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
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