| Meet Rev. Kevin Derry |
Reverend Kevin C. Derry, is an ordained minister with more than 15 years of experience, the majority of which since 1996 has been spent at Grace United Church in Trenton.
Kevin graduated from Queen’s Theological College with a Master of Divinity in 1990 and was appointed by settlement to High Level United Ecumenical Church in Northern Alberta in 1990, then to First United Church in Hanna, Alberta (1992-1996). From 1996 through August 2005 he was at Grace United Church in Trenton. Kevin and his family joined us in September 2005.
The following are some of the reasons the Joint Search Committee recommended Kevin for the job of Trinity’s minister. He is . . .
- Excited about participating in the renewal initiative endorsed by a large majority of the congregation and wants to grow with us as we look to the future.
- Willing to take risks with innovation and appealing approaches to worship
- Skilled at consensus building and teamwork, has compassion and excellent people skills and relates well to all ages.
- Eager to take an active part on the pastoral care team.
- Willing to use the considerable talents of Trinity’s members in planning and implementing change.
- Respectful of Trinity’s history and traditions, but is not limited by them.
- Familiar with current thinking in theology.
- Positive about change as a potential for growth and the enhancement of faith.
by Rev. Kevin Derry
They quickly moved down the street. It was cold and rainy with the wind howling around their ears. They were drenched to the skin and needed to find some shelter from the weather. Up the street, they could see a golden glow through the slanting drizzle of the wet, gray and blustery afternoon. They headed for the open door and welcomed the warmth that seemed to enwrap them as they entered over the threshold. A fire crackled in the corner and the smell of food greeted them as they moved into the small bakery and café. It immediately took them back to Grandma’s kitchen and the comforts of home. They felt secure and basked in the atmosphere as they took a few minutes to dry out in the refuge of the small shop. With a cup of coffee and a warm biscuit, they were recharged, ready to face the rest of their journey for the day.
Is this what we feel when we are part of a faith community? At Trinity United Church in Peterborough, that is our hope. We endeavor to be open and welcoming to all who would join with us in our journey as a faith community. We are of many ages and backgrounds, involved in a variety of interests and activities. But above all, we hope to provide a “home,” to experience a life of faith and growth as children of God. We work honestly and diligently to make a difference in the community of Peterborough and beyond. We are striving to find our way in a complex and demanding world, while honouring the strong traditions of our history. We value the gifts of all people. We are blessed with a marvelous worship facility and music program through which we celebrate our faith as we live and learn, through activity and community action. But this is not Trinity Church.
Trinity United Church is a gathering of people who meet at 360 Reid Street to celebrate and learn who they are. We are a group of people who have found someplace together to call our faith “home.” We are not perfect, but we are faithful. We do not have all the answers, but we do know a lot of the questions and are not afraid to ask them or struggle with them. We laugh together, cry together and celebrate together - we are family.
Kevin can be reached at the church Office at (705) 743-3301
| Trinity’s Music and Music People . . . |
Music plays an important role in Trinity’s worship services. Under music director Robert Grandy, Trinity boasts a fine adult choir (the Trinity Chancel Choir) of more than 30 voices, a small but enthusiastic junior choir (the Trinity Treble Choir), and an adult handbell choir (the Bells of Trinity). The church has been blessed with a fine three-manual Casavant Frères organ and a beautiful nine-foot Yamaha grand piano, as well as a three-octave set of handbells.
The Trinity Chancel Choir sings a wide variety of accompanied and a capella works, some by Mr. Grandy himself. The choir has a long history of fine music-making, having presented oratorios in the past, such as Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” and having given concerts and special services over the years. Each week they offer a choral introit, as well as one or two anthems, many written by composers of our own time and land. Many small choral groups are formed from the choir throughout the year to provide opportunities to sing additional choral music. Those groups include the Trinity Ladies’ Choir, the Trinity Men’s Choir and the Trinity Camerata Singers. The Trinity Chancel Choir rehearses Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. They also enjoy providing music in nursing homes and in hospitals, most often during the Christmas season.
Judy McMichael ably leads the Trinity Treble Choir, a delightful young group that performs approximately once a month and on special Sundays, accompanied by Robert Grandy. The choir rehearses Thursdays at 4:30 p.m., learning the basics of singing and practicing hymns and anthems for upcoming weeks. Judy always makes it fun for the kids to learn music.
The Bells of Trinity choir meets Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and provides special music approximately once a month and on special occasions. Choir members are often asked to play at other local churches for special services. They also form quartets to play specially written music for four ringers.
All of these groups would welcome additional singers/ringers. If you are interested in becoming a part of the musical life of Trinity, please give our music director a call at the church office.
| Our Music Director, Robert Grandy . . . |
Before studying music at York University in Toronto, Robert studied locally in his hometown of Port Hope, where his first position as an organist was at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. Since then, he has been the organist at Oshawa’s Harmony United Church, organist-choirmaster at St. Mark's Anglican in Port Hope and music director at Wexford Heights United in Scarborough. He joined Trinity United in Peterborough in July 2005.
Robert received his Service-Playing Diploma, and later, his Colleague’s Degree from the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO), winning scholarships on both occasions for the highest marks in Canada in those years. He was one of the founding members of the Northumberland Centre of the RCCO, and served for several years as the centre’s president.
For many years, Robert has been a piano, organ and theory teacher, as well as a free-lance accompanist. He has also had a long relationship with the Oriana Singers of Northumberland, as a chorister, music director for two years, and currently, as accompanist and composer-in-residence. He was also the accompanist for the Upper Canada Boy Choir for two years.
For about a decade now, Robert’s best-loved hobby has been composition. Many of his choral works have been sung by the choirs of St. Mark's, Cobourg’s MusicMakers choir, the Oriana Singers, and now, the Trinity United Church choir. Among his compositions: the 1997 cantata "Music for a Saintly Celebration," a set of "Seasonal Prayers" for choir, which were sung throughout 2000 at St. Mark's as Robert’s special Millennium project and the “Advent Antiphons,” sung by the Oriana Singers in 2000. In 2005, he wrote three pieces for the Oriana Singers: “The Vine,” “Arbor Amoris” for choir and piano and “The Paradise of God” for unaccompanied choir.
Robert’s full-time job is Information and Privacy Coordinator with the Port Hope Police Service. He is also the coordinator of the Northumberland Screening Program, a county-wide service that provides police information background checks on individuals to more than 100 varied organizations and agencies across Canada. In the midst of all these responsibilities, he does indeed find time to spend with his wife Barb; their son, Matthew; and the family pets, Bo and Patches.
Robert can be reached at the church office at (705) 743-3301.
| Trinity’s staff and volunteers |
Staffing: Trinity has a full-time minister, music director, an administrative assistants, custodian, and a Sunday school coordinator and three voluntary associate ministers.
Volunteers: Volunteers work on the board as team chairs and members and as trustees. Members of the Ministry and Personnel Committee and delegates to Presbytery (3) are also volunteers. Other Trinity volunteers help out with a score of tasks, such as, serving at dinners, answering the office telephone, acting as lay visitors and lay worship leaders.
Outreach Resources: Trinity has a proud tradition of providing care and support to the larger community beyond the needs of the congregation itself. In 2006, 22 per cent (almost $50,000) of individual contributions to Trinity's work were allocated to Mission and Service, Peterborough area charities and benevolent assistance to needy individuals.
| Trinity Administration |
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
| Co-Chairs of the Official Board: | Chris Morris Peter Darling |
| Recording Steward: | |
| Minister: | Rev. Kevin Derry |
| Chair of Finance Committee: | Michael Evans |
| Chair, Trustees: | Elizabeth Powell |
| Co-chairs, Ministry & Personnel Committee: | Mary Rawlings and Bill Heinmiller |
TEAM CHAIRS
| Administration: | Doug Fatum |
| Congregational Life: | Pat Marett |
| Worship and Sacraments: | Diana McLeod |
| Outreach and Community Service: | Ruth Bowers Heather McLeod |
STAFF
| Voluntary Associate Ministers: | Rev. Richard Boehme Rev. Donovan Brown Rev. Josephine Mewett; |
| Administrative Assistants: | Sherry Oldham Gladys McDonald |
| Custodian: | Trevor Chynoweth |
Trinity United Church 360 Reid Street Peterborough, Ontario, K9H 7G6 (705) 743-3301 trinitychurch@cogeco.net
