Rev. Deb Worley plays a shofar at a celebration of her installation as pastor of White Rock Presbyterian Church. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
Pastors gather for the installation of Rev. Deb Worley as pastor of White Rock Presbyterian Church. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
BY BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Rev. Deb Worley has been installed as pastor of White Rock Presbyterian Church. The ceremony was attended by church leaders, current and retired pastors, mentors, colleagues, community and church members.
Worley described the occasion as wonderful, affirming and soul-filling event. “I was humbled and deeply grateful to have so many people, from so many different parts of my life, come together in support and celebration of this growing relationship between White Rock Presbyterian Church and me,” Worley said.
The gathering included; former co-workers, Rev. Kathleen Logan, and Rev. David Elton of the United Church of Los Alamos, Rev. Seth Finch, Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque and Moderator of the Santa Fe Presbytery, Rev. Susan Quass, Executive Director, NM Conference of Churches, Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons, Conference Minister, United Church of Christ, Southwest Conference, and hometown pastor, from her college days, Rev. Wayne Butler.
Rev. Butler provided a charge to Worley, as she accepts that mantel of leadership. His charge was that, sometimes as followers of Jesus, you are called to make waves. Worley said that it felt like he was giving her permission and indeed challenging her as a pastor, to not be content to just do what has always been done but to shake things up a little as we try to live more fully into what it means to be followers of Jesus in this time and place.
Worley also received some humbling gifts including a stole from the congregation that had belonged to the late husband and father of current congregation members who had also been a Presbyterian pastor.
Worley also received the gift of music in the form of a shofar.
“The shofar is a musical instrument made from a ram’s horn, used in biblical times to signal battle, as well as to call people to worship,” said Worley. “It seems the people of WRPC felt I could use one!”
Rev. Worley and her congregation, now invite the community to visit the White Rock Presbyterian Church, for holiday services called Adult Vespers. The weekly services will offer a quiet moment, filled with candles, meditative music, stillness and prayers. The 5:30 p.m. Sunday evenings services will be held Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22, for a brief 30-minute worship service in the style of the Taizé Community.
Learn more about the White Rock Presbyterian Church at http://www.wrpchurch.com, call 672-3682.