WHY? Both parishes are working to creatively respond to the financial pressure of being small congregations. Building on a long history of occasional shared worship, they have been considering ways that working together will also strengthen the capacity of our lay leaders. Sharing clergy will encourage us to explore other areas where shared ministry can inspire us and help us grow.

HOW? The biggest change to our parish lives will be that every other Sunday, our worship will be Morning Prayer while the clergy team are at the other parish. Licensed Lay Worship Leaders will officiate this form of worship which will still include Bible readings, hymns, prayers, and a time of reflection. Programs for children will be offered every Sunday.

WHO? Our parishes will be served by the Venerable Ruth Monette as Vicar of St Stephen and Vicar of St Timothy, and the Reverend Neil Jongbloed as Curate of St Stephen and Curate of St Timothy. Pastor Ruth will be employed full time, while Father Neil will work part time. They’ll do some things together and some things separately. Licensed Lay Worship Leaders in both parishes will support worship by officiating at Morning Prayer.

In August, our clergy team will share information about how to reach them and when to expect to see them around St Stephen or St Timothy!

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Ruth has been a priest in the Diocese of New Westminster for over 15 years and has been the Rector of St Stephen the Martyr, Burnaby since 2018. In addition to her parish work, she is also the Archdeacon of Westminster, assisting the Archbishop in the oversight and care of all the parishes in Burnaby, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities (this job earns her the title of the Venerable and an invitation to many meetings). Ruth is a self-taught knitter and a reader of mysteries with plucky female detectives. She lives in Port Moody with her partner, their tween daughter, and two cats, Trouble & Fiasco.

Neil was born and raised in Vancouver. He is married to Julia, and they live in East Van with their 11-month-old daughter, Anna. Neil served as a pastor of a Baptist congregation in South Burnaby for a number of years. Since entering the Anglican Church in 2023, he has been the youth ministry leader at St. Alban’s, Burnaby, and is a student at the Vancouver School of Theology. Neil enjoys music, cycling, gardening and time with friends and family, and is looking forward to getting to know the communities of St Stephen and St Timothy.