Rev. Laura comes to us from a small family farm in southern Saskatchewan.  She lived her childhood with four siblings on a mixed cattle and grain farm.  It is her parent’s commitment to family, God, and to community that has helped Rev. Laura develop her own strong sense of a just and caring community, reflective of God’s kingdom in our world today.  For many years, Rev. Laura worked at both regional and provincial levels with program development and volunteer management, and later with the RCMP at a regional level in the Alberta Victim Services Program.  Her work within these communities has had a deep impact of caring and listening in her ministry.  While in theological studies, at Queen’s University, Rev. Laura worked with inmates within Kingston Penitentiary, Collins Bay Penitentiary, Frontenac Penitentiary and Quinte Detention Center.  Her primary focus, during this time, was with the young offenders in Quinte Detention Centre as she helped them to form new ways of living in the world.  Rev. Laura has been serving United Church pastoral charges since 1998.  She began in team ministry with her husband, Rev Ted.  Together they served God in rural pastoral charges until 2005. Then Rev. Laura accepted a ‘Call’ to solo ministry.  Rev. Laura and Rev. Ted have four children  - Natalie, Ryan, Sarah, and Katie.  Son Kenneth passed away in 2011.  Rev. Laura and Rev. Ted are also the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren.  Rev. Laura’s greatest passions are preaching and pastoral care.  She looks forward to our shared ministry of serving God, community and one another.