Posted on November 23, 2023

We are thrilled to announce a wonderful addition to our Norval United family – Rev. Heather Power, who will be joining us as our new minister at the beginning of January. Heather comes to us with a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.

Heather has also shared with us a letter which you can find below.

Greetings to you all at Norval!

It is with great joy and enthusiasm that I write to express my heartfelt excitement at the prospect of ministering with you all in this vibrant community of faith. 

After many wonderful conversations with your Search Team, I am genuinely excited by the possibilities that lie ahead. Your faith community profile and website paint a vivid picture of a congregation that is grounded in its rich history but equally excited about possibilities both present and future. It is so evident that the Norval community is deeply committed to living out its faith in meaningful, inclusive, and compassionate ways.

Allow me to share a bit about my own background. I am a “Preacher’s Kid.” My late mother served as a minister in The United Church of Canada for many years. You could say that my roots in the UCC run deep. I grew up in Mississauga and completed my Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College, The University of Toronto, culminating in my ordination in 2004. In the spring of 2024, I will celebrate my 20th anniversary of ordination—where does the time go?!

Throughout my ministry journey, I have been blessed with a diverse range of experiences, having served congregations in rural, urban, and suburban settings within the GTA, outside of Barrie, and most recently in Waterloo. I have a love and passion for preaching and creative worship leadership and involving all ages in worship. Pastoral care is a deeply cherished aspect of my ministry, as I believe in fostering connections, sharing, and supporting one another on this sacred journey. I hope we will have many opportunities to visit and chat together. I will never turn down the offer of a coffee!

I have been described as a collaborative and enthusiastic leader and I love working with staff teams, ministry colleagues and leaders within the congregation, the wider church and community. Having had the opportunity to meet some of Norval’s staff team, it would be a great joy to work with such a cohesive and supportive team. I am also very excited about Norval’s digital ministry, and I love that so many people both near and far feel so connected to this amazing community and call Norval their spiritual home. 

On a personal note, I have been married to my husband, Kieran, for 24 years, and we have two young adult daughters who are both currently in college. We also have three dogs which makes for a busy household! In my spare time, I have a great love for live theatre, movies, a good book, swimming, and spending time outdoors. We love to travel when opportunities permit, and Ireland is particularly special to us as that is where Kieran is from and where his family still resides.

The prospect of exploring these exciting ministry possibilities with you all fills me with great anticipation. I hope that together, we can nurture the spiritual growth of this faith community and extend a radical welcome and hospitality to all in the local community and beyond. Norval United shines as a beacon of hope and love, and it would be an honor to be a part of this remarkable community with each and every one of you.

I pray that you share in this excitement, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet each of you in person, to listen to your stories, dreams, and visions for our shared ministry.

In closing, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Norval United Search Team. Your dedication, time, and energy invested in the search process have not gone unnoticed, and I want to express my deepest appreciation for your efforts. Each meeting and conversation with you confirmed, time and again, that Norval is where I feel called to be. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

With faith, gratitude, and anticipation,

Heather

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