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![]() Rev. Karen Smart – Minister of Pastoral Care revkarensmartssuc@gmail.com 905-728-8143 Karen was appointed to serve us at Simcoe Street as our part-time minister of Pastoral Care while we seek for an Intentional Interim Minster. Karen is married to Tom and they have three children – John, Cameron, and Laura. A graduate of Emmanuel College’s MDiv program, Karen provides pastoral care and support to all our church’s ministries. Karen enjoys connecting with people of all ages and sharing stories with them. |
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![]() Rev. Daryl Webber – Intentional Interim Minister rev.webberssuc@gmail.com 905-728-8143 Welcome to SSUC! I am Rev. Daryl Webber and am a newbie around here! I am so excited to have begun a time of Intentional Ministry with Simcoe Street United Church as of June 1, 2022. I graduated from Atlantic School of Theology in 1996 and was settled in a couple of small towns in Southeast Saskatchewan and served in several Ontario congregations since, the most recent in St. Thomas. The journey of Ministry has deepened and strengthened my practice of leadership in congregations and in teams, and at the same time has shaped and expanded my Christian Spiritual practice too. I am so glad to be here at Simcoe Street UC in Oshawa, Ontario. To me this time is a convergence of long-established congregational life as a primary family of faith for people of all ages and the opportunity to live in the present moment of deep need with the Back Door Ministry which has really met a deep need for 20 years and especially through the pandemic. I look forward to working with the Transition Team, Karen the Pastoral Care Minister, Suzy our Sunday School staff person, Jennifer our Office Admin person, Andy our Caretaker, and the various working committees. I am thankful and so encouraged by the team Simcoe has in place to help congregational life be robust and the committee structure that encourages balance and renewal in its membership! I am truly thankful for the resilience, knowhow, and commitment of the Back Door Ministry here. We are in ministry at the right place and the right time! I sense I have arrived at a time ripe for transition. It is a time of hope for Simcoe Street UC. It may be an unconventional time to be the congregation here but I’ve never witnessed such an abundance of gifts in one place as I have here. Simcoe Street is a place of strength and comfort for many. It is a great place to grow in our spirituality and understanding of Jesus’ call to see ourselves as part of a larger family. I live in Milton and stay in Oshawa Sunday and Monday and am available by phone of Zoom for opportunities to connect with you folks! I am keenly interested right now in hearing stories of your heritage and stories of the congregation, especially listening for a sense of what your long held values have been, and I’m interested right now in what you are grieving or feel like you have lost, maybe especially in this time of pandemic shifts . Please feel free to reach out. It is a common experience in our churches today as we experience a cultural shift away from traditional institutions. Know too, that Rev. Karen Smart, our dedicated Pastoral Care Minister is here to listen to your Pastoral needs at any time. I look forward to making connections with you even though I live a ways away. If you are new and considering attending Simcoe Street we welcome all of the folks that come in. It is truly good to be conscious of the needs we all have for a time of worship and reflection. We learn to be a community of diversity and recognize humbly; we are all a people in need of compassion and belonging and a place to just “be”. There are greeters at the doors, gifted folks in the pews on Sundays and I am most pleased to meet you then or at another time. Connect with me by email to arrange a time. Please come by Sundays if you are able and be sure to say hi to someone and stay posted to see our upcoming programs (zoom and otherwise) and events! My family and I enjoy family reunions on PEI, time at our cottage in Parry Sound, and being entertained by our two Springer Spaniels, two guinea pigs and a couple of imaginary horses Steely Dan the Garbage Can horse and Gerald the “tire but not retired” horse that my youngest daughter keeps in our garage! Life is exciting and still has room for the imagination! It is good to smile often! Peace! Daryl |
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