St. Thomas’ Parish is currently between rectors. Our previous rector, the Rev. Lisa Ahuja, has accepted a new call to serve as Canon for Transition Ministry and the East Hudson Region in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. With guidance from experts on staff at the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the wardens and vestry are currently preparing to receive applications from interested clergy. We will update this page with relevant information to keep the congregation and wider community up to date about where we are in the process.
We’re setting up a team of parish bakers so we can continue to offer homemade communion bread on Sundays. Rev. Linda Kaufman shared her bread recipe before heading out of town for vacation! If you’re interested in being part of this project, speak with Dan Costello or Jason Forman.
The vestry is now in the phase of working on the profile we’ll post online to help potential applicants see if St. Thomas’ might be a good place for the next stage of their ministry. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to move toward receiving applications and then beginning to interview candidates.
We’d also like to share that the Rev. Linda Kaufman, who’s given so generously of her time and her heart since Lisa left in November, has decided that the time has come to step down from her official interim clergy position. She will continue in the role through July and take a long-planned vacation in August. From August 2 until we have a new rector in place, we’ll welcome several terrific priests (including Linda from time to time!) to our altar and pulpit on Sundays. Deacon Susan Walker will also play an important role, helping provide pastoral care as needs arise. We are so thankful for Linda’s caring, steadfast, and creative presence throughout these months, and also that she’ll still be part of our community. We may see her less often, but she will always have a home at St. Thomas’ Parish. – Elizabeth Terry, Senior Warden, and Dan Costello, Junior Warden
At the end of July, when I leave for vacation, I will have been here 9 months – long enough to have a baby, but alas, like Sarah and Abraham, I am beyond the age of child-bearing. Our nine months together have been fruitful and fun. I can feel if a congregation loves me as I preach. And when I feel that love, I am a better preacher. I feel as though I have never preached as well or as often as I have here. I have learned to be more open and honest – and you have loved me. Thank you. – The Rev. Linda Kaufman
Canon Anna Olson recently wrote a brief article for the diocesan website explaining how the Episcopal Diocese of Washington manages rector transitions. Check it out!
This prayer was written by the Rev. Linda Kaufman, and we have been saying it together on Sundays.
Gracious God, thank you for calling us to St. Thomas’ Parish.
We ask you to guide us in this time as we look for a new rector.
Help us be faithful in this time of preparation and make us ready for a new leader.
Give wisdom to our wardens and vestry as they lead this holy work.
We ask you to help us find the right person, and that even now you would be preparing them for this new work.
We pray all this in the name of our Good Shepherd, Jesus.
Amen.
One stage of the preparatory work the vestry is undertaking is a Parish Vitality Assessment, which uses a framework developed by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and in which members of the parish are invited to share their opinions on St. Thomas’ strengths, challenges, priorities and more. The more participation we get, the better! Please see The Phoenix, our e-newsletter, for information on signing up for a slot in a focus group, taking an online survey, and other ways you may take part.
On Nov. 16, the Rev. Anna Olson, Canon for Faith, Leadership and Collaboration at the Diocese of Washington, visited St. Thomas’ to preach and to share an overview of the clergy leadership transition process as it is currently managed here. Click here to view the slides from her presentation.
We joyfully announce that the Rev. Linda Kaufman will serve as our primary supply clergy during our transition period. She will celebrate and preach at the majority of our worship services for the next several months and be available for pastoral care needs.
The wardens are grateful for Linda’s willingness to step up into this role and very much look forward to working with her.
Save the date! On Sunday, November 16, the Rev. Anna Olson, who advises parishes in our diocese going through leadership transitions, will join us to preach and then to give a presentation over coffee hour. She has been extremely helpful already to our wardens as we prepare to enter this period, and we look forward to her sharing more about the search and transition processes with the entire community.Â
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