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Volunteer of the Month April 2024

Craig Maltby

This month we celebrate another of the folks who work behind the scenes helping St. Paul's continue to be a welcoming and open gathering place.

Craig Maltby the church Treasurer grew up in St. Paul's. He was baptised here and attended Sunday school here and naturally became a contributing member as he grew to maturity.

Craig attended Park Street Collegiate and later became a high school teacher himself at PSCI, teaching alongside his father for one year in 1988. Craig taught for 25 years during which time he met his wife Christine, also a teacher.  They married and have two daughters, Beth and Katy. Craig later retired from teaching to become a fulltime Dad for 10 years. 

Craig has been contributing to St. Paul's as a volunteer pretty much his whole life.

  He was a member of the choir for many years until he took a sabbatical to spend more time with his family. Craig is a worship leader at the church, and daughter Katy also volunteers at St. Paul's. This past year Craig was a member of the Music Man cast that was produced by sister Jody. According to Craig he only got the part because he knew the producer. 

Along with his other duties at St Paul's he will be helping at the  Beers family farm for the maple syrup weekend coming up the weekend of April 6th. He says he is good at pitching in to help where needed.  That is a bit of an understatement. For Craig, it's a family affair.

Humble, kind, always willing to pitch in to help, easy going and accomplished are just some of the words and phrases you could use to describe our Volunteer of the Month, Craig Maltby. 

Craig quotes the late Skid Watson, a driving force behind the old Orillia YMCA

“ it's amazing what you can get done of you don't care who gets the credit.”

June 2024 Volunteers of the Month Cathy and Eric Sayle

The June 2024 Volunteers of the Month are Cathy and Eric Sayle.

As we approach our summer months in St. Paul’s , its natural to think about all that has taken place over the past many months. Along with this, we realize it is impossible to think of much that does not involve our volunteer couple for this month, Cathy, and Eric Sayle.

Cathy grew up in St. Paul’s - Sunday School, Choir, Youth Group, then off to university. A few years later Cathy returned to Orillia with this fellow by the name of Eric. Over time, they became absorbed into St.Paul’s life while raising a family and devoting much time to their careers in education .

 At the age of twenty-three, as a good daughter would, Cathy heeded her mother’s suggestion that she create a new Unit of the UCW. This new unit would be “more amenable for the younger women of the Church.” 45 years later, that Unit continues with many of those same “younger women”.
Over those same years, both Eric and Cathy began to give time through teaching Sunday School -beginning with the kindergarten group. As their own children grew ,so did the Sunday School level with which they were involved.
In the 1990’s Cathy became the Leader of the Children’s and Youth Choir . Such a commitment that was. Many in our congregation will have fond memories of those cherubic voices adding to the services.

Then came the ask to join “ The Board.” Over many years, both Cathy and Eric have been part of, and given so many hours to, various of the Committees within St.Paul’s. They were a solid component of the Visioning and restructuring team 10 years ago. Lately, Eric served as Chair of the new Leadership Team for a 3-year period, Past Chair, and then took on the role of Treasurer for 2 years. Weave into this, their more current commitments - coordinators of Congregational Life. This involves the Membership Committee and Pastoral Care ( co chair with Sally Brady). Another part of this weave has Cathy’s knitting needles constantly creating yet another Prayer Shawl!
Cathy and Eric enjoy being an integral part of the St.Paul’s Pub Committee. This monthly Pub evening came about 18 months ago, It has helped open our doors again to the Community for an easy and delightful evening of music, food, and good friends.
 
As difficult as it might be to believe , this couple does ensure they have spare time. Much of this time is devoted to being available for extra care and well being of their four very lively and inquisitive grandsons. It is common to hear that the Sayles are flying down the highway to Burlington for one family, or, simply bounding out of the house at 6 am to be with the Grands here in Orillia. Such beautiful relationships they have developed with those lucky young fellows.

And, of course, it would be remiss to not acknowledge the Sayles love of travel and related unique experiences. Eric has a goal of visiting seventy-five countries by the time he reaches 75, they are closing in on that goal.
It has been said Cathy and Eric are at 68 or 69 countries - only a relative few more to go. 
 
Cathy and Eric, we salute you, we congratulate you, and, most of all,
we Thank You! 
 
 The Stewardship Committee