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The Rev. Sonia Sullivan-Clifton
Rector

Pastor Sonia has a zeal for helping others find their place in God's world.  She enjoys the opportunity to walk with others in their life’s journey, and especially helping them to find Christ along the way. 

Pastor Sonia comes to us from Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, where she has served as a Chaplain, and from Christ the King Church where she served as the Associate Rector, both since 2003. Her community involvement includes volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, KidsGames, Relay for Life and many others. She has a passion for mission work, both at home and abroad. Her other loves (and entertainment) are her husband, Steve (the Rector of Christ the King Church), her son Christopher (a junior at FSU), her stepdaughter Catherine (a junior at the University of the South), her “pseudo-children” (the young adults God seems always to be bringing into her life to raise), and Walt Disney World. Take a peek at her office and you'll discover her infatuation with Mickey Mouse; and if you ask, you'll hear the cool story behind it too!

Before moving to Orlando, she served for ten years in Swainsboro, Georgia. Her major responsibility there was serving as the rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and in several diocesan leadership capacities. She led a community-wide youth ministry program called CrossRoads and was a part of many community outreach organizations.  She served on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club and the Sunshine House Children's Advocacy Center, led Youth Leadership Emanuel, was one of the County Chairs for Relay for Life, and served on the Community Involvement Committee for the public school system.

Pastor Sonia was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, received her BBA ('84) and MBA ('89) degrees from Valdosta State University and her M.Div. ('93) from the University of the South (Sewanee).  Outside of professional ministry, her work experience is rooted in management and marketing, mainly for non-profit organizations.

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Libby Sellers, Music Minister

Season’s Greetings to everyone at St. Matthews Parish!  My name is Libby Sellers and I am going to be the Parish Musician here, beginning in the new year.  I am looking forward to serving with you and for you in the music ministry.
 

I come from a musical family.  My sister, brother, and I all play instruments, and have served in church music ministry during our adult lives.  My mother, a very talented musician, all taught us to play the piano, because this was her way of sharing herself with us.  She also did many things to encourage our spiritual growth.   My sister and I decided to major in music.
 

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina.  Did I mention that I was a Tarheel from many generations back?  My family has lived in North Carolina since before the Revolutionary War, so I am a PROUD Tarheel.  I met my husband, Dan, at school.  He is a fine organist, and has been a church musician for several years.  He is also a nurse.  We have a college-age son, Paul, who is our pride and joy. 

I am a career music teacher; I have taught school for over twenty-five years.   I am currently teaching at St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando.  I have also taught English, Social Studies, and Theater Arts part of the time, because those are three subjects that I am also passionate about!  I have participated in community theater here for several years.  My dream is to FINALLY play the Mother Abbess role in a production of
The Sound of Music.  I have played two of the other “big nun” roles, but I have never landed that one yet.  Someday…  I am also part of a five lady singing group, The St. Andrew Sisters (Yes, we are on youtube).  We have a lot of fun, and are available for club meetings, rehearsal dinner parties, etc.

My prayer for you all in the new year is that God will continue to bless St. Matthew’s and the music ministry.

Sharon Bailey
Parish Administrator

Sharon, originally from Ohio, has lived in the central Florida area since she was eight years old.  She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in secondary education in mathematics.  Prior to her joining the staff of St. Matthew’s in 2007, she was the parish administrator for Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Orlando for twelve years.


Sharon
has been married for twenty-two years to Steve, a licensed mental health counselor. They have one son, Matthew, who is a junior at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

Feel free to come by and meet us!

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Orlando, FL 32817