The Reverend Thomas Becker, Priest-in-Charge

Father Thomas was born and raised in Newark, Delaware. He holds degrees from Centre College (B.S., Economics), Vanderbilt University (M.Ed., Leadership & Organizational Performance), and Sewanee: The University of the South (M.Div.). Prior to his ordination, Father Thomas worked for his entire career in school settings in areas adjacent to Appalachia, including stints in both higher and secondary boarding education. In addition to admission roles at Vanderbilt and Centre, he served in a variety of positions at The Webb School (Bell Buckle, TN) and Christ School (Arden, NC) including teacher, coach, lay chaplain, college counselor, and dorm parent.

During seminary, Father Thomas completed over a year and a half of field education at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. After graduating, he accepted a call back to his “chosen home” of Kentucky where he served as Associate Rector at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington. There, he worked as the clergy coordinator for Christ Church’s Pastoral Care, Outreach, Pride (LGBTQ+), Youth, and Young Adult ministries.

Since 2024, Father Thomas has served in a variety of roles across the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware: Associate Chaplain at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Chaplain-in-Residence at Camp Arrowhead in Lewes, and as Supply Clergy up and down the state. He will make his home in Huntington with his beloved and lovable mini Aussie (Maggie), his Green Bay Packers paraphernalia, well-worn hiking boots, a growing Blenko glass collection, a needlepoint project in some stage of completion, and more books than any one human needs to own.

Email: tbecker@stjohnshuntington.org

Alex Pryrodny, Organist & Choir Director

Alex Pryrodny is a New York City based pianist, organist, composer, and music director. Originally from Ukraine, Alex started studying piano at the age of 3 and gave his first public performance at the age of 6. By his early teens, Alex has won the title of Ukraine’s best young composer twice, as well as several international competitions in classical piano, composition, and improvisation. At the age of 16 Alex moved to the United States where he studied composition and classical piano in the University of Maryland and jazz piano at the New School in New York City (BFA in 2008). Alex has performed in concert halls and jazz clubs in the United States, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Poland, and Ukraine. In 2012 he has been awarded the 2nd place at the highly prestigious Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition in Switzerland.

In addition to his career as a pianist, Alex has been studying organ and vocal sacred music since childhood and in 2002 he started working as a church musician on a regular basis. He has organized and performed in various fundraising and charity concerts for the St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Deer Park, the Franciscan Episcopal Community of Little Portion Friary in Port Jefferson, NY and in his current capacity as the music director of St. John’s in Huntington. Whether in a church, concert hall or a jazz club setting, Alex’s goal is to use the incredible power of music to inspire, uplift and bring people together.

Jennifer Hebert, St. John's Nursery School Director

Jen Hebert has been the director of St. John's Nursery school for 15 years. She received her degree from Tufts University, earning a Master's in Early Childhood Education in 1991.

After several years of teaching kindergarten in a public school district in Massachusetts, Jen relocated back to Long Island (where she grew up) with her husband, Jamie, to start their family. Once her children were school-aged, Jen went back to work, first as a preschool classroom teacher and then as director of St. John's Nursery School.

Jen and her husband, Jamie, have raised three boys here, all graduates of Huntington High School. Over the years, Jen has been actively involved in the Huntington community. She served nine years on the Huntington Board of Education. Currently, she sits on the board of trustees of the Huntington Public Library and serves on the Huntington Town Council.