Staff Team

Rev. Cordelia Karpenko – Minister

Rev. Cordelia was ordained by the Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada on May 31st 2009. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Global Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004 and her Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2009.

After ordination she was settled to Grace United Church in Weyburn Saskatchewan, where she remained for three years. This was followed by a six month supply at St. Andrew’s United Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan before beginning her ministry at St. Paul’s in January of 2013.

She is passionate about worship and Christian education. Her ministry focuses on helping people to connect their faith to their daily life through pastoral care, teaching and preaching. In her spare time Cordelia is an avid history buff and crafter and enjoys volunteering her time at Pickering Museum Village.

 

Michael Morgan – Director of Music

Whether it was due to his curiosity about the family piano or because of his Pavarotti impressions, Michael was enrolled in piano lessons at the age of 10. His talent for music was fostered in his home church in Port Hope and he went on to graduate from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Music; not in Piano Education as originally intended but rather in Vocal Performance.

Although he’s performed on many an operatic and musical theatre stage, performing as a career has given ground to conducting. In particular, Michael has held directorial positions with the Queensmen of Toronto Male Chorus, Rainbow Voices Toronto, the County Town Singers and is co-founder of Resound. He has been engaged as music director for the Oshawa Little Theatre and Whitby Courthouse Theatre Youth programs and teaches voice lessons privately.

For more than 30 years Michael has held Director of Music positions with various congregations across London, Toronto and Durham Region. Here in Durham Region he’s worked with the congregations of Knox Presbyterian and Trinity United Bowmanville.  Since joining St. Paul’s United Church Ajax he has continued to share his passion for music.

Jennifer Cree – Office Administrator

Jennifer works with the Minister to provide support in the ongoing daily office needs of the church and also works with the church’s Property Committee to support timely liaison with outside vendors. As the Office Administrator , Jennifer deals with all inquiries from church members and community residents regarding church activities and coordinates and monitors the booking of church facilities for events including weddings, christenings, funerals and monthly baptisms.

Jennifer and her husband have lived in Ajax for 35 years where they raised their 3 children. Jennifer  worked for a community based services organization in Toronto and before joining her husband’s publishing company. She has volunteered with Community Care Durham for over 18 years as a Meals on Wheels (MOW) driver and as a board member.