Rev. Michelle Brotherton

Rev. Michelle Brotherton has been educationally well prepared as a Minister and has continued to be a life-long learner in her chosen discipline. Rev. Brotherton has been described as a happy, fun-loving, empathetic, wise, and skilled listener who works exceptionally well with people of all ages and diverse social situations. Rev. Brotherton is very creative and this skill shows in the worship services she conducts. Her preaching is well-prepared, thoughtful, and challenging. She has a gift of making you feel “heard”. She draws out children’s responses with her keen sense of humour. Rev. Brotherton conducts Bible Studies, where she shows great sensitivity to the direction of scripture, and encourages/supports/answers participants in their questions or concerns, in a very non-judgmental way.

You can get to know Rev. Brotherton more by attending a church service, Bible Study or listening to a podcast she recently participated in, such as sharing her early experiences of Holy Week. The following are a few links you can check out.

 Link to Holy Week Chat – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ean-YF6t5GI

 Link to our Sunday Services – https://www.stpaulsunited.com/sunday-worship/

Session of St. Andrews:

The Session is a group of volunteers from the congregation  who provide for the overall ministry of the congregation, including pastoral care, worship, Christian education, stewardship, and mission. The minister acts as the moderator of the Session.  Our members of the Session are:
Doreen Gilroy: Co-Chair of Session, and Mission & Outreach
Jim MacMaster: Co-Chair of Session, and Maintenance & Finance
Barbara Willson: Mail ministry, COVID protocol chief
Yvonne Kryzanowski: In- person worship team
Jeff Kryzanowski: Treasurer
Sharon Dunn: Secretary
Janice Visca: Web Administrator

To contact any of the above people, please email us at bowmanvillepresbyterianchurch@gmail.com.

Past Ministers:

 Rev. Elizabeth Jobb (2021 – 2024)

Rev. Jobb was born and raised in Montreal and then lived in Beaconsfield Quebec. Over the years Elizabeth has served in the Christian church as an elder, church school teacher and ecumenical Bible study leader. She was trained and employed as a medical laboratory technologist and worked at  the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Montreal. In 1983, Elizabeth began studies at York University, and graduated in Religious Studies with an emphasis in Judaic Studies. She continued her studies at Knox College, University of Toronto, earning her Masters of Divinity before receiving advanced training in Chaplaincy at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, ON.

In June of 1993, Elizabeth was ordained and received a call to undertake the office of associate minister at Knox Presbyterian Church in Guelph. She enjoyed eight years of ministry at Knox until she was called to be the minister at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church in Amherstburg, Ontario. After eleven years in Amherstburg, Elizabeth retired and moved to Bowmanville to be near her family. She is currently attending St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church where she is “Minister In Association” and is still actively involved in preaching and teaching when called to do so. She is also teaches and volunteers at Bowmanville Older Adult Association (BOAA).

Rev. Anita Sipos (2010-2021)

Rev. Anita Sipos grew up in communist Hungary. When she was twelve years old, she discovered her grandmother’s Bible and decided to commit her life to Christ. She studied theology at the Reformed Theological Seminary, Sarospatak, Hungary, at Reformed Theological Institute  in Holland and  at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham, England.

From 1999 to 2000, Rev. Anita served as an assistant minister in Budapest. In December 2000, she accepted her first independent charge in the nearby resort town of Kapolnasnyek. The next five years were busy ones for her as she not only ministered to her congregation but also taught Religious Education Classes at the local kindergarten and elementary schools.

To enhance her ministry-Rev Anita continued her musical education with the RCM and passed her Grade 8 Violin practical exam in 2015 and her grade 8 advanced theory exam in 2017 and  accomplished  Music Care Therapy Level 1. 2. and 3. at Room 217 Foundation.

In August 2005, Rev. Anita, with her family, immigrated to Canada to minister at St. James Presbyterian Church in Thamesville, Ontario. Concurrently, she also served as the Interim Moderator at the First Hungarian Presbyterian Church in Windsor, where she regularly conducted services in Hungarian.

In 2010 October Rev. Anita accepted the call to St Andrew’s, Bowmanville. In 2017, she transitioned to part-time status. In addition to her ministerial duties, Anita teaches violin for Upscale Music Studios in Oshawa.   A talented musician, she plays violin with the Northumberland Orchestra in Cobourg.

In November 2021, Rev. Anita accepted a full-time position as the Chaplain at Glen Hill Terrace Long-Term Care, Whitby, Ontario.  This was a very difficult decision for Rev. Sipos. It was with a sad heart that she left; however, she was looking forward to the challenge ahead. She will miss the many individuals she has grown to know and love in her time at St. Andrews, and they her.

Jim M., Co-Chair of the Session, congratulates Rev. Anita on her new position and expressed sorrow on behalf of the Session members and congregation at her departure. Jim thanks Rev. Anita for all her work and leadership over these past eleven years of ministry.  She will be sorely missed.

Wall of Fame