4.28.2008
4.21.2008
Life, love, and preaching..
So last night I preached my first sermon since being in seminary at the InterFaith Center where I work. The thing is I've already given this sermon in my preaching class, where I wasn't really nervous in the least. Last night I gave the sermon in front of 14 of my colleagues and students, and was completely nervous. Steve asked if I was sure that I didn't want to do that full time each week, and I laughed, then he proceeded to tell me that he was serious, he really thought I would be good at it. I was like well, I appreciate your kind words..but..our jobs rock:) I really love where I work. Really. Really..
My mom emailed me last night about the new house, just asking the right parental questions that she and dad came up with when checking out the house online. Writing her back I ended up rambling, as I do sometimes (sometimes?) about just a few things that have been a bit heavy on my heart. I realized while finishing up the email that mom has never once made fun of me for any feelings that I have had, any guys that I have dated, or any heartbreak that I have been in (or put myself through). Wow. I respect that so much in her. Obviously there are a lot of things that I respect about her, and love, I just can't get over how amazing she is in times where I just am sad. It doesn't happen I suppose that often, but still. She's always there. So is my dad. Talk about someone who understands without having to say a word..
My mom emailed me last night about the new house, just asking the right parental questions that she and dad came up with when checking out the house online. Writing her back I ended up rambling, as I do sometimes (sometimes?) about just a few things that have been a bit heavy on my heart. I realized while finishing up the email that mom has never once made fun of me for any feelings that I have had, any guys that I have dated, or any heartbreak that I have been in (or put myself through). Wow. I respect that so much in her. Obviously there are a lot of things that I respect about her, and love, I just can't get over how amazing she is in times where I just am sad. It doesn't happen I suppose that often, but still. She's always there. So is my dad. Talk about someone who understands without having to say a word..
4.19.2008
Seminary Sorority House
My friend Kyle coined this phrase for the house that my three friends and I were looking into renting for our third year of seminary and the time afterwards. "Seminary Sorority House". Well, I've never been in a sorority, or gone to a school with greek life at all, so maybe I'll learn something. Ha. Just kidding. The four of us are probably pretty far from being anything resembling a sorority house.
Anyways, I'm just pretty excited about the house that we're renting. Not only am I renting it with three of my close friends here at school, but all of us think that our transition from seminary to wherever we may go (or stay) will be a bit easier than if we are living on campus and moving somewhere directly afterwards. Well, the landlord is awesome, and he compromised with the rent, and the house is perfect. It's walking distance to my bank, favorite coffee shop, food store, target, thai restaurant, etc. There are so many places that I can walk to. I'm stoked because when I rode the bus in Miami we walked everywhere, and then since then I've wanted to live somewhere I could walk to so many places. We can ride our bikes everywhere if we so choose, including campus.
I'm just excited. It should be great. I'm stoked. We want to make sure that our community is exactly that, a community, where we at least eat dinner once a week together, making time for each other. I miss that.
Anyways, I'm just pretty excited about the house that we're renting. Not only am I renting it with three of my close friends here at school, but all of us think that our transition from seminary to wherever we may go (or stay) will be a bit easier than if we are living on campus and moving somewhere directly afterwards. Well, the landlord is awesome, and he compromised with the rent, and the house is perfect. It's walking distance to my bank, favorite coffee shop, food store, target, thai restaurant, etc. There are so many places that I can walk to. I'm stoked because when I rode the bus in Miami we walked everywhere, and then since then I've wanted to live somewhere I could walk to so many places. We can ride our bikes everywhere if we so choose, including campus.
I'm just excited. It should be great. I'm stoked. We want to make sure that our community is exactly that, a community, where we at least eat dinner once a week together, making time for each other. I miss that.
4.10.2008
Ubi Caritas Et Amor, Ubi Caritas Deus Ibi Est
Where there is charity, God is also.
Wow. Amen.
This morning my Sacraments and Globalization class was in charge of putting together the chapel service. So 8 or so of us were in today's group whose theme was to be the Eucharist. What we intended was not saying the words of institution, as not to get in any kind of formal trouble with the PCUSA, but not having a formal eucharist either. We set up a picnic in the chapel, with all sorts of different, random foods, and talked about the connection between hospitality, globalization, and a world where no matter how flat our world we seem to disconnect and be more inhospitable than ever.
Opening up the confession time we asked people to share times when ourselves have been or been a witness to a time of un-hospitality. Then, instead of a sermon, we read biblical stories of meals being shared, intertwined with personal stories of when have you experienced the sacrament in a non-traditional way, followed by the singing of Ubi Caritas.
This morning turned out to be exactly what I had been needing and searching for without even knowing. I left the service filled with joy and the grace of God but also, as a prayer we prayed, feeling unrest in my part of un-hospitality to the stranger.
I got the story-ball rolling by telling of my group of friends here in Louisville. There are a solid group of 10-12 of us that, when even one person is missing, we look around and are sad of their absence. This is a beautiful notion of love for me. Once, during one of our many pot lucks, we were sitting around sharing all kinds of food when it hit me that this is what it must have been like for the disciples. Friends who were sitting around, laughing, crying, sharing, breaking bread together. I can't imagine a life without these people. Three of them were at the chapel service, and looking around, seeing the faces of Marie, Christine, and Rob I was humbled in the realization that yes, this is what it is all about..
Wow. Amen.
This morning my Sacraments and Globalization class was in charge of putting together the chapel service. So 8 or so of us were in today's group whose theme was to be the Eucharist. What we intended was not saying the words of institution, as not to get in any kind of formal trouble with the PCUSA, but not having a formal eucharist either. We set up a picnic in the chapel, with all sorts of different, random foods, and talked about the connection between hospitality, globalization, and a world where no matter how flat our world we seem to disconnect and be more inhospitable than ever.
Opening up the confession time we asked people to share times when ourselves have been or been a witness to a time of un-hospitality. Then, instead of a sermon, we read biblical stories of meals being shared, intertwined with personal stories of when have you experienced the sacrament in a non-traditional way, followed by the singing of Ubi Caritas.
This morning turned out to be exactly what I had been needing and searching for without even knowing. I left the service filled with joy and the grace of God but also, as a prayer we prayed, feeling unrest in my part of un-hospitality to the stranger.
I got the story-ball rolling by telling of my group of friends here in Louisville. There are a solid group of 10-12 of us that, when even one person is missing, we look around and are sad of their absence. This is a beautiful notion of love for me. Once, during one of our many pot lucks, we were sitting around sharing all kinds of food when it hit me that this is what it must have been like for the disciples. Friends who were sitting around, laughing, crying, sharing, breaking bread together. I can't imagine a life without these people. Three of them were at the chapel service, and looking around, seeing the faces of Marie, Christine, and Rob I was humbled in the realization that yes, this is what it is all about..
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