Welcome Deacon Cindy!
“Cynthia Gainer (Deacon Cindy) has been an ordained deacon in The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh since June of 2023. She currently serves the diocese as Regular Supply Clergy on Saturday evenings to St. Bartholomew Trinity Episcopal Church in Scottdale; A tiny church with fourteen pews! Recently, she was appointed to serve as deacon to St. Michael’s of the Valley, while she discerns a call to the priesthood.
Cindy received her Certificate of Diaconal Studies in 2021 from Trinity School of Ministry in Ambridge, PA and is currently studying at Sewanee Theological Seminary at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, a hybrid graduate program. She takes in-person classes on the campus in January and June and continues studies online during the remaining months of the year.
“Deacon Cindy has a B.F.A. from Seton Hill College, with graduate studies from Indiana University of PA and Harvard University. She has a certificate in Gestalt Therapy from the GTFP program, Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania State Teaching certification in Art and Early Childhood education; and has taught in numerous schools including Ligonier Valley and Valley School of Ligonier. She has authored and co-authored several children’s books and occasionally works at her drawing board when time permits. She lives in Penn-Twp (near Jeannette). Deacon Cindy is widowed and has an adult son, August Matrisch. She enjoys planting wildflowers, walking, swimming and likes to sit in the evenings on her porch swing or inside on her couch with her cat, Jinglebelle.”
In addition to Cindy’s liturgical duties on Sundays as a Deacon, she will work with Jack on Children’s
Sunday School. She will be a natural fit to help with this when Jack moves on to his new parish.