Dublin Street United Church - Guelph, Ontario

Dublin staff members are here to serve you. We hope that our work here keeps visible the Kingdom of God and the ways of Jesus, and builds up this community of faith. Drop in and say hello.

The Reverend Dr. John Ambrose began serving as Dublin’s Interim Supply Minister on May 1^st, 2009. As is always the case with multi-talented individuals of faith, he has served in many capacities in his life of ministry thus far. Here are some details:

o An ordained minister in the United Church of Canada, who has served congregations in Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Don Mills, and Mississauga;

o Served for six years as Programme Officer for Worship & Music in the United Church;

o Has been an Adjunct Lecturer in Christian Worship at Emmanuel College on four occasions when the college was going through a staff change or when the Professor of Worship was on sabbatical leave;

o Served for 12 years as minister of a New Church Development Congregation in Mississauga (Eden United), seeing them through two major building programs;

o Was the Managing Editor of Voices United, the current United Church hymnbook;

o Has served as a trained Interim Minister with four congregations (1996 – 2003) in Kitchener, Milton, Mississauga (two churches);

o Has been a supervisor of nine candidates for ministry, as they undertook the required internships in preparation for ordination;

o Served as Mission Development Officer for Halton Presbytery, Hamilton Conference, over a four-year period (2003 – 2007);

o Currently a member of the Board of Directors of Potentials, the Ecumenical Centre for Congregational Renewal and Development (Toronto);

o Holds degrees from Carleton University, Ottawa (BA); Emmanuel College, Toronto (MDiv); University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana (MA in Liturgical Studies); and honorary Doctorate of Divinity (DD) from Victoria University/Emmanuel College;

o Active in the performing arts field in Mississauga over a 30-year period, chairing the Boards of the Mississauga Youth Orchestra, Mississauga Music Council, Opera Mississauga, etc. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of Meadowvale Theatre;

o Has a great love of music, especially choral music, and has served several congregations over the years, for short periods, as organist and choir director;

o Married for 46 years to Catherine, a retired elementary school music teacher and active organist and accompanist for several music theatre groups;

o He has completed 47 years in active ministry and is a VAM at Eden Church, Mississauga;

o Sings in the 100-voice Mississauga Festival Choir, directed by his son, David.

MINISTER EMERITUS

Rev. Don Parr served as minister at Dublin Street from 1981 until 1993, when he retired. Don and Ruth still live in Guelph and are active in the community. Don was welcomed as "Minister Emeritus" in 1997 and takes part in the life of the church in various ways.

Janet Kennedy joined Dublin in March 2001 as our Youth Minister and is a Candidate in the United Church of Canada for Ordination. Janet's responsibilities in youth ministry include developing, planning and implementing youth programs at Dublin for those from grade 6 through high school. She has also included a group for those post-secondary - BEYOND.

She has developed several programs including discussion groups, bible studies, a high school class on Sunday morning – T.R.S. (Teen Resource Study), Mission Trips, Confirmation classes and special activities with our senior members. Each of the programs has a strong Outreach component. Janet assists with planning the Youth Services, multi-generational services and shares leadership or leads in services through the year. She plans and leads special events throughout the year and also developed a Vacation Bible School program for Dublin – Dublin's Peace Makers for Jesus.

In pastoral care, Janet has co-ordinated a care team of visitors, a caring casserole group and a ministry of caring cards. Janet has officiated and shared leadership at several funerals.

She is continuing to enroll in classes on her journey to Ordination.

Janet's husband Peter is a Compressor Station Technician with Union Gas Ltd, her daughter Ferris is enrolled in French Studies at Laurentian and her son Jordan is enrolled in the Child and Youth Worker program at Mohawk College.

Dale Keenlyside joined the staff in November 2008. As office administrator she keeps the administration side of Dublin running smoothly on a daily basis and does an excellent job of helping to coordinate the many happenings at Dublin. She is also actively involved in the benevolent outreach ministry of Dublin.

Gord Bright has been at Dublin Street since 1983 - which means we recently celebrated Gord's 25 years of faithful service. Gord is responsible for the magnificent shape that this old and complex building is kept in.

STAFF