day four

Today was mostly a wash. We were supposed to meet with the Sr. Warden, but she called in sick. Instead we went to lunch with Deacon Hazel Red Bird. What a remarkable woman. She wants to go back to the reservation at Standing Rock, SD to serve her community there. They are experiencing a renaissance in Native American pride. Her call to return, 63 years later, to her people, to act as a bridge between the Indians and the White Colonialists (as she puts it), is fascinating. Interesting as it was though, we really need to be talking with different parishioners. Thusfar we've been interacting primarily with the major players at the church. Hopefully this will change tomorrow when we meet with different members.

For the record, although she'll never see this blog, the correct pronunciation of our hostess' name is beer-git'. As one who's name is consistently missaid, I feel it important to make the correction.

day three

Two worship services, both relatively well-attended, no major screw-ups on our part.

The congregation was instructed to sign-up to host Ian and I for meals about a week before we got there. The schedule had some good chunks of free time on our first day. Following the 10am service, however, after they had a chance to get a look at the mysterious two seminarians, our schedule now has considerably less free time.

We spent almost two hours at lunch with a lovely woman. I was pleased at the amount inforamtion she shared. When we got back to the church, she seemed to forget that she just had a conversation about something. The rector looked at me like she couldn't believe she had to convince her what she'd just talked about. I'm not making a diagnosis but it looks like early stages of dementia. Rats. How much of what she told us is accurate or usable?

Our host family reminds me of Marie and Don Retalic. Birgit (promnounced beer-geet'), aka "Marie", wanted to share her favorite CDs with me. The one by Jan Phillips was downright inspiring. I might get a copy for myself. I found money in the pocket of my pants this morning, so I guess the CD is meant to be bought. Lucky me. We dined at home last night on a wonderful Scandinavian fish dish.

Today I think we're planting a tree, having lunch with the Sr. Warden, and I'm hoping to get some pictures of downtown Burlington. It's a nice sunny day. I haven't any way to post them here, so they'll have to wait until I get back.

Ian says hi.

day two

uhhhhhh ... no ... more ... food.

The funeral went well. There was a military honor guard at the grave site. I've never seen this before - Presedent Reagan's televised funeral notwithstanding. It was very moving, especially when passersby stopped in respect.

I've been invited to preach here anytime. Very nice.

In a few days Ian and I will each give a brief talk on the topic of discernment. I think I'm going to begin in the fashion of one of the priests at St. Matthew's: starting with a hymn. I'll sing just enough of the refrain to, "...Here I am Lord... is it I Lord?..." to get the tune in their heads. I'll try to remember to post the text when it's fleshed it out.

There's a book study later this week on Desmond Tutu's "God Has A Dream." I've got it read and highlighted already. We're home early tonight so I have time to get ahead on my reading for Ethics. I'm hoping to complete "Leadership On The Line" this week.

Two services tomorrow. Breakfast (more food). Don't get me wrong, it's fabulous and yummy food - there's just so much of it. By noon-ish we should be free for the day. Time to explore.

day one

We made it to Burlington, WI without incident. It was a short ride. We're not that far away. The town is quaint Americana along its Main St. The church is very pretty with many rooms serving a variety of functions. Our host family is a delightful Scandinavian couple. Both are RNs, and one works in the ER. He likes to talk shop and wants to show me where he works. We dined with the rector and her husband and our host family last night and were well fed. By the looks of the schedule we've got for the next two weeks, that'll be par. Today we're attending a funeral, serving some function as part of the altar party at the church and later at the grave-side. Based on our conversations last night over dinner, this promises to be a very full and rich experience.

my kind of town ...

... Chicago is -- or the Diocese of Chicago is, to be more accurate.

I spoke with the Rector of St. Matthew's Church here in Ev'tn about my situation and asked her if she would be willing to sponsor me here. She said of course, the paperwork and committee selection was already under way. Rev. Jane Henderson was particularly impressed by my interest in church planting and the ODCC project. We're calling it a "project" now instead of "internship" because it's a better way to package it. I think I'm going to get some very good coaching from her in this process. And I'm prepared to do whatever she tells me to do. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's doing what I'm told. This restart puts my time table off by just a bit, but that's okay. It delays another cross-country move for a while.

I'll have to start from the beginning again, which strikes me as somewhat, how do I put this, burdensome. On the other hand, it should reveal much more than the previous round. As I predicted, I'm not the same person I was when I started last time. Even in just this past year I can feel a marked difference. I'm grateful to be given this opportunity to serve God in this way in this place at this time.

my Jerusalem

A couple weeks ago I discovered what exactly is so painful about talking about what happened in MA. It's not that I was turned down, because my call is clearer now that it has ever been, regardless of what anyone says. It's that I was told to go away from the place I call Home.

Boston (northern New England, really) has become for me a kind of mythical place where everything is perfect. I know it's not, of course. But talking about it often leaves me with a lump in my throat. There are days when I feel like I'm never going to get back home. Not long ago someone here said he was travelling to Boston for a weekend trip. My immediate reaction was to find a way to go with him, knowing that I couldn't. I kind of wish he didn't tell me at all. As he shared some of the details, I went there in my mind. I hope he had as good a trip on that weekend as I did in those moments. The Red Sox, ah my beloved boys of summer, had a bitter-sweet end to their season. I'm realy glad they didn't win. Now make no mistake, I wouldn't trade this place for anything. I'm very much enjoying Chicago, the adventure of seminary, and all the people I've met here. I am truly blessed to be among these remarkable people. But I do miss the smell of pine trees, and the salt sting of ocean spray on my face, and the sound of waves crashing on the rocks along the Marginal Way, and of course my family and friends.

Oh I'll get back there (screw the people who told me to leave) and sit down to a proper tea with my sisters.

when in Rome...

Wanted: liturgical boy scout

Ian and I are preparing to go to our Plunge site in about a week. In our communications with the rector it looks like we'll be sitting with the altar party on Sunday. I need an alb. I won't have time to buy one between now and our departure so I'm going to borow one. The one I've got in mind has a rope cincture but I don't know how to tie it. There's some special knots or something involved. I've seen Bruce do it a few times, but I never paid much attention. There was a flurry of rope ends, some fancy twists, and shazam! stylish and functional.

update

I met with Bob (from the Open Door Church) about the parameters of this internship. It will be a lot of work on top of my already busy schedule, but I think it will all pay off in the end.

I will be at the venue from 9:30a until 12:30p on 3 out of 4 Sundays per month. Bob is giving me that one other Sunday to be with my home parish in Evanston. I figure I can go to the 8am service every Sunday at St. Matthew's and be out in time to get to the ODC. I don't think I'll have to miss any Sundays at my regular church at all.

I will preach 3 times. This is very exciting for me. They don't follow a lectionary and are not directed by any particular liturgical season. I think this will make it a little easier to cut my teeth on the preaching thing. I can pick the easier Scriptures to talk about, and I'll get to try out what I learn in Preaching A this term.

I will lead/teach a 3-part Bible Study on the theme of Advent. The first three Friday evenings of December are all mine. I've had something like this in mind since a conversation I had with Prof. Yamada last spring. I'll begin working on an outline next weekend.

One Saturday per month will be spent in seminar. We'll be meeting with Bob to talk about church planting and other congregational development issues. Our very first seminar will cover this topic. Bob thinks we can also talk about styles of evangelism that day too. Poor Bob doesn't realize how many questions I have. There's no way we'll move on to a second topic.

At some point I'll lead the entire worship service. I really have misgivings about this aspect. What I'll do will look remarkably like an Episcopal service (duh). What they do is very different from what we do and I'm not sure our styles blend well. Also, I don't feel called to ministry in this context and I don't want them to think I'm switching teams. I love, and am committed to, the team I play for now, thank you very much. Bob doesn't have a problem with a more Episcopal-flavoured service; but I dunno... My inkling is to respectfully decline.

It was Bob's idea to fill out any paperwork so that this would get me academic credit. That would be nice, but I'm really not doing this for that kind of reward. It is my clearly stated intention to absorb as much information out of this experience as I can and find a way to use it in an Episcopal setting. The church is "hemorrhaging" members, as my rector back home puts it. These small, store-front, evangelical churches are doing something that's attracting, keeping, and growing members in a way that I don't see happening with the same kind of quality here. There's a lot we can learn from them. That knowledge, and its application, is my reward.

ah well...

I'm still a fan.

off the hook

I spent a good chunk of last year playing EMT for the seminary community here. Whenever someone was ill or injured, people went looking for me. I was even called out of a class once (less than cool). Now, I have to say, I really don't mind usually. I have always considered it a privilege to treat people, and I will never refuse to at least triage a patient.

Tonight I found another student with EMT background. Woo-hoo!! I was wearing one of my old job shirts with the company logo, identifying myself. This student actually came up and introduced himself as a former brother-in-arms. I'm off the hook now. Next time someone goes down, they won't all look to me. I won't reveal who this person is. That's up to him.

1st and 9

That is to say first week of classes down, nine more weeks to go. This term I'm taking Liturgical Music I, Church Ministry & Culture, Ethics I, and Preaching A. Most meet on Tuesday/Thursday, leaving me with monday morning, all day Wednesday, and Friday afternoon off. Sweet.

Liturgical Music I: This is a class we usually take in our first term. Because I started here part-time, that was one of the classes I didn't take. After this term I'll be caught up with the rest of my class. Yay.

Church Ministry & Culture: aka "Plunge." This is the class that sends us out in teams to churches anywhere in the country. We learn about congregational life from a perspective other than a parishioner, as well as the leadership and the dynamics of the community. I've been partnered with a new student named Ian. He's very cool. Sadly, I did not get the little parish in Bermuda I wanted. But get this: there's a state park on the way to our church in Wisconsin called Bong State Recreational Area. Dude... we're so bringing munchies.

Ethics I: Dr. Ellen Wondra's class. I had her last term for Theology. She's a great teacher. There's a ton of reading -- typical of her. But also typical is the quality of the reading -- excellent.

Preaching A: This is the first of a multi-part class. Having never preached before, I'm anxious to jump in. Many people in the class have had the opportunity to preach before in their home parishes, but not me. No, not me. Never been asked. I'd do it if I was asked. But I've never been asked. Maybe someday.

Anyways, I hit the ground running and my dance card is filling up fast. I'm very happy to be back. It's good to see the new students (as well as reconnect with the usual suspects). We've got a real good group of new people here. I get to spend some time with them in Liturgical Music. Looking forward to a strong Middler Year.