Rock Spring United Church of Christ: Arlington, Virginia
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Celebrating Chuck Wildman

On April 15, 2008, Rev. Charles L. Wildman retired from his position of senior pastor at Rock Spring. His retirement marked the end of 40 years of ordained ministry, 19 of which were spent at Rock Spring. This page is our celebration of his ministry here.

 

  • For a copy of UCC President John Thomas's Letter regarding Chuck please click here. (649 KB pdf file)
  • To Read Chuck's final sermon, Gone Fishing, please click here.
  • To read about the James B Hunter III Community hero Award being given to Chuck please click here.

Hail and Farewell

 


You,

Mr. Wildman

are a mild man:

kindly, discerning,

a lover of learning,

an admirable mixture

of scripture

and lore.

Not just theological

but things ecological,

and brotherhood, justice,

freedom and more.

But alas you’re departing

for faraway places,

cold and wet,

with those tell tale traces

of seaweed, rank

in the freshening breeze,

and the chances of frost

and midsummer freeze.

 

At Oh, won't you postpone

your retirement, please?

least draw a plan

for yourself and Anne

to come back and tell us

of the cranberr'y pod,

of rain and umbrellas

of beaches and cod,

the New Englander's concept

of heaven and God.

Capice? compris?

we don't want you to leave,

we're smiling in church

but alone we will grieve

for unfailing support

and good times together

and quiet assurance

in troublesome weather.

-Cicely Angleton