Greetings to Epiphany:

As you may be aware the Easter season lasts for 50 days (ending on the Day of Pentecost) and it is with that in mind that it is Easter greetings that I send your way. Additionally I write this just after returning from Montreal where we celebrated with a Greek Orthodox friend their Resurrection celebrations this last weekend. Geoff asked me to write a brief “self-intro” for the newsletter so here are a few things about me:

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree (majoring in Religious Studies and Sociology and minoring in Philosophy) from University of Toronto, and I received my Master of Divinity and master of Social Work degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University. For the next 5 years I served as Pastor of Baden-Philipsburg-St. Agatha parish (just west of Kitchener-Waterloo) and then moved to serve the people of Faith Downsview for 11 years, where I also served as Dean of the Toronto Conference for two years. Following that I provided spiritual care in two long term care centres and the University Hospital Network in Toronto. I ended my working career as a Child Welfare Floater at Children’s Aid Society of Toronto where I worked for the last 19 years. During this time I provided interim ministry Pastor at Augsburg Brampton, Grace Oakville (twice), St Paul Richmond Hill and Advent Toronto. I am married to Annette, father to Matthew & Danielle and father-in-law to Shanna.  I am an avid curler.

I look forward to meeting many (if not all) of you as I begin interim ministry in your midst as of May 26.

Thanks, Pastor Ernie