P.D2_ ( family," he said. It also culminated in his eventual arrival in Belleville. St. Matthew's was created by the amalga- mation of two United Churches, Holloway and Tabernacle, in 1995, and there is a congregation of about 170, Ross said. Mergers don't always turn out for the best but this time it did, he said. "It's uncommon for an amalgamation to work well," Ross said, but "there is a sense of harmony here." He takes a special interest in the chil- dren of the church, playing guitar and singing. He has also written a book Gen X, Y faith, Getting Real with God. "It's an introduction to the Christian faith," Ross said. But he is no "Ned Flanders," he said, referring to the preachy character on The Simpsons. Ross said he and Laura are not w7hat some people have come to expect -- stereotyped parsons preaching the Word. They often enter into discussions about philosophy and faith with friends and RossJ said he tries to make what is in the Bible relevant to the times we live in. When he is not working for the church in jacket and tie or religious trappings, Ross can be found on a golf course in sum-| mer. He will likely be wearing a colourful shirt. "I love Hawaiian shirts," he confessed. "I've got a Hawaiian shirt for each day of the week. When he was reading his last sermon in Dry den, "everyone showed up in a Hawaiian shirt." He is a voracious reader, likely stem- ming from the fact that his mother is a librarian, and his brother followed in her footsteps. He tries to alternate between fiction and| non-fiction. Romeo D'allaire's book on Rwanda is an example of the latter. Ross is a television fan and he has his favourite shows. "I'm a huge fan of reality TV," he said. I The Apprentice with Donald Trump and I American Idol are high on his must-watch | list. It helps him in his quest to relate tra- 1 ditional Christian teachings to life today. "Reality TV makes it into sermons from time to time," he said. Ross loves his job, too, and the diversity it encompasses. He might visit a dying parishioner in hospital in the morning and then christen a baby in the afternoon. "You see all the stages of life. You get to meet all kinds of people." • Contact Barry Ellsworth at: newsroom@intelligencer.ca \ Ross Lockhart