Staff & Leadership
The Rev. Abby Ferjak, Pastor
Originally from Forest City, Iowa (the hometown of the Winnebago RV), Pastor Abby has lived throughout the United States including such exotic locations as Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA, St. Louis, MO, and most recently New York, NY. She completed her undergraduate studies at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and graduated with a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. Before coming to Grace Lutheran, Pastor Abby served as a hospital chaplain.
Pastor Abby enjoys baking, reading about historic natural disasters, and going on adventures with her wife, Becca (also a Lutheran pastor), son, Harry, and daughter, Molly.
pastor@gracelutheranscarsdale.org
Colin Rose, Musician
Colin Rose has had music running through his veins his entire life. His parents share stories and photographs of him reaching out and plunking out a melody on his mother’s old digital keyboard when he was barely tall enough to reach the keys, and his relationship with music has only grown from there.
In more recent years, Colin, a graduate of Hartt School of Music (Piano Performance major/Music History minor), has worked at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase since 2014. In his role as a staff accompanist, he provides live piano music for ballet and modern dance classes. He also serves as the Dance Building Manager, a role in which he oversees daily operations and maintenance of the conservatory’s unique facility. Colin works extensively as a freelance/gigging musician, sharing his craft with private and public audiences across Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut.
When he is not behind a keyboard, Colin is likely to be found at his lake home in Putnam County, paddling a kayak in the water or hiking in nearby Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Gigi Aronoff, Creative Playtime Director
Gigi has been at Creative Playtime for close to 12 happy years. She loves working here and with all the wonderful people connected to CP and GLC.
Gigi studied early childhood education at Lehman College and holds a Master in Professional Studies with a specialization in Special Education from Manhattanville College.
Gigi has worked in a number of different educational settings including Montessori and special education. She has directed a variety of childcare programs including one for children experiencing homelessness, and she had the privilege of forming and launching a new childcare program for a non-profit organization.
Gigi lives in White Plains (born and raised!) with her husband, David. Gigi has a wonderful family, which she is very proud of: Sara (daughter), Jonah (son-in-law), Sal (grandchild), Franny (grandchild), Sam (son), Maddy (daughter-in-law), Emily (step-child), James (step-child), Courtney (daughter-in-law). Many of them are in the field of education!
When Gigi’s not at CP or babysitting Sal & Franny, she likes running, hiking, cooking, gardening, and - before Covid - traveling.
Cheryl Wesley, Administrative Assistant
Cheryl is officially retired after 12 years as a caseworker with Westchester County Social Services and 26 years as an administrator at Children's Village. At Children’s Village she met our Creative Playtime Director, Gigi. Being a part-time Administrative Assistant for Grace Church and Creative Playtime has turned out to be a perfect fit for her in retirement!