Faith Journey

Reverend Patricia Slomanski

When I was three years old, my mother dressed me in my finest dress and took me to the Presbyterian Women’s meeting where I stood on the front pew and sang “Jesus Loves Me” This has indeed been the theme of my life. During my childhood I went to First Presbyterian in Wilmington for my piano auditions. When I walked into the sanctuary, I felt that I had stepped onto the boundaries of heaven. The sanctuary was so beautiful! I started playing the piano and organ for
worship services when I was thirteen years old. I traveled with the Reverend Cameron Mosser to Hopewell Presbyterian Church and Six Forks Chapel where I played for the 9:30 a.m. services and returned with him to the Burgaw Presbyterian Church where I played the organ for the 11 a.m. services. During my childhood I also attended Camp Kirkwood with friends: the Reverend Dr. Lenora Tubbs Tisdale, the late Reverend Wylie Smith, and Elder Jay Bender. As a teenager I was
challenged by my mentor and “Mama Two,” (Elder Edith Batson), to learn Handel’s MESSIAH. As I learned the music I absorbed the lyrics which are directly from God’s Word. It was during this process that I first heard the call of God, and I wept. I knew that God had called me to a lifetime of service in ministry.
 

As president of my senior high group, I preached my first “sermon” and told my home congregation that my life-long dream was to go to Richmond in order to study at Presbyterian School of Christian Education. During college I worked for what was then the Wilmington Presbytery (PCUS), and I served under the Reverend Jim Tubbs, the Reverend Dr. Robert Bankhead, and Donna Cook, Christian Educator, at St. Andrews Covenant in Wilmington. I was also a counselor at Camp Kirkwood for three years. During my college years I served as organist for Pearsall Memorial Presbyterian Church where I worked with the late, great Reverend Dr. B. Frank Hall. I am very blessed to have been handed down our great Presbyterian heritage. My paternal grandfather was an elder in the downtown Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, and he later served as an Elder Emeritus at Windermere Presbyterian Church. My maternal grandfather served as an Elder Emeritus in the Burgaw Presbyterian Church. My father also served as a Deacon there, and my mother was very active within the Presbyterian Women’s circles.

Upon graduation from college, I taught at New Hanover High School for several years. I continued to serve Christ’s Church as I played the organ and led the choir of Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington. When my children were born, I continued service as the organist and pianist for Winter Park Baptist Church in Wilmington for almost ten years. It was not until my middle years,
though, that God opened all of the doors for me to fulfill my life-long dream of studying at PSCE. My husband and I packed up the tents and moved to Richmond where I was introduced to a new world of learning about our loving and gracious God. Upon graduation from PSCE, I did not feel that I knew enough to go out into the church. I therefore continued my education at Union Theological
Seminary. All along the way my supervisors encouraged me to enter the ordination process. I, however, was not so sure about doing this. I had not grown up with female clergy and elders. After a long period of discernment, however, I felt God’s call to enter the process during my last year of seminary.
 

As I went through the process, I served as Director of Adult Ministries at St. Giles Presbyterian in Richmond, Virginia for three years. It was a wonderful experience, and I was able to use most of my God-given gifts. After three years there, though, my ministry was brought to an end by the deaths of my mother, my husband, and my father. I was devastated, and I did not know if I could continue the process. By the grace of God I was given the strength to march forward even in grief and completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Medical College of Virginia. Afterwards, I entered ordained ministry.

I believe that God has called me to Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Although I have received several calls from both large and small churches, I believe that Ebenezer is the place where I am to serve for the coming years. I felt the touch of God’s Holy Spirit while I was there, and I knew that it was the place where I was to serve. When the PNC expressed the same sentiments, my belief was confirmed. I can now look back and see why God allowed me to serve in two rural settings. I was being prepared for Ebenezer. I can also see why I had the experience as an Associate Pastor. This enabled me to see that being an Associate Pastor is really not my calling after all.
 

I cannot begin to express how meaningful it is for me to come back “home.” This Presbytery nurtured and shaped me as I was moving from childhood to adulthood. My heart is filled with much joy and gratitude that God has seen fit to bring my life to ‘full circle’ and has led me to Ebenezer. It is with much joy and anticipation that I have accepted the PNC call to be their Pastor. By the grace of God and with God’s guidance, I am committed to loving and serving the members of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in the coming years. Thanks be to God for this honor and privilege.

Reverend Slomanski can be reached at any time when there is a family or personal need.

ppslomanski@aol.com                 919.894.5066