Rev. Michael Peterson is the pastor at All-Saints Anglican Church
A new pastor leads the congregation at All-Saints Anglican Church.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we spoke with Rev. Dr. Michael Peterson is a pastor at All-Saints Anglican Church.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: I was raised in the military.
My family is military and I was born in London (Ont.). I spent my childhood in Germany. There was a station for my father.
After he was discharged from the army, we moved to British Columbia. There was a university in Victoria that I attended.
I came to Ontario in the ’80s and have kicked around Canada.
As a military chaplaincy, I have lived in many provinces. Ontario feels like home now.
Q: Have you ever known that your faith is your calling?
A: I was raised in a church-going household.
From a young age, I was aware of the importance of it.
I originally thought about the priesthood when I was a young teen but, as often happens when people go to university, I had questions that I couldn’t find an adult with credibility to answer, so I kind of drifted away from the church in my 20s and 30s.
In my 30s, I found my way back.
My life has been lived in many stages. I started seminary at the age of nineteen and was ordained at the age of twenty-eight.
Q: How about the call of religion?
A: I’m a church geek. I love church. I love worship. I love hymns. The beauty and power of liturgy is what I love. I also believe faith can answer my questions.
What is the purpose of life? What does it really mean to be a great person? What does it mean for me to believe in a good person?
All these questions revolve around me and my faith.
One thing I love about church, despite its flaws is that it is a community made up of people who are trying to solve those problems together.
Q: When were you first at All-Saints?
A: I started Sept. 1. I had been asked by my bishop to come to their meeting.
I was considering retiring. They asked me whether I would like to visit Collingwood. I didn’t have any connection to Collingwood, but my wife grew up in Singhampton. It was easy for her to make this her hometown.
We were delighted to have come here and the congregation has been very welcoming. I think we’ll stay for a while. Suddenly, 60 doesn’t seem that old.
Q: What would you say you bring to the table here that’s special?
A: Chaos. (laughs)
All-Saints has an active ministry in Collingwood to help the homeless, marginalized and poor.
We’re one of a series of churches that shares in a weekly community dinner. We’re known as a church that feeds people, and that really attracted me.
As a leader, I have military training. As a coach, I try to motivate my team.
Q: What new initiatives do you see the church bringing to your faith?
A: All-Saints, an older church. COVID was a great tool for programming.
As every other church, our gathering was online.
Anglican churches have an aging population. Many of our parishioners have older parents than me. It’s the only job where people call me a young man.
It is part of our mission to appeal to a healthier younger generation. We like to think we’re open and inclusive and the gospel is a message for all people.
Q: What other interests do you have besides the church?
A: If I can be super geeky, I’m a passionate games player, like table-top games and role-playing games. As a teenager, I was a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons. My son and I were both really into Warhammer when we were young.
There is a parish hall that could possibly be used for gaming nights. There’s my geek antennae.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like people in Collingwood to know about you?
A: Like I said, I’m a former military chaplain. I’m very interested in Canada’s military history, and the role the military plays in our society.
I’m hoping to get more involved with our branch of the legion.
I’d also like to get better at kayaking. I maintain a blog, where I sometimes post sermons.
Joy, my wife, has only been with me for five years. Both of our spouses died from cancer. We met at the church.
We’re great believers in hope and are interested in the road out of grief. We were blessed to find our partner after losing a long-term spouse.
It’s a big part of who we are.
People of Collingwood features people who are from Collingwood or have contributed to it in some way. They are allowed to tell their stories in their own words. Every weekend, this feature is featured on CollingwoodToday. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
