About Us

Mission Statement

We are a community of Christians, proclaiming and striving to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, thereby encouraging people on their spiritual journeys to grow in acceptance, responsibility and love.

Baptism, Confirmation and Membership at Gaetz

Baptism of Children - Parents seeking baptism for an infant of a young child should contact one of the minusters to arrnage for a preparation interview, and date of celebration. More detailed information about Baptism can be found here.

Confirmation and Membership - Confirmation classes are held each year during Lent, for youth and adults who are seeking to make their own profession of faith and commitment to Christ's church. Contact one of the ministers for more information.

Transfer of Membership - Those who have been baptized and/or confirmed previously in another congregation may arrange through the Church Office for a transfer of their membership to Gaetz.

Holy Communion

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper (Communion) is celebrated 5 times a year at Sunday worship and other special occasions.

Special Services of Worship

Throughout the year, we hold a number of special services in recognition of Christian holy days and feast days, historical anniversaries and just because we need to celebrate our faith and life.

We follow the seasons of the Christian year, which begins in late November or early December with Advent. One Sunday in Advent we honour White Gift with the presentation of gifts for the Christmas Bureau and Food Bank. Then on Dec. 24 we gather for 2 Christmas Eve Services, a Family Service at 7:00 p.m., and Candlelight Communion Service at 11:00 p.m.

In late January, we join with other churches to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

The most important week in our Church is Holy Week, the week from Palm Sunday to Easter. On Palm Sunday, the children and youth lead the Palm Procession, and we celebrate the confirmation of faith of new members. During Holy Week we gather for Noon Services with luncheon hosted by various downtown churches. On Thursday evening, we gather for the Maundy Thursday service, remembering Jesus' last supper with his disciples. On Good Friday morning, we recall Jesus' death on the cross, and its significance to us. On Easter morning, we gather to celebrate and rejoice in Jesus' resurrection from the grave and the gift of a new life that God gifts us with.

Easter is more than a day, it is a season, also known as the Great Fifty Days which concludes with Pentecost, celebrating the gift of God's spririt to the Church.

In the fall, some of our special services include: Welcome Back Sunday on the Sunday after Labour Day, Worldwide Communion on the 1st Sunday in October, Thanksgiving on the 2nd Sunday in October, All Saints on the Sunday proceeding Nov. 1, Remembrance Sunday on the Sunday that proceeds Nov. 11, and Children's Sabbath late in November.

Staff Profiles

Ministers:

• Rev. Dr. Fran Hare - She was born in 1943, the first of six children in a farming family in the Ottawa Valley, near Eganville, Ontario. At twelve she announced that she was going to be a minister, having found the church family in Eganville to be a lively, contumacious and contentious group of people with a lot of kindness and love to share, even with their fiercest enemies. She was educated by a one-room rural school, by Eganville District High School, by Queen’s University and Queen’s Theological College in Kingston, Ontario then by St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton and General Theological Seminary in New York. Unfortunately she constantly requires more education, so she reads voraciously, and rejoices in the theological reflection that she finds everywhere at Gaetz. Fran has taught high school in Prince Edward Island, served two pastoral charges in Ontario, taught with St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton and Calgary before coming to Gaetz Memorial in 2001.
  She has had the delight of four amazing children who reached mature adulthood, and has two grandchildren, who are, of course, perfect in every way. The congregation at Gaetz has seen her through the loss of her Beloved in 2005 with incredible grace and generosity, and continues to spoil her, to her delight. The mythologist, Joseph Campbell, advised people to "follow your bliss" in order to have a happy life, and to make your own unique contribution to the world. Fran is having a blissful life! Blessings abound!
  
• Rev. Brenda Kersell - Brenda has served as a minister in the United Church of Canada since 1985 and has been a member of our ministry team since the fall of 2003. She has a passion in spiritual expression and faith formation for young, old and in between.

Director of Music: Mrs. Miriam Pratt - Miriam conducts the sanctuary choir and co-ordinates all things musical around Gaetz.

Office Administrator: Mrs. Linda Masters - Linda has information on programs, activities and events, and can generally tell you what's happening at Gaetz. She is a good person to talk to!

Caretaker: Teresa Foulds - Teresa ensures that our building is a hospitable and comfortable place to be.