The Lord works in mysterious ways and places -- sometimes while waiting for an oil change at Jiffy Lube. The chance meeting there in March between our rector and Gretchen Jordan ultimately led to Gretchen becoming the new director of Christian education at the Chapel of the Cross.

It wasn't something she planned. She had planned to take a respite from a busy career before investigating new job opportunities. After nine years in medical social work in Moore County, followed by two years in Christian education at the Presbyterian church where she had been a member for 14 years, Gretchen continued her work in Christian education when her husband's job change brought the family to Durham. From 1990 until 2001, Gretchen served as director of Christian education at Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill.

Earlier this year, though, a force stronger than her own propelled Gretchen back to the church. In February, while browsing through the Village Advocate for part-time work in a social service or other nonprofit field, Gretchen came across a position for children's minister at a local church. "It was as if God came into the room and gave me CPR -- life came back, energy was oozing," she explains. "I knew that God had a different plan for me."

Fortunately for the Chapel of the Cross, Gretchen did not get that position, and her chance meeting with Stephen Elkins-Williams brought her to the church's doorstep.

Gretchen and her husband, Sam, who is manager of Mid-Atlantic Stihl, have lived in Durham for 14 years. They have two grown children: Liz, who married Ryan Mackie last July, is a consultant for KPMG and lives in Alexandria, Va., and Michael Jordan (not the tall, wealthy airborne one, Gretchen is quick to point out), who works at CCB in Chapel Hill.

Gretchen was raised and nurtured in the United Church of Christ, where her father was a minister, and became a Presbyterian when she married Sam. She readily admits she has a lot to learn about the Episcopal church and has already begun that learning process.

Not surprisingly, Gretchen has set several goals for her first year in her new position, which began July 15. Her first priority is to immerse herself in the full life of the parish and begin to get to know the parishioners. She wants to use her love for children and enjoyment of working with children and their families to nurture education at the church. "I want to partner, support, encourage, and guide individuals in their lifelong faith journey, beginning at birth through the transition from this earthly life," she says. "I also want to help people discern and apply their gifts for ministry."

Gretchen describes her teaching style as experiential and is anxious to begin her work at the Chapel of the Cross: "There is no doubt that God has been working in this process, just as God has worked throughout my entire life, often in surprising ways!"