Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist

By unanimous vote, the congregation of Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist voted to call Rev. Erik Wikstrom as our settled minister. Erik verbally accepted our call and is scheduled to start in July.

Click here to learn more about Erik.

We thank the Ministerial Search Committee for their great effort.

After many months of study and discernment, the TJMC-UU Ministerial Search Committee has invited Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom to be a candidate for settled ministry. He has accepted that invitation and will be with us for a full week, April 10 through 17, to get to know us and give us an opportunity to get to know him.

Rev. Wikstrom is currently Worship and Music Resources Director for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in Boston. His previous experience includes parish ministries in Maine and Massachusetts, along with the publication of three highly regarded books, “Serving with Grace: The Spiritual Practice of Lay Leadership,” “Simply Pray: A Modern Spiritual Practice to Deepen Your Life” and “Teacher, Guide, Companion: Rediscovering Jesus in a Secular World.”

A graduate of SUNY Binghamton and Harvard Divinity School, Rev. Wikstrom’s successful performances are not limited to pen and pulpit. He is at home on any stage and actually began his ministry as a magician, juggler, and clown.

Members of the TJMC-UU congregation will have ample time to get to know Rev. Wikstrom before the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 17, when the congregation will be asked to vote on calling him as our settled minister.

Rev. Wikstrom will present the sermons and lead both services on Sunday, April 10, and on Sunday, April 17. We will welcome him with a reception after services on Sunday, April 10, and  at the Coming of Age Fundraiser Lunch on Sunday, April 17, before the Congregational Meeting.

In addition, there will be five focused opportunities for dialogue with Rev. Wikstrom, all of which are open to the entire congregation (though you may want to choose just one or two of your most fervent interests).

Sunday through Wednesday evenings of that week will each feature a brief presentation by leaders of the TJMC Council or Committee who are involved in a particular topic area. Rev. Wikstrom will give a presentation in response, followed by an open question and answer session. The schedule includes:

• Sunday – Social Justice
• Monday – Administration
• Tuesday – Community Life
• Wednesday – Worship and AFD
• Friday – A special RE family potluck - (child care provided)

In the packet Rev. Wikstrom offered the search committee, he says, “I am very much looking forward to an opportunity to meet with you in person, so that we might talk with each other about our visions for your future and how my gifts and skills might help move that vision forward.” Copies of the full packet are available in the Church Office.

Rev. Wikstrom maintains a blog, where he describes himself as “a one-time juggler, clown, magician, fire-eater, escape-artist, mask-maker who now is the father of two beautiful boys, the partner of a wonderful woman, and (after nearly fifteen years as a parish minister) is the Worship and Music Resources Director for the UUA of Congregations.” Check it out at http://a-ministers-musings.blogspot.com/ and prepare to be inspired.

We are one human family, on one fragile planet, in one miraculous universe, bound by love.”

~ Erik Walker Wikstrom

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist (TJMC-UU)

April 10 - April 17, 2011

WELCOME RECEPTION Sunday, April 10 - After the 11:15 am service, welcome Rev. Erik Wikstrom in the Social Hall.

DIALOGUE SERIES - Pick one or all for dialogue with Rev. Wikstrom on the topics that matter most to TJMC-UU.  Each session will include a brief presentation by TJMCUU leaders, followed by a short response by Rev. Wikstrom, and plenty of time for open question and answers.  Childcare will be available at each of the Dialogues.

• Sunday, April 10 at 7:00PM - The TJMC-UU Social Justice Mission with Rev. Wikstrom, and members of the Social Action Council in the Social Hall.
• Monday, April 11, at 7:00PM - TJMC-UU Operations (budget, buildings, IT and more) with Rev. Wikstrom and members of the Administrative Council in the Social Hall.
• Tuesday, April 12, at 7:00PM - TJMC-UU as a Beloved Community with Rev. Wikstrom and members of the Community Life Council in the Social Hall.
• Wednesday, April 13, at 7:00PM – Spirituality and Worship at TJMC-UU, featuring meditation with our Clear Spring Buddhist Sangha in the Sanctuary, followed by dialogue with Rev. Wikstrom and congregational members and groups interested in the worship life of TJMC-UU..

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION POTLUCK, Friday, April 15 at 6:00PM - Especially for our valued RE families; children welcome! Social Hall.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, Sunday, April 17 at 1:00PM in the Sanctuary. In accordance with our By-laws, the Congregation votes to call the Minister.  This must happen at a scheduled meeting of our Congregation.   (Please note that parking for the Sunday services could be nearly impossible.  Creative car pooling is strongly encouraged!)

It is with great pleasure that the Search Committee reports a successful search. We contacted our preferred candidate this morning and he has agreed to candidate with us April 10-17.

Erik Walker Wikstrom is currently  Worship and Music Resources Director at the UUA in Boston. Previously he has pastored two churches.  He and his wife have two sons, aged 7 and 9.

He has authored several very readable books and curricula.

Erik matches our dream list very well:

• He is a student of worship, an innovative and dynamic speaker.
• He has a strong personal spiritual practice and excels at fostering spiritual development and opening the possibilities of spiritual practices  to congregants.
• He admires TJMC’s engagement in social justice work and looks forward to joining us.
• He has a strong record of empowering lay leadership and working collaboratively with staff.
• He will encourage growth by energizing our people and programs.  He will engage a younger demographic for the church as well as sustain the current membership.
• Regarding stewardship, he says ” People come to church to have their lives transformed, to be alive. If we can help people do that, the problems of stewardship will resolve.”
• He will be open to the strengths and challenges of our history, which show our continued engagement with the issues of the day.

Erik exudes enthusiasm and positive energy. He is clearly a creative thinker about whatever comes his way. He is excited about TJMC as it is and envisions working with us to create the next chapter.

Members of the Search Committee will be tabling in the Social Hall after services from now until Candidating Week. Please stop by to talk with us, view Erik’s online materials and see his books, a few copies of which will be available for purchase.

See Erik’s Formal Resume.

Read Erik’s Blog.

To see Erik’s Ministerial packet site, request the password from the office.

With grateful hearts-

TJMC Search Committee

Ann Salamini and Don Landis, co chairs,

Bob Gross, Kathy Philhour, Shannon Redmond, Deborah Rose, Jim Rotherham

Greetings from the Ministerial Search Committee.

Well, if you have been following our progress posts, this one should be no surprise! We are Dancing! We have had the privilege of reviewing ministerial records and packets of several gifted and exciting candidates. We have then enjoyed getting to know several of these candidates a bit more intimately by phone interviews.

Out of this group we have selected four wonderful candidates to meet face to face and spend time with. This is the standard process for selecting a settled minister.

What is more important in this process, however, is the connection of the individuals who make up this unique Committee. We have formed relationships that will outlast the life of this committee and extend on into our lives as members of the TJMC congregation.

When making the decision to participate on this Committee, I had the sense that simply by jumping into the process I would feel an intensified connection to the church. Little did we know that it would extend to our own feelings of spirituality. We on the committee have all had the unique and compelling experience of refining our own perspectives on what it is to be part of TJMC and Unitarian Universalism. For this we will be eternally grateful.