About Us
Welcome to WPGUC. With open doors, open minds and open hearts, the church has welcomed worshippers from the West Point Grey community and beyond for over 100 years. Whether you are a committed Christian, a spiritual seeker, a member of the WPG community or from farther away, we hope you will join our faith community at worship on Sundays or as a participant in one of our many church activities. Whoever you are and from wherever you are, join us on our journey and find yourself at home.
We are
An Intercultural Church: We strive to be an intercultural church, where our differences are affirmed and celebrated. We understand that culture is much more than food, clothing and festivals; it is about our identity and boundaries. We want to create a safe, welcoming faith community that we call our home.
Committed to Reconciliation: We recognize the lands upon which we worship as the ancestral, traditional and unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people, and commit to the ongoing work of reconciliation with all our Indigenous sisters and brothers.
An Affirming Church: On May 28, 2023 we officially joined Affirm United after two years of careful discernment. By joining Affirm United, we commit to Publicly (through the use of signs and symbols, such as the pride flag), Intentionally (through continued learning and ongoing commitment), and Explicitly Affirm the place of 2SLGBTQ+ people in our church, loved and blessed as God has made them. For more information about the Affirming Church movement visit affirmunited.ause.ca – or, if you’re looking for an affirming congregation outside of our area or internationally, check out gaychurch.org.
A Caring Church: We strive to support and nourish our Church Family through Pastoral Care. Our church also opens its doors to the wider community of West Point Grey and beyond, by welcoming all people, offering supportive services and programs and creating a warm, safe and inclusive environment.
A Church committed to a safe environment: We strive to relate to one another with respect, humility, patience, open – mindedness, courage, compassion and kindness. We are a community built on the contributions of all our members and adherents, each of us with our own perspectives, experiences, and capacity for service. We value each individual equally, acknowledging our different paths to and with our community of faith, respectful of each others’ backgrounds and identities. While we endeavour to treat others in the ways in which we would want to be treated, we realize that mistakes do happen. When mistakes or misunderstandings happen, we will work gently to ensure clarity and healing occur.
Our Team
Rev. Dr. Nam Ok Yoo
Coordinating Minister
604-224-4388 ext. 2
minister.wpguc@gmail.com
Nam Ok Yoo (柳南玉) was born in NamWon, South Korea, as the third of four children. She earned a PhD in Korean Language & Literature from SookMyung Women’s University in Seoul. She taught the Korean language and literature for ten years at many universities and colleges. After coming to Canada, she worked as a research associate in the Faculty of Education at UBC for seven years. As a team leader, she developed the Korean Language Curriculum as a second language for grades 5-12 in BC public schools.
In 2010, she strongly felt God’s call after a profound ‘God-talk’ moment. She pursued her studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, graduating from the Master of Divinity program with a Presbyterian background. In 2017, she transferred to the United Church of Canada and was ordained by the Pacific Mountain Regional Council in 2018. Her first call was from the Hardisty-Hughenden Pastoral Charge in east-central Alberta. The experience of serving in rural agricultural and petroleum industrial areas taught her valuable lessons about the sustainability and vitality of rural churches. This learning broadened her perspective in ministry.
In April 2020, Nam Ok returned to Vancouver to serve at Willingdon Heights United Church, a unique and vibrant intercultural congregation that includes Filipino, Korean, and Caucasian members. For about four and a half years, Nam Ok passionately served this faith community, dedicated to the idea of ‘doing the church together.’ Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and the congregation witnessed that trust, joy, and unity are crucial to effective ministry.
In 2024, Nam Ok was called to serve as the Coordinating Minister at West Point Grey United Church, an intercultural and affirming progressive faith community on Vancouver’s West Side. She admires the congregation’s resilience, commitment to justice and equity, and its bold spirit in creating a Third Space. As she begins her ministry, she is eager to know the people, worship with them and work together to witness a thriving ministry and explore the meaning of Christian life as a community.
Nam Ok is a lifelong learner, an ardent seeker of truth, and she loves asking questions. She has two grown-up daughters, Jenny and Michelle, who live in Toronto and Seattle, respectively.
Contact
604-224-4388 ext. 2
minister.wpguc@gmail.com
Siiri Rebane
Director of Music
rebane.siiri@gmail.com
Siiri Rebane was born in Estonia where she received her Masters in Piano Performance from Estonian Music Academy before moving to the United States to pursue her doctoral studies in Organ Performance and Conducting.
Throughout her career, Siiri has led church music programmes as a music director, organist, pianist, choir director, and worship band leader. From 1995 to 2021 she held the position of Music Director/ Organist at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in North Vancouver.
Siiri has worked and collaborated with various choirs and orchestras as a singer, an accompanist or a conductor in Europe and Canada. She was a singer and accompanist for Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, associate conductor and accompanist for BC Boys Choir and Coastal Sound Music Academy. As an organist, she collaborated with Estonian State Symphony, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, “Ellerhein” Girls Choir, and others.
Siiri is currently the director of the choral programme at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Siiri is active as an accompanist for choirs, individual singers, and instrumentalists. She is a BC Registered Music Teacher in piano and organ.
Contact
rebane.siiri@gmail.com
Sonia di Tullio-Zelichowska
Office Coordinator
604-224-4388 ext. 1
office@wpguc.com
My name is Sonia di Tullio-Zelichowska. As the Office Coordinator I am delighted with my association with West Point Grey United Church.
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil of Italian parents and have resided in Vancouver for the past 40 years.
My work experience has primarily been that of an administrative assistant working in various companies and organizations including the Provost Office at UBC.
The clerical and management role requires multi-tasking but communicating, supporting and responding to the staff and the congregation is what I most eagerly anticipate.
As we come to the end of the Covid-19 epidemic I hope to more fully complete that aspect as well. I look forward to getting to know you and working with this Faith Community.
Contact
604-224-4388 ext. 1
office@wpguc.com
Linda Liang
Intercultural Ministry Coordinator
778-898-4532
lindaliang0205@yahoo.com
My Name is Linda Liang (梁志遐). I am married. My family moved Canada from Beijing, China in 2010. I have a son. I am the Coordinator of Intercultural Ministry of West Point Grey United Church. I have been in the position since 2014. Although it is very challenging, I like it very much. It has great meaning to me. I have been worked toward this ministry with all my effort and hearts. This ministry is to provide support for the Intercultural event and activities such as the Sunday Worship, Lunar New Year Celebration, Canada Day Celebration, Christmas Family Gathering, ESL Class etc. In order to bridge ministry with the community and the church to gather for spiritual opportunities. I decided to study in VST (Vancouver School of Theology) for the Certificate of Theology from 2016 to 2018. Now I still keep my study in VST to equip myself in the knowledge of the Bible and Christianity of the United Church of Canada and its Worship Service. That helps me to become a valued member of this faith community and beyond. I have led Chinese Bible Study every Monday for 3.5 years. Other than that I keep my different hobbies in my daily life: yoga, reading, dancing and singing. I hope that you can come to the church and meet new friends in this big family.
Contact
778-898-4532
lindaliang0205@yahoo.com
Grets Apner
Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator
778-995-2415
gretsaldi@gmail.com
Gretsjanialdi Apner serves as the Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator at West Point Grey United Church in Vancouver. With a deep passion for nurturing faith in young people, Gretsjanialdi brings years of experience in pastoral ministry, biblical teaching, and creative program development.
Before joining West Point Grey United Church, Gretsjanialdi worked as a youth pastor at Gereja Kristen Indonesia Nurdin and Gereja Kristen Indonesia Menteng in Jakarta, where he led Bible studies, discipleship programs, and youth-centred initiatives to foster spiritual growth. He also worked as a Content Writer at Indonesia Bible Society for around 3 years on a mission to bring the bible messages closer to the young generation through social media usage. His ministry experience includes designing engaging, age-appropriate content that helps children and teenagers connect with biblical teachings in meaningful ways.
Gretsjanialdi is pursuing a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at the Vancouver School of Theology, equipping them with deeper theological insights and pastoral skills to support the spiritual formation of young generations. With a strong background in faith-based education and community outreach, he strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where children and youth can explore their faith, ask questions, and build a strong foundation in Christ.
Dedicated to innovation in ministry, Gretsjanialdi integrates storytelling, creative arts, and interactive learning to make faith accessible and relevant. His experience working with diverse communities also allows him to approach ministry with sensitivity and understanding, ensuring every child and youth feels valued and supported.
Through his work at West Point Grey United Church, Gretsjanialdi hopes to inspire the next generation to grow in faith, serve their community, and experience the love of God in transformative ways.
Contact
778-995-2415
gretsaldi@gmail.com