When Carla Waterman was four years old, she began taking piano lessons. She was incredibly talented, quickly progressing to duets with her teacher. After each lesson, they would connect by phone to play their duet for her parents. While a four-year-old Carla might have gone on to develop new ways for people to connect virtually in the twenty-first century, fortunately for us, her focus shifted to music, words, and helping others deepen their understanding of how their lives and worship intertwine.
In college, Carla majored in linguistics, humorously noting, "never major in something you can’t spell." Linguistics, the scientific study of languages, offered a vision for connecting with the world, and eventually Carla honed in on Christian social service, specifically understanding what a community needs and how to provide it. She then pursued a Ph.D. from Cornell in program planning and evaluation. This deepened her knowledge of what needs to happen in all Christian endeavors and how to assess that action. Her experience in ministry and research led her to Wheaton College in Illinois, where she became a professor and began two decades of teaching.
The young adult students at Wheaton brought forth many profound questions about God: "Who is God? How do I reconcile what is in my head with what is in my heart? What does our imagination have to do with knowing God?" This became a "shaking up" time for Carla, as the students' questions were also her own. Slowly, she began to connect the dots between daily life, worship services, Baptism, Communion, and being shaped by the church year.
After being away from Minnesota for 35 years, with several teaching and church ministry jobs along the way, Carla’s husband, Wyatt, secured a job in the Twin Cities, and Carla found herself without a position. Seven and a half years ago, she saw a job posting for an accompanist at Advent. For her first years there, Carla consistently dazzled the congregation with her virtuoso playing. However, in the last three years, Pastor Elizabeth recognized Carla’s other talents. Gradually, Carla transitioned into functioning as a liturgist.
Now, with a new accompanist on board, Carla will dedicate the majority of her time to the liturgist position. As the coordinator of Advent’s worship, Carla will collaborate with the pastors and supervise the music staff to create meaningful services. She aims to guide musicians and the congregation toward a deeper understanding of how their lives and worship connect. She also plans to utilize the congregation's diverse gifts and help them enter more deeply into the seasons of the church year.
Carla's journey, marked by her deep passion for music, language, and spiritual exploration, has led her to a place where she can fully utilize her diverse talents. Her dedication to fostering a deeper connection between faith, worship, and community will undoubtedly enrich the lives of many at Advent and beyond. Her unique blend of academic rigor, musical artistry, and profound spiritual insight positions her perfectly to cultivate a vibrant and meaningful worship experience, inviting everyone to discover the profound harmony between their daily lives and their spiritual journeys.
