Our Ministers
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
Frances Chiasson
Minister of Music
Frances Chiasson, BMus, BEd. is a choral conductor and church musician who has worked at First United as the Minister of Music since 2016, where she conducts the Alleluia Singers, the First United Children’s Choir, provides music leadership in Sunday morning worship, and is a resource person for retreats and special events.
Tanya Pritchard
Church Administrator
First United Church Kelowna
Jessica Crawford
Accompanist
First United Church Kelowna
Bev Milton
Minister Emeritus
First United Church Kelowna
Pat Totton
Parish Nurse
First United Church Kelowna
Cheryl Perry
Minster of Families & Social Justice
Cheryl came to First United with a background in curriculum writing and education, energy and experience working with youth and children. She is the author and editor of several books and resources including Youth Spirit, Live the Story: Dramas for Worship, and The Story of the Bible: How the World’s Bestselling Book Came to Be.
Cheryl is a mother of three children herself who loves the challenge of making Bible stories come alive through drama and faith to be relevant to the lives of young people. She enjoys creating intergenerational experiences, often writing her own dramas for use in worship.
She also finds her work with marginalized members of the community through outreach programs important to her spiritual and theological growth!
When she isn’t immersed in ministry, she loves to spend time with her family, loves cooking and eating, reading, and travelling!
Bob Wallace
Minister of Worship
My name is Bob Wallace, and I am an active, retired minister still desiring to work and serve within The United Church of Canada. I am married to Sarah, who is also a retired minister. I bring lots of pulpit experience, strong worship leadership ability, good organizational skills, musical talents (though not as organist/pianist), skills with computers and office procedures, and a deep care for people of all types and ages.
I am currently a member of the Executive of Chinook Winds Region, having served as an appointed Commissioner to that region as it was being formed and also as chair of the local arrangements team for the first annual gathering of Chinook Winds Region. I have been recently appointed as a member of the Credentialing Committee of the Office of Vocations.
A minister’s role is to be the one who empowers the members of the Body of Christ to fulfill their calling through equipping, training, promoting and encouraging. It is not her/his job to do ministry on behalf of the Community of Faith. Community outreach and Social Justice are critical parts of bearing witness to our faith, not to be done by the “leader” alone, but in concert with the community.
I sing and play guitar with a group called “The Common Cup Company” (https://commoncup.com/) We have written and performed our newer church music – She Flies On, Draw The Circle Wide, and many others – in concerts and workshops and worship services in Canada, and recently, western Australia.
I am also an active model railroader, both personally (in my basement) and with the Southern Alberta Model Railroad Club (https://www.albertasouthernrailway.ca/). I enjoy reading novels for relaxation, am learning Tai Chi for improving my flexibility, strength and balance.
