The Reverend Karen L. Mercer, Vicar
Prior to joining the Episcopal priesthood, Mother Karen had already spent decades in service to others. She was a substance abuse and sexual assault counselor at several centers in Indiana and Maryland and worked as a deputy division director in public health at the Health Services and Resources Administration. She most recently was in private practice as the owner and executive director of A Renewed Mind Behavioral Health Center in Catonsville while also serving as a health insurance specialist at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight focusing on the Affordable Care Act.
Mother Karen was called to the Church of the Holy Nativity in 2022 and is committed to walking with the people of God, encouraging them and assisting them to grow deeper in knowledge of and their relationship with Jesus Christ. She studied theology at The Ecumenical Institute, earned her M.S. in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Maryland, and holds a B.A. in psychology from Purdue University.
Mother Karen is married to Rev. Charles Mercer and she is the mother of Hope and Michael. Mother Karen and Fr. Charles are grandparents to Cierra, Michael, and Jasmine.
Lior Leigh, Music Director
Award-winning pianist Lior Leigh performs as a solo and chamber artist in the US and abroad. At the age of 19, he made his New York concerto debut at Carnegie Hall performing Piano Concerto No. 1 by Dmitri Shostakovich. Lior has collaborated in recitals with musicians of the Boston Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra. He earned the Bachelor of Music degree, the Master of Music degree, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Active in the Baltimore community, Lior is the Founder/Artistic Director of the If Music Be the Food concert series in Baltimore which acts to increase support and awareness for those struggling with food insecurity. The series, which partners with the Maryland Food Bank, has raised thousands of meals for those in need.
Adapted from liorpiano.com
