The Rev. Valerie A. Valle, Ph.D.

The Reverend Valerie A. Valle, Ph.D. has been the Rector of Saint Barnabas since October 2006. She served as the Vicar of Saint Alban's Episcopal Church in Brentwood California for 12 years before answering the call to the central coast of California. Before being ordained, she was a college professor and a psychologist. Along with her professional publications, she has had a sermon entitled "Removing Dirt — Reversing Direction" published in Preaching Through the Year of Mark: Sermons That Work VIII.

She has been married to Ronald Valle since June 1969. They have three grown children. Reverend Valerie enjoys music of all kinds, Sharks hockey games, and any opportunity to be in the beauty of nature.

(Go here to listen to Rev Valerie's Sermons)

(Read Rev Valerie's blog)

The Reverend Canon Jeremy W. Bond, Retired Priest

Born in Detroit, Michigan on July 9, 1938, the Reverend Bond grew up outside the village of Yorktown Heights some forty miles north of New York City. He finished high school in 1955, Kenyon College in 1959, and the General Theological Seminary in May 1962.

Ordained deacon and priest that year, he was assigned by the bishop of New York to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine as an Assistant Minister. From there he moved on to a similar position at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1964. He then served as Rector of St. Paul's, Harrisburg, from the spring of 1968 to the spring of 1979 when he and his family moved an hour north. There he became Rector of St. Matthew's in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, a position he held until retirement. The Reverend Bond also served as Vicar of St. Mark’s, Northumberland, from January 1989 to retirement.

He married Kathy in September 1962. They now enjoy three grown children and four grandchildren. He retired August 1, 2003, and they moved from Sunbury to Grover Beach in June 2004 and quickly got involved with St. Barnabas.

Mr. Chris Bowman, Organist / Director of Music

Mr. Bowman is a multifaceted musician with credits as a conductor, award-winning composer, arranger, organist, pianist, trumpet player and tenor soloist. He is equally at home with classical, popular or jazz styles of music. In addition to being the Organist/Director of Music at St. Barnabas, he is the Conductor/Composer-in-Residence of the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale, Orchestra, Chamber Singers, and Youth Chorale; and a musician, composer, arranger for WavePoint Productions. His wife, Cathleen, is a soprano soloist and visual artist.

Honey

Honey joined the staff of Saint Barnabas on August 25, 2007, when she came to live with the Rector. Born at the beginning of July, 2007, in Concord, California, she is enjoying Central Coast living. As a part-time presence in the church office, her current responsibilities consist of eliciting smiles and comments about cute puppies as well as taking naps. She was once seen accompanying the Rector on a home visit, which led her to begin thinking that she may want to train as a therapy dog when she grows up.

Honey update: Now 6 months old, Honey has entered her adolescence. She loves people, especially those she is meeting for the first time. She has graduated from beginner obedience training and is continuing to practice what she was introduced to. She is working hard on learning how to sit to greet people but sometimes (often) gets overexcited. She is less often at the office these days, but you may find her hanging out on a chain in the courtyard. She would love to meet you, but please make sure she is sitting before you give her your love.