Trinity United Church

Our Minister, The Reverend S. Derek Shelly

Derek was born in Tillsonburg where he went to high school and grew up in nearby Port Burwell. After graduation he attended Teachers’ College in London and taught in the elementary system in Elgin County. Baseball and hockey were among the sports he played and he enjoyed teaching physical education in school. Derek completed his Bachelor of Arts during this time, travelling wherever the courses were offered to get the credits needed. He married and has two sons and a daughter. Although Derek had been brought up in the Anglican Church, once married he and his wife attended the United Church in Tillsonburg where they lived, becoming more active and involved in church life. In 1975 his decision to enter the ministry was made and the family moved to Kingston so he could attend Queens. As a student minister he had a 3-point charge that he was responsible for, while he worked on the rest of the requirements for ordination. Completing this in 3 years, he was ordained in 1978 and began his ministry on the south shore of Nova Scotia staying there for 4 years. Returning to Ontario he served at pastoral charges in Hyde Park, Strathroy and Almonte before coming to Trinity in Huntsville in November of 2003. Preaching is important to him in his ministry and in the pulpit his insight and humour mix to bring messages home in this challenging time in our society. Also very satisfying for Derek is the sharing in people’s lives of both the good and the sad times and being invited to share in their celebrations. Three grandchildren are now part of his busy life. He is active in theatre and improvisation groups either as a leader or participant or both. Education is ongoing as is being involved in the community. For the past two years he has been President of Hospice Huntsville. This community organization that provides care and comfort for the dying and their families, will soon begin to build a five-bed residential hospice in Huntsville. In the winter he takes advantage of the snow in Muskoka to cross country ski and in the other seasons you’ll find him on the golf course or kayaking on nearby lakes.

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.

Our Youth Worker, Megan Jordan

As Trinity’s Youth Worker, Megan Jordan is also a busy mom of two young boys, Evan (3) and Jadon (1). She was born in Toronto and attended Claude Watson School for the Performing Arts where she was a drama major. At fourteen, Megan and her family moved to Huntsville where she attended high school and continued to be involved with the arts. She frequently performed in the Black Whole Cabaret with her all-girls band, Noclu, playing guitar and singing harmony. Megan also played trombone in the school's Stage Band, and was involved with Trinity's community theatre productions, directed and led by John and Marion McTavish. Following high school, she moved to Peterborough and studied philosophy at Trent University, earning an honours degree and having what she considers to be a time of incredible learning, both academically and personally. Megan enjoys reading, writing stories and reflective pieces, playing with her boys, making soup, camping, spending time outdoors, and getting together with friends and close family. She has worked with young people as a drama facilitator, literacy tutor, spiritual arts mentor and children's program coordinator for over 10 years. Her hope for Trinity Kids is to organize and facilitate programs and activities that honour and nurture each young person's special gifts and interests, working with her belief that each child matters and has a very special place within the small and larger community. Megan has truly enjoyed working with and getting to know the youth at Trinity and looks forward to developing the children's and youth program further.

Our Director of Music, Johnny 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 restaurant 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 is 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.

Our Church Secretary, Gloria Hartwick

As the secretary, Gloria Hartwick meets the daily challenges of our busy church office. She was born and raised in Sudbury where her working career in the offices of a hardware store began. When she married her husband Don Hartwick, they moved to North Bay where she was also transferred. Once their two children came along, she was a stay-at-home mom, knitting and sewing along with her other duties. From there they moved to Huntsville and became involved at Trinity. Don was on the Board and Gloria started working for Trinity when the position to post offerings was open. She made $12 a month for this job! In September of 1971 she took on the duties of secretary and treasurer. With no office then at the church, she worked from home for the minister at that time Jim Oben. As the church has grown and the duties expanded, Gloria continues to help and enjoy the people who pass her way. Her three grandchildren are a source of enjoyment and pride for her. She keeps up her knitting skills and never turns down a lunch out!

Our Custodian, Wayne Stahls

Wayne Stahls was born and raised in Huntsville. He attended Huntsville High School taking technology courses. Over the years he has played on and coached Lacrosse teams at both the Ontario and Canadian levels of competition. In his youth he also enjoyed hockey as a goaltender, ice fishing and snowmobiling, all great sports in Muskoka! His working career started as a grocery store clerk for Dominion and then A&P. In 1983 he married Wendy and they have 3 children who are young adults now. Wayne began working for Trinity United as Custodian in 2000. The level of activity on a daily basis in the church building keeps Wayne very busy but he is always happy to stop and chat. He enjoys helping senior friends as a handyman and with the demands of year-round outdoor maintenance in Huntsville. Holidays are camping adventures for him and his wife, and during hockey season you’ll find him at a nearby coffee shop where hockey is the topic and he has his own Coach’s Corner.