Our Minister- the Rev. Kirsty Hunter
For those of you who may have missed the exciting annoucement last week, we have a new minister starting on January 15, 2025, the Rev. Kirsty Hunter. Kirsty is a graduate of both Emmanuel College University of Toronto (Master of Divinity) and the University of Calgary (Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology). Kirsty brings 17 years ministerial experience, having served at Knox (Sutton) Pastoral Charge/Virginia Pastoral Charge, Minesing United Church Pastoral Charge and as Youth Minister at Holly United Church Mission. Rev. Hunter has ministered congregations through change and transformation, including becoming an Affirming Congregation. She is committed to the United Church’s mission, values and theology including demonstrating this at the congregation level and the regional council. Her interest in and aptitude for outreach and social justice will compliment a vision for growing together in faith.
A welcoming committee will be formed to help welcome Rev. Kirsty Hunter to St. Paul’s in the new year. It has been a privilege and an honour to be chair of this committee and become better acquainted with everyone on this hardworking team!
Rev. Karen Ptolemy-Stam Retired May 2024
Called to St. Paul’s in 2011, retired May of 2024, Karen loves working with this congregation and its staff. There is a spirt of grace here at St. Paul’s as it lives out its calling to be immersed in the ministry of Christ. She is passionate about social justice and living a faith that is relevant to today’s times. She is also an On-Call Chaplain for the Georgian Bay General Hospital and a worship leader at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. Ordained in 1984, she has served as the Bay of Quinte Conference Minister with the Deaf, as the minister of Fenelon Falls United Church, Fenelon Falls, Ont., George St. U.C. in Peterborough, Ontario, and then St. Paul’s.
She received her Master of Divinity (1984) from Queen’s Theological College and her B.A. in Philosophy (1981) from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario She served on the General Council Executive and its Sub-Executive. She has chaired numerous committees at all levels of the church courts.
Sailing, hiking, biking, canoeing and a love of nature makes living on the shores of Georgian Bay a joy.
From the Chair of the Official Board – Sue Dorion
On behalf of the Official Board of St. Paul’s, I want to inform you that I received Karen Ptolemy-Stam’s letter stating she will retire May 31st, 2024, which also marks 40 years of ordination! She is doing so at this time to allow us eight months to establish a committee to search for a new minister, as it can be quite a lengthy process. So… she’s not going anywhere just yet! It is certainly with mixed feelings that I received this letter on your behalf, addressed to both myself and Carolyn Hendry, our Chair of M&P, but of course I’m sure you will join me in wishing her well as she embarks on this next chapter of her life.
From the Minister
As you just read, I will be retiring at the end of May, 2024. At that time, I will have served St. Paul’s just a few months shy of thirteen years. May 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of my ordination. I think it is time for me to move on to another chapter of my life. It has been an honour and a privilege to be your minister all these years. I love being part of the work and ministry of St. Paul’s in this wonderful congregation. Walking the path of Christ with you is life giving. There is a spirit here that I value greatly. I am not leaving right away. I look forward to continuing here until the end of May.
Director of Music
Victoria Warwick
Victoria loves the role of Music Director at St Paul’s United Church as it provides varied and interesting opportunities to interact with the congregation and the larger Midland community. Having been born and raised here, she is delighted to give back in this way.
Victoria received her early training with Clifford McAree and James Anagnoson in Toronto and holds degrees of Bachelor of Music (Performance), Bachelor of Education and Master of Music (Collaborative Piano) from the Don Wright Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario, where she studied with John-Paul Bracey, Peter Smith and John Hess.
In 1982, she joined the teaching staff at Conservatory Canada and was appointed an examiner in 1988. She was named National Executive Director of Conservatory Canada in 2001 and held that position for 13 years.
In addition to being Music Director at St. Paul’s United Church, she is also Director of the Bell A’Peal Handbell Choir and the Georgian Bay Ringmasters Handchime Choir of St Paul’s, Director of the Bay Sound Children’s Choir and Bay Sound VIVO Choir, music and choir Director of the Bay Sound Singers (formerly Serenata) and also Director of the Midland Y’s Men’s Music Festival.
Children and Youth Worker
Rebecca Amadei
Rebecca leads the Children (Discovery Kids) and Youth Programs at St. Paul’s. Each Sunday of the year, she offers enriching and faith-based lessons using stories, art, music and dance for the Discovery Kids. She also facilitates opportunities for the children to gather outside of church, including Camp Awesome (regional United Church camp program) and outdoor adventures. Once per month, she engages the youth in meaningful topics including mental health, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ advocacy, social justice, community outreach and outdoor activities. Her position at St. Paul’s is a great fit for her because it combines her passion for developing faith and spirituality in young people with her commitment to building a better world through education.
Rebecca has a degree in Religious Studies from St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto. She is also part of the leadership team from Camp Micah, an Ecumenical High School Leadership Camp for Social Justice.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Their favourite places include the beach, camping in the backcountry, biking around local trails and hosting house concerts at their home in Midland.
Administrator
Louise Therrien
Louise is the Office Administrator at St. Paul’s United church, having started in in March 2017. Prior to this, she enjoyed a 40-year career with the Federal Public Service, working in various positions including Employment Insurance Claims Assessor, Employment Counsellor, Labour Market Information Analyst and Outreach worker. She also worked part-time as the bookkeeper for the family’s small business. She has lived and worked in Midland all her adult life. Louise enjoys her work immensely at St. Paul’s and finds the staff and congregation extremely friendly and pleasurable to work and interact with. In her spare time, she enjoys long nature walks, reading and spending quality time with friends and extended family.
Technical Services Coordinator
Glenn Erwin
Glenn’s interest in technology began at a young age. He dismantled his father’s expensive Swiss watch to see how it worked and that was the last time it worked. He grew up in Toronto. In school, he was a member of the drama club as sound man, lighting technician and stage manager on different productions. In his late teens, he moved to North Western Ontario to work in the lumber mills as a shift Supervisor. As the industry started adopting computers, he became the “go to person” because of his knowledge and love of emerging technology. After 35 years in the industry, Glenn moved to Midland, Ontario and worked as a teacher’s aid in the Adult Learning Centres and taught industrial health and safety courses for Georgian College. For the last 6 years he has been the Audiovisual Technician for The Midland Cultural Centre. In 2019 Glenn expanded on his love of people and media by joining the team at St. Paul’s United Church as Technical Services Coordinator.
Custodian
Jim Lamers
The Official Board hired Jim Lamers as our custodian at St. Paul’s on March 1st 2023. He brings a wealth of experience as a church custodian and is excited to be part of the St. Paul’s staff team. If you see him at the church, please be sure to introduce yourself. Thank you to our Search Committee, Carolyn Hendry and Marilyn Broome from the Ministry and Personnel Committee and Bruce Wilcox from the Property Committee.
Administrative Assistant
Judy McConnell
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