Meet Pastor
Meet Pastor Annette
“The gospel calls us to meet anyone and everyone where they are in life or circumstance”
I love reading… Read any good books or articles or blogs lately?
I am a “movie buff”… Seen a movie that provoked some wondering?
I am an art lover… How do music, painting, sculpture, theatre, dance, etc speak to you?
I enjoy nature… How does water, sky, and earth embrace you?
I am on the journey of life and faith… Experiencing joys and/or sorrows with family, friends, work, health?
I am a pastor and I am a fellow pilgrim in this place… coffee’s always on! I can also make tea!
Would love to meet you!
Pastor Annette Smith was born and raised in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Her upbringing in the church taught her the value of worship, prayer, the study of scripture and service within a congregational community and beyond. Her spiritual journey as a young person included experiences in Outdoor Ministry, Youth Ministry and Retreat settings as a participant and as a leader.
This inspired a call to ordained ministry and led her to pursue studies in Religious Studies, History and Psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax (Bachelor of Arts) and Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (now Martin Luther University College) in Waterloo (Master of Divinity).
During her time as an undergraduate, Pastor Annette developed a passion for social justice that finds expression in advocacy for inclusion of all people, creating community, the beauty of diversity, care for creation and the upholding of dignity and support for all people. All of this grounded in the God who is love and Jesus Christ who calls us to “love our neighbour”.
Pastor Annette was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor in 1988. Pastor Annette’s ministry over the past 30 plus years has been blessed by the faithful communities she has served in parish ministry at St. Peter’s Wiarton, St. Matthew’s Hanover, Grace Eganville, St. Mark’s Kitchener, and Trillium Waterloo before coming to St. Paul’s Richmond Hill. She also spent several years serving as Campus Chaplain to Western University and Fanshawe College in London, Ontario.
Throughout her ministry she has served in various leadership capacities for the larger church, both within the Lutheran family and including relationships with many denominations and faiths. She has always strived to build relationships with both individuals and community groups and agencies in the places she has served.
“The gospel calls us to meet anyone and everyone where they are in life or circumstance”
Pastor Annette and her husband Tom Haight are avid readers, art lovers and enjoy time spent outdoors canoeing, camping and hiking.
