After listening to our congregation, praying, reading applications, studying responses to questions we posed to applicants and visiting with candidates, the Minister of Music Search Committee is excited to share that we have a unanimous recommendation for an individual to become our next Minister of Music.
As we shared with the Personnel Committee, our recommendation is based on our strong feeling that God led us to someone whose incredible gifts and talents match the needs and desires of our congregation. Our candidate believes music is a tool for ministry and that music focuses us on the worship of God. Our candidate appreciates hymns and is also very interested in creativity in worship that touches the hearts of those who are worshiping. This individual desires to be a minister to all — not just those involved in the music ministry. Working with youth is a special interest of our candidate, and this person has experience in the situations we are facing in building up some programs that have declined in attendance since the pandemic.
We are impressed with this person’s talent, experience, credentials and love for the Lord. We believe we have found someone who will appreciate, honor and build on our past while helping us move forward with the creativity we are currently enjoying in worship.
Please mark these dates on your calendar:
1. Sunday, Dec. 3: A profile of our candidate will be made available. We currently need to maintain confidentiality since this individual is serving at a church and preparing for Advent.
2. Dec. 15-17: We will welcome our candidate to Wilshire for a call weekend. Please join us for one of the Meet and Greet events which will be held in Community Hall. The first opportunity will be on Friday, Dec. 15, from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. The second will be on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. with a special focus on families with preschoolers, children and youth. Childcare will be available during this session. The third Meet and Greet will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
3. December 17: Our candidate will participate in worship, and voting on the recommendation will occur in a special called business meeting immediately following the worship service. Ballots will be available for pick-up between 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. in James Gallery.
More details will be provided in the next few weeks. We appreciate your patience and your continued prayers during this special time in the life of our church.
Kevin Cabaniss, Lynette DeBose, David Duncan, Anne Foster, LeAnn Hampton, Mary Morgan, Timothy Peoples, Kristi Reavis, James Sobolik-Williams, Laura Summers, Melinda Thompson