Fred Vereen Jr, Senior Warden
Fred Vereen Jr. has been at St. Michael’s since the 1980’s. He grew up in the old segregated Eggerts Crossing neighborhood of Lawrence Township and helped lead the charge in the 1960’s to replace the shacks with modern housing. He persistently lobbied Lawrence Township to allow for the construction of its first low income and moderate housing development, Eggerts Crossing Village (EC Village). The 100-unit housing development, after its creation in 1974, has been overseen by Lawrence Non-Profit Housing, Inc. under which he served as Manager from 1974 to 2008.
Fred was born in Trenton in the 1930’s, but his family moved out to ‘the country’ when he was still a child. He worked as a boy in every kind of job in Lawrence while going to school in Trenton, graduating from Trenton High School. Besides being the force behind Eggerts Crossing Village, he played the key role in creating the Lawrence Community Center on Eggerts Crossing Road. As Manager of Architects Housing in Trenton in the 1980’s, he started coming to St. Michael’s while bringing seniors to the church on Sundays. The pastor asked him if he’d like to join the church, and he did. With an aging and declining membership, as people move into retirement homes of their own, Fred has held his own, and has been the driving force in keeping our church open.
Check out the nationally-awarded program Fred started, Every Child Valued: the-long-road-to-every-child-valued
Lynette Darling, Treasurer, Clerk of the Vestry
Lynette is St. Michael’s behind-the-scenes. Not only does she pay all the bills and keep all the records, she represents St. Michael’s at the Diocese level, serving on the Board of Missions, preparing our Annual Report. On a weekly level, Lynette acts as our lay minister, officiating the Morning Service, checking for oversights and mistakes in the bulletin, setting out proper church vestments and candles, as well as supporting the supply minister in the Eucharist offering.
Harry Jackendoff, Warden’s Assistant, Director of Programs
Harry Jackendoff is Warden’s Assistant and Director of Programs. He and his wife Kay joined the church in 2021, and shortly thereafter he took on the part-time post of office administrator to prepare the way for a new minister. He soon uncovered the archives, including the two handwritten sermons from 1770, and quickly became involved in reimagining the church as an educational center.
As a local activist in the City of Trenton, he created the Trenton Public Safety Coalition in 2010-2012 and was named Citizen of the Year in 2012. His civic contacts have played a key role in bringing St. Michael’s its many community partners, such as Trenton United Family Foundation (TUFF), Men for Hope, Fathers & Men United for a Better Trenton, Visionary Philanthropy Group, and the Magnetic Force Smooth Steppers Drill Team.
Harry was an industrial training designer and has a Masters in Information Technology from Drexel and a Masters in Central Asian Studies from Indiana University; In his spare time away from St. Michael, he posts to an online magazine called “the Weekly Waffle“.
Check out Harry’s academic works on Academia.edu.
Dr. Clipper Erickson, organist
Clipper Erickson made his debut as a soloist with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra at age nineteen in Los Angeles. After studies at The Julliard School, Yale University, and Indiana University with the renowned British pianist John Ogdon, his interpretations began earning prizes at international competitions including the Busoni, William Kapell, and the American Pianists Association. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals in some of the most famous concert venues in the world, including the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
In addition to his powerful renditions of the great classical repertoire, Clipper’s interpretations of American music from past and present have launched a series of CD releases that have received considerable critical acclaim and have often been featured on radio stations throughout the United States. He continues to be active in premiering and promoting new works by American composers. Always an inquisitive and versatile musician, he especially enjoys performing 18th century music on period instruments.
An essential part of Clipper’s musical mission is the inspiration of future generations of musicians by encouraging the love of music through his commitment to education, performance in schools, and master classes. His teaching career has included appointments at Bucknell University, Temple University, and Westminster Conservatory. Clipper has been a roster member of the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour since its inception in 1997.
Check out Clipper’s latest CD releases: https://clippererickson.com/recordings