Embedded Files
Jennifer Ould
Jennifer Ould began attending Trinity in 2013. She works in Academic Affairs Administration at Garrett Seminary in Evanston and as the Coordinator of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. She received a Master of Divinity degree in 2008, and has served as an adult education facilitator, lay preacher, reader, and MC at Trinity. This is her second time on the vestry.
While she lived in Highwood when she began attending Trinity, she now lives in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago with her cat, Lilybug. She enjoys the lake, running, reading, movies, bourbon, and Chicago’s storytelling community. She serves on the production team of OutSpoken, a monthly LBBTQ+ storytelling show at Sidetrack in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Jodie McCann
My name is Jodie McCann, i have been attending Trinity for over 50 years. I currenty live in Grayslake, IL. I have been on the vestry 3 times.
I was confirmed at Trinity, got married at Trinity and my children were all baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church. My mother served on alter guild for many years. Trinity means the world to me, it is my 2nd home. Once I retire I hope to spend many more hours at Trinity working on the grounds and organizing the attic!
Karen Britten
Growing up Catholic in Chicago, Karen is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Though her family was small, each member was a very special part of her life. With their love and support, she earned a B.A. in Political Science and an M.B.A. from Loyola University Chicago, launching her first career in wholesale merchandising.
When her children were young, Karen felt called to a more hands-on, people-centered vocation. She pursued a nursing degree, with Critical Care certification and spent 25 amazing years at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital - mentoring new nurses and serving on the ICU front lines during the first two years of the Covid Pandemic. She retired in 2021.
She met Jeff Wecker in 2013 and they were married a year later. Although they had each spent more than 30 years raising their families in Highland Park, their paths had never crossed. Together they now cherish a blended family of four grown children - and a growing crew of grandchildren: Jeff's three plus Karen's two with two more on the way.
Karen and Jeff feel that they have found their spiritual home at Trinity. As a member of the Vestry, Karen is eager to help the church grow in membership and flourish within the community.
John Risko
My name is John Risko, and I have been a member of Trinity since 2013 when we moved to Highland Park from out of state. I have three children (all graduates of Highland Park High School): Aiden, 20 years old and a currently a sophomore at Iowa State, Davis, 19 and a freshman at University of Tennessee and Emma, 19, and a freshman at Baylor University.
I am an accountant in my professional life with a focus on non-profit and government finance. I have been a vestry member (as well as Treasurer) for 5 years. I am involved at Trinity because of the love shown to me by the people in the pews around me. I am accepted as who I am, which means the world to me. That is why I give back by being involved in Vestry as well as an usher and reader. I will continue to be involved and do all that I can to make sure Trinity remains for future generations!
Tom Peppard
I’ve been worshiping at Trinity since late 2022, and I have Jack Alix to thank for cluing me into the wonderful things happening here. In Dec of that year, Trinity hosted the funeral for my late partner of 25 yrs, Marty. He was a compassionate and funny guy, and I know he would love this community dearly.
I was raised Catholic, and while it was a good experience for me then, I decided to leave the church as an adult. The people, the liturgy and the rituals at Trinity have nourished me greatly the past few years.
I work as a statistician for a scientific consulting company, and I live in Skokie. When the weather is nice you’ll find me bicycling to Trinity. But train rides, tacos, coffee and especially combining some of those 4, also bring me joy.
Sean Atchison
I began attending Trinity Episcopal Church in 2023 with my partner, Mariah, after feeling hesitant about joining a church community again. We had both experienced environments where exclusion and judgment were mistaken for faith, and we were searching for something rooted in love. From our first visit to Trinity, it felt like home — a place centered on God’s grace and the love of Jesus, welcoming all as they are. It quickly became our chosen community.
Outside of church, I work full time as a sustainability consultant in the commercial real estate industry. I share life with Mariah and our two cats, and I spend my free time exercising, being outside, and staying active. My faith is deeply important to me — I love God and Jesus and strive to reflect that love by being an ally to those who are vulnerable, just as Christ was during his life and ministry.
Travis Avery
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where I lived until 2014 when my family and I moved to Chicago. We lived in Wrigleyville for three years before moving to London. We lived in London for 18 months before moving back to Chicago where we landed in Highland Park.
We first attended Sunday service at Trinity for easter service 2021, where I fell in love with the building and the people. Since then I have spent four years on the vestry, acting as Warden for the past year and a half.
Rev. Bryan Cones
My name is Bryan Cones, and I have been priest-in-charge at Trinity since 2021. I first came to Trinity as it was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic--a time that required us all to be as creative as possible! Since then, I am grateful for all the creative work Trinity has done as we try to discover new ways to be an Episcopal church here in Highland Park.
Before I came to Trinity, I served three other churches in the Chicago area, and one in Melbourne, Australia, where I pursued a doctoral degree in liturgy. One of my favorite things about church is our regular praying together, and I find at Trinity a Sunday assembly that is willing to try new things, repurpose old ones, and do our best to make sure everyone experiences a welcome in our gathering.
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