Our ministry team at St. Andrew's
Shannon Mang M.T.S.
Shannon has had a eclectic career in the United Church. She spent six years in team ministry with her spouse Greg Wooley serving Wadena Pastoral Charge in Sask. She has been an Intentional Interim Minister, a University Chaplain at the U of C, and has provided short-term ministry to St. Thomas and Midlands United Churches in Calgary. Now ordained and settled here with us as one of our Team Ministers, Shannon brings her wide range of gifts to the whole work of ordered ministry.
e-mail:shannon@andychurch.org
Rod Sykes B.A., M.A., D.Phil., M.Div.
Rod has been one of our Team Ministers since 2001. Rod grew up at Grace United in Sarnia, Ont. After a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto, Rod completed the Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy of religion at the University of Oxford. During the two years after Oxford, while teaching philosophy at the university level, his call to ministry emerged. This led to graduation with the Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College in Toronto and ordination by United Church of Canada in 1982. Rod served in New Brunswick in a rural parish and as a Team Minister at Wilmot United Church in Fredericton, Senior Minister of Trinity United Church in Kitchener, Team Minister at McDougall United in Edmonton, and now Team Minister at St. Andrew's United Church in Calgary. Rod's avocations include exploring the potentials of personal computing and art and graphics. He has received several distinctions during his academic career and has been published in scholarly journals.
e-mail:rod@andychurch.org
Pat Stuart
Pat Stuart is St. Andrew's Office Administrator, and is normally the first contact for inquiries. She has a history of Social work, specializing in geriatric care. She holds two degrees; one in Social Work and the other in Electrical Engineering.
e-mail: pat@andychurch.org
Wilma Clark
Wilma is involved in many facets of St. Andrew's, with a particular interest in caring for Seniors.
e-mail: wilma@andychurch.org
Michael Dunda
Michael is in charge of the Maintenance of the St. Andrew's facility.
e-mail: michael@andychurch.org
Brenda McKellar
Brenda is our Staff Associate for Youth Ministry. She brings a wealth of experience in similar work in BC. Brenda leads our youth on Sunday mornings (in a special group that supplements the worship service) and on our Pathways evenings once a month.
e-mail:brenda@andychurch.org
Lisa Penzo
Lisa assists with the STEPs program and other children's activities at St. Andrew's.
e-mail: lisa@andychurch.org
Karen Nell-Bennett
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Karen Nell-Bennett has been active in the musical community from an early age and completed her Masters in Music in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta in 2004. As a soloist, she has performed roles such as Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro) and Apollina (La Canterina) in university operas as well as performing in community musical theatre productions. Karen has often served as soloist in the choral setting, including the soprano soloist for Mozart's Mass in C Minor, under the baton of Maestro Ivars Taurins and as soprano soloist for Eleanor Daley's Requiem, a role awarded her by the composer. She began her early choral training as a member of the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir, progressing to university ensembles including the award-winning University of Alberta Madrigal Singers and has represented both Newfoundland and Alberta in the National Youth Choir of Canada. Karen has served as Choral Assistant for the Richard Eaton Singers (Edmonton) and as Assistant Conductor for the many choirs of Gower Street United Church in Newfoundland. Also, she has worked with the Gower Youth Band, as both Assistant Conductor and Principal Clarinetist, and has been both accompanist and Associate Director of the Philharmonic Choir of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Karen assists with rehearsals for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus, teaches voice and piano privately and serves as Assistant Conductor of the Calgary Boys Choir.
Meghan Behiel
Meghan shares her talent with the congregation at St. Andrew's, performing on both the organ and piano during services.
e-mail: meghan@andychurch.org