Who We Are

Pastor Frye loves being a pastor and sharing his experience of God’s transforming grace in Christ through preaching, teaching, and individual conversations of spiritual direction. Originally from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Pastor Frye was ordained in 1997 and has served congregations in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and Fairfield, Pennsylvania, before accepting the call as Pastor to St. Luke in 2013. He holds a BA in Religion from Lebanon Valley College, studied at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and earned a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Chicago and Pastoral Internship at Dr. Martin Luther Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Prior to entering seminary, he worked as Administrator of College Collections at Lebanon Valley College. Pastor Frye and his wife Heidi have three children, Isabelle, Gabriel, and Rowan. He enjoys gardening, woodworking, going to the gym, having a sense of humor and good coffee.

You may contact Pastor Frye at 717-261-1213 or at [email protected]. His blog is willinghabitation.blogspot.com

Shelly grew up in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She graduated from Radford University with a degree in Elementary education with concentrations in Special Education and Math. She worked for a year with students with severe disabilities as well as working with a local campus ministry discipling adults. She joined Mercy Ships, an international medical mission using ships to bring hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor, in 1999. There she met her husband Charles and they were married in 2001. Shelly taught in the Academy on board as well as helping in other areas of service including children’s programs, event planning and orphanage work. Shelly and Charles took a short break from 2003-2006 and lived in Harrisburg and Dillsburg where they started a family and had Sian and Luke. In 2007 they rejoined the work of Mercy Ships and served on the Africa Mercy from 2008-2018. They settled in Chambersburg in late 2018 and are glad to be fellowshipping with St. Luke. Shelly loves to travel, be artistic and do anything that involves being outside.

You my contact Shelly at 717-261-1213 or at [email protected]

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”  -Psalm 100: 1-2

Sherry Fahnestock serves as the church organist, pianist and choir accompanist here at St. Luke.

She was baptized here at St. Luke as an infant. Her family transferred their membership to First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chambersburg when she was seven. It was there that she had her first experience as a church musician – she served as accompanist for the children’s choir. In 1985 she was invited back to St. Luke as the church organist.

Sherry studied organ and piano under Mrs. Ora Hare who was organist for Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Chambersburg.

She loves to play the piano and while she enjoys many styles of music, classical music is her favorite. She also enjoys reading, spending time with family and traveling with her husband, Steve. Together they have three grandsons who are keeping them young.

You may contact Sherry at 717-261-1213 or at [email protected]

Brenda has been a member of St. Luke since 1992, after moving to the area from Ellicott City, MD.  She has spent many years as a Lutheran, but also been part of many other church denominations. She fell in love with the Lutheran church in 1982 when she joined Abiding Savior Lutheran. Music has always been part of her life. She says that she can’t remember a day that her mother didn’t sing, whether during chores or just to entertain herself and us by proximity. Her older sisters sang duets and her father could pick up any instrument and make it sound like something. Brenda took piano lessons for years and sang in school choruses (she also played tympani in the high school band!). It was a natural transition to church choirs when she became an adult and she has been singing in one ever since. When St. Luke wanted to start a youth choir, she volunteered to direct. From that role, St. Luke’s long-time adult choir director Gil Miller would ask her to substitute for him when he was out of town. Fast forward to 2018 – Brenda accepted the role of adult choir director. Singing has always been a “spiritual thing” for her and she loves praising God in song. She finds she now also loves prayerfully selecting just the right piece of music to enhance our worship in word and song, and helping our wonderful choir contribute their best, all to the glory of God. On a personal note, Brenda has one son, 3 talented-in-their-own-right grandsons, and two spunky little girl dogs. That and a challenging day job in retirement community sales makes for a full, wonderful life – so blessed!

Christine is the daughter of a retired career Air Force family. Her parents met in Spain and fell in love and married. She always felt lucky to travel and meet new people and try new foods. Her parents settled in Shippensburg, and she has 2 brothers and a sister. Christine met her husband in High School (she knew immediately he was the one) and they have been married for almost 40 years. They have 4 sons (3 college graduates and one veteran), 4 beautiful daughter in-laws, 12 grandchildren and one on the way. She is a long standing member of Our Lady of the Visitation Church in Shippensburg. She taught CCD to school aged kids and was a Eucharist Minister and money counter. Christine brought the first Rita’s Italian Ice to Franklin County in Shippensburg in 1999, which she operated. Her favorite flavor is Mango Ice. She worked with her husband Sam; doing office administration and bookkeeping while her boys were young; combining both work and motherhood. She is a member of Beta Sigma Phi and an elected Republican committee person in Southampton Township, Franklin Co. She has held positions in customer service, bank teller, and personal banker. She loves the challenge work brings, meeting people, travel, music and reading. She is a romantic at heart!

While Vanessa recently began serving as custodian for our congregation, she certainly is well-known as a faithful worshipper and active participant in the life of the congregation. She has been a member for many years. She grew up in Chambersburg and finds it rewarding to pursue her interest in local historical and genealogical research. Vanessa is actively engaged in the weekly rhythm of worship, fellowship, and service as she serves as acolyte, crucifer, lector, and assisting minister. She enjoys knitting, caring for her “four-legged children” – her dogs Molly and Dolly, and following the Baltimore Orioles.

Coming Soon!

Dick has served as our Financial Secretary for almost two decades.

Lisa serves as our Council President. She works as an Information Technology (IT) Specialist. Her hobbies include spending time and planning activities with family and friends. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

Sue is a Speech-Language Pathologist.  She enjoys scrapbooking and camping in her free time.  Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 –  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Anita is a retired elementary school teacher. In her free time she enjoys reading, sewing, travel photography, making memory books and volunteering.  Her favorite quotes are: 1. And this too shall pass. 2. It’s always something. 3. Don’t sweat the small stuff, almost everything is small stuff. 4. “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”  -Luke 2:19

Pat is retired.  She enjoys reading, gardening, music & theater in her free time.  He favorite Bible verse is “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but he greatest of these is love.”  -1 Corinthians 13:13

Linda is retired from working for the Commonwealth in the State Employee Retirement System.  Her hobbies include just ‘doing life’!  Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Joy is a Retired High School English teacher. In her free time she enjoys reading, singing, writing, composing poetry and drama.  Her favorite verse is Psalm 46:10 New International Version (NIV) – “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.””

Coming soon!