The Rev. Tami Burks
Priest-in-Charge

Tami was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of New York in October, 2016. Born and raised a Lutheran, she was received into the Episcopal Church in 2007. Before discerning a call to the priesthood, she was a teacher and director of Christian education in a variety of schools and churches in Pennsylvania and New York. She is passionate about offering Christian formation, preaching, and worship that equip parishioners to go out and be Christ’s hands and heart in this world.

She loves that St. Thomas’ mission statement professes its welcome to all “seekers, searchers, and doubters”, because she ventures that all of us can find ourselves in one of those categories at any given time.

Tami has been active in the Mamaroneck community in a variety of ways over the past 20+ years. She currently serves on the board of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Local Summit and is a member of the Coalition for Community. She is also a diocesan facilitator and sits on the board of the Metropolitan Japanese Ministry.

She enjoys hiking, journaling, geocaching and playing board games and admits to being ridiculously competitive at the latter, which her three adult sons know all too well. 

The Rev. Lainie Murrell
Deacon

Lainie was ordained a deacon in April 2023 but has been deeply involved in church work for many years. She comes from a family full of evangelical clergymen, pastors, and missionaries. Lainie and her husband and kids found their way into the Episcopal church almost 20 years ago and have felt very at home in it. 

They have lived in Nyack since they moved to New York in the fall of 2006. Her husband Brian, who is a CPA, has served on the church vestry at Grace Nyack and now leads the high school youth group. He is on the board of Nyack Library and on the board of GOSO (Getting Out and Staying Out), a nonprofit that works with young men who were previously imprisoned or just at risk of incarceration to keep them out of prison and give them job skills and other  assistance. They have three children; taking care of them has been and will continue to be Lainie’s day job. Isaac is studying biomolecular engineering at the University of Chicago. Robin is attending SUNY Rockland, studying Cyber Security. Cormac is in middle school with a special education program with Rockland BOCES. Also living with the family is Athena, who has become a special unofficial family member. Athena is attending SUNY Rockland, studying Psychology.

Lainie has a particular passion for welcoming transgender folks to the beloved community of the church and advocating for transgender kids and their families. She is also hard at work refreshing her Spanish so that she can work with more people in the future.

Lainie keeps very busy with family and church but also has a few hobbies like reading mystery and science

fiction novels, playing Nintendo games, throwing themed parties, walking her dog, and mediocre piano-playing.

Matthew Sheens
Organist/Director of Music

Listed as one of Fred Hersch’s “pianists you should know”, and described as “an outstanding pianist, stoked full of creative ideas and limitless technique….totally innovative and luminous” by The Australian (national newspaper), Matthew graduated from the Elder Conservatorium in 2008 having been awarded the prize for top Undergraduate for piano, most outstanding honours student, and having being awarded the Adelaide University Medal for excellence in the humanities.

In 2009 he became the first Australian to win a coveted Downbeat Magazine Student Award, and was offered a scholarship to complete a Masters Degree in Music Performance at Boston’s New England Conservatory, studying with 10-time grammy nominated pianist Fred Hersch, and Macarthur Fellow, Jason Moran.

Upon graduating in 2011, Matthew relocated to NYC where has been engaged as composer, bandleader and performer since. In 2014 he was the winner of the APRA/AMCOS Professional Development Award. The same year Matthew was a Freedman Fellowship finalist, performing a set of original music at the Sydney Opera House. Sheens has performed with many musical luminaries including Bob Mintzer, Chris McNulty, Paul Bollenback, Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, Jim Pugh, John Hoffman, Tom Patitucci, Jerry Bergonzi, Jon Gordon and performs regularly with bassist John Patitucci. He has performed across Australia, USA, New Zealand, Japan, The Netherlands, at the Jazz Hoeilaart International Jazz Festival in Belgium, Montreux International Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Europafest in Romania, Australia’s Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and at the International Panama Jazz festival in Panama City.

In 2012 Sheens released his debut album, ‘Every Eight Seconds’, to wide acclaim and won the 2013 APRA/AMCOS Professional Development Award. Sheens released his second album ‘Untranslatable’ (ABC Music) in 2014, and ‘Cloud Appreciation Day’ (QFTF) September 2016, which won the ‘Jazz Couleurs Hit Award’ in France. His fourth album,’American Counterpoint’ (QFTF) in 2018, was named Australian Jazz work of the year at the APRA Art Music Awards. In 2019 his first Symphony was premiered by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and orchestrated for the Czech National Symphony Orchestra the same year.

David Bilotti
Property Manager

David grew up in Mamaroneck and brings an incredible wealth of experience to his position as Property Manager.

Before coming to St. Thomas, David worked for the New York State Thruway for 37½ years. He managed I-95 from Connecticut to just outside of New York City, supervising a large staff and dealing with all aspects of highway maintenance.

He was also the superintendent of an eighteen-family apartment building in Harrison.

When he’s not working, David enjoys boating, motorcycles, archery, and spending time with his fiancé, Patty.