It’s the start of Vacation Bible School week, and the newly appointed pastor stands in the pulpit. A 6’ inflatable dolphin, suspended on a string, is floating toward his head. He reaches up and points to the object swinging in the breeze. He says, “You see, here at Patagonia Community Church, we have a porpoise!” The congregation groans.
This is the Reverend Tom Jelinek, the new pastor who has quickly made his mark with his easy, approachable manner and simple, clear messages. Then there are the fast puns, including those in the form of a sudden burst into a few bars of an oldies’ song if you unwittingly trigger it with a phrase in your conversation.
Singing comes with ease to Jelinek. In Sunday church services he sometimes pulls out his guitar to lead a hymn. Or after service, he might, guitar again in hand, regale the organist and friends by putting the words of the hymn, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by our Love” to tune of the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
It comes as no surprise that Jelinek, who grew up in Tucson, holds a degree in music. He has a second University of Arizona undergraduate degree–in history—and two Master’s degrees, one for divinity and one for youth ministry, both from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
He has served in a variety of urban and rural United Methodist churches throughout Arizona and Southern Nevada, most recently in Yuma. A special interest of his has been youth ministry, and he happily responded to church leaders asking him to start a youth group here. Open to any sixth through twelfth grade youth in the area, the weekly group has attracted a dozen members so far, and has already made a field trip to a youth event in Tucson.
Jelinek happened to arrive in Patagonia during a busy time of mid-summer potlucks. As someone who doesn’t count cooking as one of his skills, he knew he had been assigned to the right town! “It’s been wonderful to come to Patagonia,” he says. “Such a beautiful place with exceptionally friendly people. I’m enjoying getting involved in the community.”
He rolled into town in his little red Honda Fit with a missing front bumper. How could he have known that it would make him “Fit” right in with Patagonia? The bumper is still absent, which makes his car easy to spot. If you see it cruising down the street on the way to the post office or the parsonage, feel free to wave down the driver to say, “hi!” And if you happen to strike up a conversation with Pastor Tom, be prepared to wind up talking about history, music, current events, or any number of subjects in addition to the usual “pastorly” topics. He’s looking forward to meeting more of his Patagonia neighbors.