OUR MINISTRIES
Ashley Baldwin - Greeters
Ashley, a native of Milwaukee, has been a key part of Grace & Peace since 2019. Ashley leads our team of Sunday morning greeters. When she’s not traveling for her work as a Food Safety Manager, she can be found with her husband, Jake, and pets, Loca, Riblet, and Porterhouse.
Jess Crandall - Youth
Originally from Georgia, Jessi has been serving at Grace & Peace since 2020. As a Foster Home Supervisor, she brings her leadership skills and compassionate heart to our youth. She began following Jesus at 12 years old, and loves working with our middle and high school students through their challenges and celebrations. In their free time, she and her husband Kevin are usually outside, hiking, backpacking, or making snowmen.
Carolyn Parish - Nursery
Carolyn has been a dedicated member of our church since , along with her husband Jeremy. She’s called three different continents home, but has lived in Denver since 2012. Carolyn is a former preschool teacher and current stay-at-home mom of Sarah and Hannah. She coordinates our nursery team, ensuring a nurturing environment for our youngest community members.
Jonathan Pickell - Setup/ Teardown
Born and raised outside of Chicago, Jonathan has called Denver home since 2004. Grace & Peace has been his church community since 2020. He leads our vital, but behind-the-scenes, setup/ teardown team, also known as Mouserat. A Building Systems Designer during the week, he enjoys running, hiking, traveling, and reading. He loves his wife Emily but refuses to get her a puppy.
Governors
Our Deacons and Elders provide shepherding, pastoral care, and practical support to our community.
Reach out by emailing the team at: diaconate@graceandpeacedenver.org
Rene Palacios - Elder
Rene moved to Denver from New Mexico in 2019. He has walked with Jesus since 1979 and has worked in a number of ministry positions. He is now the Director of Chaplaincy at Denver Rescue Mission. Before she passed, Rene and his wife Bridgett were married for 37 years. Rene enjoys spending time with his two sons, daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren, as well as biking, reading, and fly fishing.
Ed Steitz - Elder
Ed and his wife Gale celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2022. They are founding members of Grace & Peace, who moved to Denver in 2014. Ed retired from his career as an elementary and middle school math teacher, but can still be found serving in the Grace & Peace children's ministry. In his free time, he and his family enjoy cross-country skiing, kayaking, and traveling
Jason Woodman - Elder
Jason is a Colorado native who has been a part of Grace & Peace since the first launch service in 2016. He works with the Church Movements ministry of Cru and is the Director of Public Engagement for the Gospel Initiative at Denver Seminary. He and his wife Kelly have four children, and enjoy being outside and active together as much as possible.
Nick Brown - Deacon
Nick has lived in Denver since he was three years old. A founding member of Grace & Peace, he began walking with Jesus his senior year of college. He owns a digital advertising agency that focuses on impactful issues like education and public health. He and his wife Kerry enjoy skiing and traveling together.
Carolyn Kunicki - Deaconess
Originally from Pennsylvania, Carolyn has lived in Denver since 2001. She is a founding member of Grace & Peace. She and her husband Chris have two daughters, Violet and Mira. When Carolyn isn’t not playing second horn in the Colorado Symphony or spending time at the Phoenix gym, she and her family can be found taking care of their pygmy goats Gary and Rascal.
Gale Steitz - Deaconess
Gale and her husband Ed moved to Denver in 2014, after retiring from a career as a social worker & non-profit administrator. She is a mom to two adult children, a grandmother to two grandchildren, a founding member of Grace & Peace, a deaconess, and the Development Director of a non-profit organization in India. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and the arts.
Kelly Woodman - Deaconess
Kelly and her husband Jason have been attending Grace & Peace since the first launch service in 2016. She began walking with Jesus as a college student attending Cru. Now, she works for Cru as the Director of People and Culture. Kelly, Jason, and their four children enjoy being outside in the mountains whenever they can, hiking, skiing, and camping.
Community Group Leaders
The Castellanis
Jane and Mika have lived in Denver since 2022, having lived previously in New York and France. In their free time, you can find them playing with their puppy Pippin or working on home improvement projects. Their community group meets in North Park Hill.
The Cohoes
Samantha and Caleb are founding members of Grace & Peace. Samantha is an author and Caleb is a professor of philosophy. They have three children, and their community group meets in the Sloan’s Lake neighborhood.
The Millers
Tara and Mark moved to Denver in the 90s, and have been attending Grace & Peace since 2021. Tara is a ghostwriter and Mark is a therapist. They have three young adult children and one dog. Their community group meets in Central Park.
The Morginskys
Sharon and Matt have lived in Denver since 2011. They have five children and one dog. Their community group meets in the Cole/ Whittier neighborhood.
The Woodmans
Kelly and Jason are Colorado natives, and have been serving Grace & Peace since its first launch service. They have four children and enjoy spending time outside together. Their community group meets in Lowry.
Staff
Lilia Chavez
Originally from Mexico City, Lilia did most of her growing up in Denver. She is the Spanish-English translator at Grace and Peace, passionate about helping others cross linguistic, racial, and cultural barriers that could be separating them from knowing Jesus. She has experienced the peace of Christ while worshiping and serving at Grace and Peace and hopes that by serving as a translator for the Spanish speaking community in Northeast Denver, they too can experience the love and peace of Jesus. Lilia works as a Registered Dietitian and is an avid athlete and dancer. She is married to Derek.
Carlos Herbert Hernandez
Born and raised in Texas, Carlos began walking with Jesus as a young teenager. In those days, His presence was a literal lifesaver, providing community and belonging. Carlos moved to Colorado in 2016, and is a Digital Marketing Consultant who provides business owners and marketing leaders with advertising, technology, and digital media solutions. As a musician, he’s played electric guitar with a number of local bands. He’s married to Jess, who brings peace, love and wit to his life. Like most Coloradans, they enjoy hiking and paddleboarding, and if you’d ever like to join them for dinner in their home, they will make you some delicious pan-seared chicken thighs.
Emily Pickell
Emily has been a part of Grace & Peace since 2017. After teaching and leading in Denver Public Schools for ten years, she now serves in various ministries. She is the Director of Operations for Grace & Peace. She also writes for The Bible Recap, D-Group, KidsCore, and Kaleidoscope. Emily met her husband Jonathan at Grace & Peace in 2021. They live in a converted 1800s general store in the heart of Denver. When they’re not there, you can find them playing in the mountains, road-tripping to a hot spring, or exploring other countries. You can contact her at emily@graceandpeacedenver.org.
Matt Morginsky
Matt hails originally from Long Island NY, but spent his teen years in Southern California. Shortly after meeting Jesus at the age of 15, he founded the band The O.C. Supertones, releasing albums and touring until 2005. While deeply involved in a church startup alongside his wife Sharon in 2004, Matt received a call to full-time ministry. In 2008, he attended Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, graduating with an MDIV in 2011.
After graduation, the Morginskys were called to Denver, CO and relocated to their new home in 2011. Shortly after moving to Denver to serve as an Assistant Pastor with a trajectory towards church-planting, the Morginskys felt Jesus drawing them towards the Whittier neighborhood in Northeast Denver, where they have lived since 2013. They were drawn to the vibrancy and eclectic makeup of the neighborhood, which was simultaneously marked by division along lines of race, class, and generation. The Morginskys believe that divided communities are in need of the healing, reconciling power of Jesus to make them whole, so they answered the call to serve their community.
Matt and Sharon love being active in the community, having people over for dinner, going on adventurous hikes and keeping up with their five brainy and active children: Maggie, Abraham, Frankie, Rivka, and Sojourner. You can contact Matt at matt@graceandpeacedenver.org.
Grace & Peace is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America and the Acts 29 network of churches.