeling the call to ministry in the church, Pastor David, pursued being rostered as a leader in the ELCA. In May of 2014, he began his first call at Holy Trinity Lutheran church on Long Island. In June of 2022, he began his call here at St Michael Lutheran.

Mario holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing his Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Middle Education from Drexel University. 

Mario has extensive experience in global account strategy, customer success, and team leadership. He has also completed leadership training in coaching and fiscal management as well as operational excellence.

Beyond his professional life, Mario lives in Oxford with his wife Kate and daughter Lily. He has a passion for camping and outdoor activities in general. He loves to travel while bringing along the family’s two dogs. He enjoys balancing his career with constantly doing something new, whether it's exploring new hiking trails or reading a new book. When he's not working or pursuing his interests, Mario loves spending quality time with family and friends, often over a shared homemade meal, a sporting event or an outdoor adventure.

Lindsay grew up in Colorado where she was actively involved in youth ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boulder. Lindsay has experience serving in childcare, Sunday school, youth group, and mission trips. She served multiple summers at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Colorado as an on-site counselor and traveling director, leading regional day camps and mission trips. She’s participated in multiple mission trips to Mexico serving at an orphanage in Tecate and building houses in Juarez, as well as teaching nutrition to elementary children living on the Navajo Nation. Lindsay attended Bucknell University for undergrad and Penn State for medical school. While living in Hershey, she served as a youth group adult sponsor for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and lead medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. She completed her Family Medicine residency at Wake Forest in North Carolina and a Sports Medicine fellowship at Penn State in Hershey. Lindsay and her husband Kyle moved to Kennett Square in 2018 and have two sons Henrik and Grant. She is excited to serve in the nursery at SMLC and continue to support youth ministry. 

Our Nursery is staffed following Labor Day to Memorial Day

Rob holds the American Guild of Organists Service Playing and Colleague certifications and currently serves as Sub-Dean of the Delaware Chapter. 

Donna Beech has joined us as our Interim Choir Director through Easter Sunday, April 5. Donna will rehearse the Chancel Choir each week and will conduct and accompany the choir at the 10 AM service. 

Donna retired recently as the Music Director of Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church (across from Winterthur) after serving that congregation for almost 30 years. She also was our guest organist for 2 weeks last August. 

Donna holds a master’s degree in piano performance from West Chester University as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from Catholic University.

Donna’s role as Interim Choir Director will be complimentary to Rob Furr’s role as Interim Organist. Their musical collaboration will enable us to keep our ministry moving forward while the search process continues to recruit a new Music Director/Organist.

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