Clergy & Staff at Atonement
The Rev’d Charles Farrell was born in Lake Forest, IL, where he was baptized at the Church of the Holy Spirit but moved as a child to the western prairie of Minnesota where he grew up in Morris, MN. Charles attended Shattuck School, an Episcopal boarding school founded by James Lloyd Breck who also help to found Nashotah House in Wisconsin. He attended the University of Minnesota, Morris and majored in History & English and then completed a... Continue
The Rev’d Dan Puchalla was named interim rector of Atonement in June 2022. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2012 at St Paul & the Redeemer in Hyde Park, where he served as associate rector until 2017. At that point, his husband Raff Donelson and he decided to relocate for Raff’s career as a law professor and philosopher. That took them down to Baton Rouge, then to central Pennsylvania, and now back to Chicago, where he will begin a tenured appointment at Chicago-Kent College of Law. During that time, Father Dan also returned to Chicago for a year to serve as interim rector at Annunciation in Gurnee, and he also served as a long-term supply priest for Historic St Luke’s in New Orleans and St James’s in Baton Rouge. They are so pleased to have returned to the city they love most. In addition to being a devotee of the wonderful theater, art, and music that Chicago has to offer, Father Dan is also an avid hiker… so expect many sermon stories about that.
The Rev’d Scott Elliott was ordained in February 1998, one of six in the third class of deacons since establishment of the program for the restored diaconate in this diocese. He has served at Church of the Atonement since August 2021, informally at first, then officially assigned to this parish in March 2022. He was a member of St Peter’s on Belmont beginning in 1984, and served there until 2010. He then went to St Alban’s, a small and mighty parish on the far... Continue
Since 2010, Organist and Choirmaster Charlie Sega has served as principal organist and director of the Atonement choir, Schola, and the St Cecilia Choir. During his tenure, the Atonement choir has performed over 25 orchestral masses.The three choirs keep an active repertoire of over 65 choral masses and hundreds of motets. He started the parish's voluntary choir (St Cecilia) which has now grown to nearly 30 members and sings Evensong twice a... Continue
Dr Christopher Windle enjoys an active and diverse career as a conductor and singer while based in Chicago, IL. Currently, he is the Artistic Director of the Chicago Chamber Choir. Under his direction, the choir has been hailed as “… an ensemble to seek out in a crowded field” (Vocal Arts Chicago) and praised for their “… well-blended ensemble and polished vocalism … with the sopranos secure, soaring freely in their high-flying passages,” (Chicago Classical... Continue
Jeni Eklund is a graduate of Wheaton College and has solid experience in successfully organizing complex projects, managing teams, and building community relationships. Jeni also brings valuable experience working in a church context: alongside her new part-time role at Atonement, Jeni also works as the Interim youth director at First Presbyterian in Arlington Heights.
Matt Rodgers joined the staff at Atonement in 2021 as communications director. In 2022 he took on temporary responsibility for helping parish administration and operations during the interim period. An award-winning designer, he has more than 30 years in marketing and advertising, having worked at some of Chicago’s largest agencies before starting his own business in 2016. He has worked on large national brands but finds working with small not-for-profits more rewarding. Matt is the dad of two corgis—Griff and Arwyn.
Kate Mayer serves as a integral part of the Atonement team. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the office.
Ministry Coordinators
Liturgical Coordinator
Altar Guild Coordinator
Sunday School
Adult Formation Coordinator
Richard Kieckhefer
Assisting Clergy
The Rev'd Dr. Maurice Charles
The Very Rev'd Robert S. Cristobal
The Rev'd Ted Durst
The Rev'd Kate Guistolise
The Rev'd Gary Lawler
The Very Rev'd Joy Rogers
The Rev'd Thomas C.H. Scott
The Rev'd Norma Sutton
The Rev'd Harry Tingley
The Rev'd Anne Wrider