The latest from my doctoral studies

Blessings friends and church family,

I’m starting  my second week of studies and wanted to share a bit of the first week with you.  I arrived at the seminary Sunday evening of Father’s Day where I met the group I will spend the next three years in study and class with.  The group is an interesting, dynamic, diverse bunch of men and women of varying cultures, denominations and ages. 

We have four students from Sweden; one from Germany; a missionary from Bosnia; and three students from Canada.  One of our Canadian friends was born and raised in Holland.  One of the other Methodist pastors (whom I was ordained with) is from Ghana, Africa.  The rest come from all points of the US.  Our ages range from about mid-thirties (maybe a bit younger) to 72.  The denominations are as varied as our ethnicities:  Presbyterian; Missionary Baptist; the Evangelical Covenant Church (a rapidly growing multi-ethnical denomination in the US and Canada); the Anglican Church; the Lutheran Church; the Episcopal Church; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany; and the Methodist Church.  Wow!  What a group! 

I’ve enjoyed getting to know these people and have learned a lot from them in the first week of study.  Our first week was centered around Incarnational Transformation – a kind of illustration, that imitates the form and content of the scriptural text with the aim of to be a contemporary retelling of the story – psalm – lament – proverb – oracle… The retelling is told with integrity to the original scripture (with a great amount of study and examination of the original context and content).  Ideally, the retold story is a fresh way of looking at the scripture.  A new way to  enlighten and teach the listener. 

Each day we have chapel services (30-45 minutes long) and I am enjoying the mid-day break of worship, song, and prayer.  Earlier this week I felt right at home with several Methodist hymns being sung for the service including, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” – both Charles Wesley songs. 

This week I’ll be in a class called Preaching the Good News From Difficult Text taught by Dr. Gennifer Brooks of Garrett Theological Seminary.  This class is designed to help us see the good news in the text that seems to do anything but offer good news. 

I’m excited to be with a group of people who are striving to better themselves in preaching.  I’m given a unique opportunity (I believe) to learn from people around the world, to become a better preacher, and to share what I’m learning with my church and community.  Over  the next three years I will have a yearly parish project (yet to be defined) which will be one way I can share (especially through preaching) what I am learning.  Well, enough for today. 

I will keep my church and community in my prayers and ask you do the same for me and my family.  Blessings to all of you who are helping to lead and prepare for worship in my absence.  Remember!  To celebrate the Fourth of July with us this coming Sunday.  We’ll welcome Mary Friederich back to share a wonderful message from the pulpit.  Blessings to Melissa Hubbard and her gift of song shared this last Sunday! 

Don’t forget Freedom Fest this coming Saturday and the upcoming Talent Night (Wednesday).  

Peace to you,

Patrick

Behind my garage, close to the vegetable gardens we have carefully cultivated the last several years, grows a plant.  It is a plant many of you would be familiar with.  It is tall.  It is green.  It is sharp and thorny.  At the top of this five foot sentinel is a blossom of the most beautiful purple.  Surrounding this flower is a crown of thorns – closely guarding the jewel from what possible harm, I do not know. 

The plant?  It’s a thistle.  We’re all familiar with those, aren’t we?  Why don’t I pull this weed out by its roots?  Because, the imagery of this flowering blossom surrounded by the crown of thorns reminds me of Jesus on the Cross.  The thistle itself serves reminder that no matter the thorny nature or the name we are called (a weed for heaven’s sake!) all God’s creations are meaningful and beautiful.  I’ve known many thistles in my life.  When more closely observed or more intimately known, that thorny thistle reveals a beautiful blossom.  I’ve been a thistle myself.  I like to think there’s a beautiful flower in all of us. 

Peace to you,

Patrick 

I was thinking of Father’s Day coming up soon, a day I haven’t been able to celebrate with my dad for quite some time.  He passed away at age 60, in 1995.  Several weeks ago I observed our ‘across the street neighbors’ who were playing in the front yard – I’ve watched their two little children growing up the last 5-6 years.   The older boy now plays basketball, rides his bike or skateboard by himself.  Sometimes he ventures out into the street to get the occasional stray ball – that’s around the age he is.  He’s becoming independent and learning to do things on his own. 

This particular day I watched his dad teach him how to mow the grass.  It was a first time for him and a proud moment for his dad.  His dad taught him how to pull the cord to start the mower.  I watched as he carefully went up and down the yard in nice even rows.  At one point I heard him call out, ‘Dad! Dad!’  Dad came out of the garage and the boy pointed to something in front of the mower. Dad helped him past this point of object. 

It means something when we take time to teach our young.  We are passing down knowledge and experience.  We are solidifying our relationships.  We are being a family.  These are proud moments!  This is especially important for dads and their children (sons or daughters). 

We take time to teach our children these things and this is important.  We want our children to know how to take care of themselves.  More than just survive - how to prosper.  Let us take the same care and consideration in teaching our children about our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Take time to pray with them (not just for them). Take time to tell them about the stories found in our bibles.  If you don’t know the stories – get a children’s bible and learn them together.  Take time to bring your children to worship on Sunday mornings.  This is especially important because it’s here they will connect with children their own age and learn about the importance of setting time aside each week for worship – prayer, song, fellowship, scripture, message, communion… 

Blessings to you my friends.  My prayers will be with you on Sunday morning.