The Reverend Doctor Peter Wyatt
Peter Wyatt is a former principal of Emmanuel College, where he taught in the fields of ecumenism, mission, and congregational leadership. Ordained by the former Hamilton Conference in 1969, he has served pastorates in Alberta (St. Paul), Port Hope, Hamilton (Melrose), and Toronto. Following a joint pastorate at Trinity-St. Paul’s in Toronto with his wife, Joan, he became General Secretary for Theology, Faith and Ecumenism of the United Church. There he served as lead staff in the development of key General Council reports such as “Mending the World,” “Reconciling and Making New,” and “Bearing Faithful Witness.” He is author of articles both academic and popular, and of two books, Jesus Christ and Creation in the Theology of John Calvin and The Page that Fell out of my Bible.
Peter graduated in philosophy from Victoria College (6T6) and in theology from Union Theological Seminary, New York (1969); in 1983 received the degree of Doctor of Theology conjointly from the Toronto School of Theology and the University of Toronto. A convinced ecumenist, he has participated in Roman Catholic/United Church Dialogue in Canada and on the Reformed/Roman Catholic Joint Commission internationally. He served three times as academic dean of the biennial Global Institute of Theology sponsored by the World Communion of Reformed Churches. He recently retired as editor of Touchstone, a theological journal committed to the importance of theology and heritage in the United Church.
Among Peter’s enjoyments are reading, hiking, swimming, and singing. Peter and Joan have four children and six grandchildren. They live on Lake Cecebe near Magnetawan.
Welcome to Trinity, Peter Wyatt!
Peter Wyatt is a former principal of Emmanuel College, where he taught in the fields of ecumenism, mission, and congregational leadership. Ordained by the former Hamilton Conference in 1969, he has served pastorates in Alberta (St. Paul), Port Hope, Hamilton (Melrose), and Toronto. Following a joint pastorate at Trinity-St. Paul’s in Toronto with his wife, Joan, he became General Secretary for Theology, Faith and Ecumenism of the United Church. There he served as lead staff in the development of key General Council reports such as “Mending the World,” “Reconciling and Making New,” and “Bearing Faithful Witness.” He is author of articles both academic and popular, and of two books, Jesus Christ and Creation in the Theology of John Calvin and The Page that Fell out of my Bible.
Peter graduated in philosophy from Victoria College (6T6) and in theology from Union Theological Seminary, New York (1969); in 1983 received the degree of Doctor of Theology conjointly from the Toronto School of Theology and the University of Toronto. A convinced ecumenist, he has participated in Roman Catholic/United Church Dialogue in Canada and on the Reformed/Roman Catholic Joint Commission internationally. He served three times as academic dean of the biennial Global Institute of Theology sponsored by the World Communion of Reformed Churches. He recently retired as editor of Touchstone, a theological journal committed to the importance of theology and heritage in the United Church.
Among Peter’s enjoyments are reading, hiking, swimming, and singing. Peter and Joan have four children and six grandchildren. They live on Lake Cecebe near Magnetawan.
Welcome to Trinity, Peter Wyatt!
Pastoral Care Coordinator, Karen Hamra
Karen moved to Huntsville in 2012 from Toronto. She did her theological training in Toronto before moving to Huntsville and in 2015 returned to Toronto for a year to do the Clinical Pastoral Education training at University Health Networks.
Since the fall of 2016 she has been working one day a week at the Bracebridge Hospital and one day at the Huntsville hospital as their Spiritual Care Practitioner. She loves the work and loves living in Huntsville.
Karen enjoys spending time with friends and family including her two children who live in Toronto. She cross country skis, hikes, snowshoes and loves her time by the lake in the summer.
Trinity welcomes Karen (May 2019)!
Karen moved to Huntsville in 2012 from Toronto. She did her theological training in Toronto before moving to Huntsville and in 2015 returned to Toronto for a year to do the Clinical Pastoral Education training at University Health Networks.
Since the fall of 2016 she has been working one day a week at the Bracebridge Hospital and one day at the Huntsville hospital as their Spiritual Care Practitioner. She loves the work and loves living in Huntsville.
Karen enjoys spending time with friends and family including her two children who live in Toronto. She cross country skis, hikes, snowshoes and loves her time by the lake in the summer.
Trinity welcomes Karen (May 2019)!
Our Church Administrator, Suzy Simson
Suzy has been back in Canada and living in the Huntsville area with her husband and children since the year 2000. She grew up in East Challow near Oxford, England and was only 17 years old when she met her future husband, Ray, in the pub where she worked. Ray grew up on Three Mile Lake near Windermere, and was in England visiting family at the time. Suzy and Ray moved to Canada together for 3 years, and then back to England for 10 years where they were married. Their first daughter, Molly, was born in England. When Molly was only 18 months old they moved back to Canada, and their second daughter Megan was born here in 2001.
Suzy has honed her secretarial and administrative skills over the years. She has been a stay-at-home Mom with her two girls, as well as helping to run her husband's drywall business "The Art of Drywall", which has been operating since 2004.
Suzy started her new job as Trinity United Church's Church Administrator in the spring of 2015. She brings to us a wealth of organizational and administrative skills. Some of her responsibilities include preparing the bulletin each week for the Sunday Service, booking and organizing all the rentals for the church, including regular users of our facilities. Suzy handles all inquiries coming into the church office. Her enthusiasm and pleasant personality is appreciated by all who come through Trinity’s doors.
Suzy has been back in Canada and living in the Huntsville area with her husband and children since the year 2000. She grew up in East Challow near Oxford, England and was only 17 years old when she met her future husband, Ray, in the pub where she worked. Ray grew up on Three Mile Lake near Windermere, and was in England visiting family at the time. Suzy and Ray moved to Canada together for 3 years, and then back to England for 10 years where they were married. Their first daughter, Molly, was born in England. When Molly was only 18 months old they moved back to Canada, and their second daughter Megan was born here in 2001.
Suzy has honed her secretarial and administrative skills over the years. She has been a stay-at-home Mom with her two girls, as well as helping to run her husband's drywall business "The Art of Drywall", which has been operating since 2004.
Suzy started her new job as Trinity United Church's Church Administrator in the spring of 2015. She brings to us a wealth of organizational and administrative skills. Some of her responsibilities include preparing the bulletin each week for the Sunday Service, booking and organizing all the rentals for the church, including regular users of our facilities. Suzy handles all inquiries coming into the church office. Her enthusiasm and pleasant personality is appreciated by all who come through Trinity’s doors.
Our Director of Music, John Langille
John Langille (Johnny to his friends) came to Huntsville in the fall of 1997 from his home in Nova Scotia. From a very musical family of strong Baptists, it was natural for Johnny to be very involved in music in the church. He grew up in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, enjoying competitive racket sports in high school, lawn bowling and playing clarinet in the band. He was a 5 time Nova Scotia swimming champion and the butterfly was his specialty. Graduating from Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia with a Bachelor of Arts in history and an honours degree, he substituted in the elementary system in music and worked also as a kitchen manager.
Largely self taught Johnny completed his formal piano training with the Toronto Conservatory of Music. His organ work began in 1983 and has taken him from Middleton, Nova Scotia to Dartmouth and Halifax, and finally to us in Huntsville. Working at the Deerhurst Resort as a fine-dining server, he also was the Supervisor of Staff Housing, overseeing young adults who come to work there from all over the world. Johnny’s musical talents are evident on a weekly basis at Trinity as he works with the choir of 30, presenting challenging cantatas and anthems. His organ and piano solos are always a treat and his love of music and sharing God’s message this way are meaningful and a blessing to all.
John Langille (Johnny to his friends) came to Huntsville in the fall of 1997 from his home in Nova Scotia. From a very musical family of strong Baptists, it was natural for Johnny to be very involved in music in the church. He grew up in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, enjoying competitive racket sports in high school, lawn bowling and playing clarinet in the band. He was a 5 time Nova Scotia swimming champion and the butterfly was his specialty. Graduating from Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia with a Bachelor of Arts in history and an honours degree, he substituted in the elementary system in music and worked also as a kitchen manager.
Largely self taught Johnny completed his formal piano training with the Toronto Conservatory of Music. His organ work began in 1983 and has taken him from Middleton, Nova Scotia to Dartmouth and Halifax, and finally to us in Huntsville. Working at the Deerhurst Resort as a fine-dining server, he also was the Supervisor of Staff Housing, overseeing young adults who come to work there from all over the world. Johnny’s musical talents are evident on a weekly basis at Trinity as he works with the choir of 30, presenting challenging cantatas and anthems. His organ and piano solos are always a treat and his love of music and sharing God’s message this way are meaningful and a blessing to all.
Minister Emeritus, The Reverend John McTavish
Do you remember what you were doing on July 1, 1967? John McTavish certainly does. It was the first day of his life as a United Church minister in the community of Port Loring, a small village west of Trout Creek. John 'hit the heights' that day, sharing the back seat of a convertible with the late Stan Darling, long time member of parliament for Parry Sound - Muskoka in that town's Centennial celebration parade. As John so irreverently says, his career was all down hill from there! And what a career it was.
Following the path of most young ministers, John and Marion and their family moved to Richmond Hill for five years before arriving in Bracebridge in 1975. John and Marion have always had a love of theatre and together they have produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals over the years. It was in Bracebridge that John made mark as a person who wouldn't bow to pressure when their production of Godspell was picketed by a group of Christian fundamentalists. He says he has taken a few hits to the jaw but has never been knocked out. In fact, John went on to publish his own director's manual for Godspell which has been used by a number of other productions.
After several years in Bracebridge the McTavish family was off to Kitchener before arriving in Huntsville in 1988 and here John really blossomed as a minister and in his outreach to the community. For that is what John's efforts as director amounted to. He pulled people in from the entire community for an experience many would never forget. One of John's favourite playwrights is Alan Ayckburn and he and Marion have produced the Norman Conquests twice in their favourite format, Theatre in the Round. John even had the chance to play Norman himself in one of these productions. Musicals have also played a large role in John's directing career. Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Lil' Abner and Godspell have all graced the small stage in Trinity Hall.
John is also an accomplished playwright and the congregation at Trinity has been enriched by his stirring chancel plays, especially the one honouring Martin Luther King. For a number of years John had a regular column in the Weekender and has been a book reviewer for the Observer and the Presbyterian Record. Thankfully, although John has been retired for over five years, he is till contributing to the richness of life in Huntsville and especially to the enrichment of the congregation of Trinity. Late in 2009 John was honoured to be designated Minister Emeritus of Trinity United Church, an honour well deserved. Well done, John! Not such a downhill slide after all.
Do you remember what you were doing on July 1, 1967? John McTavish certainly does. It was the first day of his life as a United Church minister in the community of Port Loring, a small village west of Trout Creek. John 'hit the heights' that day, sharing the back seat of a convertible with the late Stan Darling, long time member of parliament for Parry Sound - Muskoka in that town's Centennial celebration parade. As John so irreverently says, his career was all down hill from there! And what a career it was.
Following the path of most young ministers, John and Marion and their family moved to Richmond Hill for five years before arriving in Bracebridge in 1975. John and Marion have always had a love of theatre and together they have produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals over the years. It was in Bracebridge that John made mark as a person who wouldn't bow to pressure when their production of Godspell was picketed by a group of Christian fundamentalists. He says he has taken a few hits to the jaw but has never been knocked out. In fact, John went on to publish his own director's manual for Godspell which has been used by a number of other productions.
After several years in Bracebridge the McTavish family was off to Kitchener before arriving in Huntsville in 1988 and here John really blossomed as a minister and in his outreach to the community. For that is what John's efforts as director amounted to. He pulled people in from the entire community for an experience many would never forget. One of John's favourite playwrights is Alan Ayckburn and he and Marion have produced the Norman Conquests twice in their favourite format, Theatre in the Round. John even had the chance to play Norman himself in one of these productions. Musicals have also played a large role in John's directing career. Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Lil' Abner and Godspell have all graced the small stage in Trinity Hall.
John is also an accomplished playwright and the congregation at Trinity has been enriched by his stirring chancel plays, especially the one honouring Martin Luther King. For a number of years John had a regular column in the Weekender and has been a book reviewer for the Observer and the Presbyterian Record. Thankfully, although John has been retired for over five years, he is till contributing to the richness of life in Huntsville and especially to the enrichment of the congregation of Trinity. Late in 2009 John was honoured to be designated Minister Emeritus of Trinity United Church, an honour well deserved. Well done, John! Not such a downhill slide after all.
Our Custodian, Judy Hall
Judy arrived in Huntsville thirty years ago to set up practice as a Registered Massage Therapist. In 2006, she became involved with the Scouting organization sponsored by Trinity United. Judy started attending services so she could figure out how the Scouts could interact with the church, especially in Remembrance Day services and found a connection with Rev. Derek Shelly and his history in Scouting. She has never left.
Judy grew up in the United Church and is the granddaughter of a United Church minister. As a teen, she was confirmed at the church her grandfather had ministered at and also cleaned the church there. She attended Seneca College to study in the Recreation Facilities Management program.
Over the years Judy has contributed to Trinity by serving on the Fellowship and Membership, and the former Property and Finance committees. All this experience gives Judy the knowledge of what is required to keep up the facility and make it work for the users.
In Judy’s spare time, she cuts grass at Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course, golfs, and enjoys all the outdoor activities that Muskoka has to offer.
Judy arrived in Huntsville thirty years ago to set up practice as a Registered Massage Therapist. In 2006, she became involved with the Scouting organization sponsored by Trinity United. Judy started attending services so she could figure out how the Scouts could interact with the church, especially in Remembrance Day services and found a connection with Rev. Derek Shelly and his history in Scouting. She has never left.
Judy grew up in the United Church and is the granddaughter of a United Church minister. As a teen, she was confirmed at the church her grandfather had ministered at and also cleaned the church there. She attended Seneca College to study in the Recreation Facilities Management program.
Over the years Judy has contributed to Trinity by serving on the Fellowship and Membership, and the former Property and Finance committees. All this experience gives Judy the knowledge of what is required to keep up the facility and make it work for the users.
In Judy’s spare time, she cuts grass at Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course, golfs, and enjoys all the outdoor activities that Muskoka has to offer.
