Matriculation

I realize that I didn't post about matriculation last wed. For those of you not familiar with the Drew Tradition, we have a Chapel service to celebrate our matriculation. We sign a book that has been signed for a 139 years. It was a great service. Len Sweet gave an inspiring sermon about weathering the perfect storm that the church is in now in. It was very memorable. My pastor who is a Drew alum came down. It was great to see her on her old stomping grounds. I feel like everyone here knows her. It's a little intimidating to know what a great student she was here and the impact that she made here. It does give me a little extra incentive to do better. Not that I needed any.... The other cool thing is that I'm starting exactly 10 years after she started. I love that I can share my experiences with her and she understands!

Anyway it is a day that I will never forget!

Work

Well now I don't have nearly as much time as I did before because I started working in the Undergraduate Dean's office. It's only been two days but it's been pretty good so far. A lot of it is similar to what I did in my years spent temping. I actually don't mind doing office work. I guess that will be a good thing when I'm a pastor, but I have feeling then I will not enjoy it nearly as much.

My time at Seminary keeps getting better and better even with a larger work load. The people that I have met and the friendships that are developing are great. Although I have noticed there are very few superficial conversations. Most conversations turn into deep theological discussions. It's pretty interesting.

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five: Brushes with Greatness

1. Tell us about a time you met someone famous.... I've met David Cassidy on several occasions. He comes into the little convenient store that I work at during the summer. He's pretty nice guy.

2. Tell us about a celebrity you'd like to meet.... This one is Easy.... BETTE MIDLER. She is a great performer and has done amazing things for NYC

3. Tell us about someone great who's *not* famous that you think everyone ought to have a chance to meet. ... My pastor. She is a great role model for strong females in Ministry. She is my strongest supporter.

4. Do you have any autographs of famous people? Mickey Mouse and the Disney crew but that's about it.

5. If you were to become famous, what would you want to become famous for? Being active in Social Justice

Bonus: Whose 15 minutes of fame was up long, long ago? Paris Hilton and Company

Title change

I am at Drew, but I had thought about this before, I needed to change my blog title. I need to be inclusive. It has always been about God. When I first realized that I had used exclusive language and I mentioned to my pastor she said I just figured you were talking about Jesus. And yes I'm trying desperately to follow his example, but for me right now it's really about God. Yes, I know for some they are one in the same, and that is a debate for another day.....

Anyway, new title, same blog, hopefully with some more interesting posts coming.

WOW

So it's been two weeks at Drew.. and all I can say is wow. I am home. After a week of orientation an and a week of classes and a two day retreat and I know Drew is home. I have met the most wonderful people and had the must stimulating and exhausting and funny conversations that I have ever had. One of my classmates put it best when he said you don't pass through the school it also passes through you, and I can feel that. The people and the culture are so rich. I just thank God for it everyday

Reason no 1 why the administrative side of drew stinks

In the tradition of Melissa over at Going on to perfection... I am going to complain about the administrative side of Drew... so when setting up our room my roommate and I set up the TV and telephone by the cable and telephone jack only to find out today that those are the new jacks and they aren't working yet. So either we have to rearrange furniture or go with out phone or TV!!! HOW Annoying! Oh and the old phone jack doesn't even exist in out room anymore!!!!

First day

Well I had my first day of Class. It went well. I am really excited about all the learning that is going to occur here, both in and out of the classroom. Especially at lunch or any time when I am with my classmates for that matter. I am definitely off to a great start at making friends. And so far I've been pretty good about working out and getting school work done. Huge steps for me compared to undergrad. I know it's week one but I'[m pretty optimistic about both things staying on track.

Dinner and A day with perfect stranger

So haven't done a book review yet and this one won't quite be one either, but Dinner with a Perfect Stranger an invitation Worth Considering and A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory, are great books. For me they really speak to what my ministry is about right now; developing a relationship with God. And for me right now for as much as I want to be a pastor I don't care if that relationship takes place in the context of Church. It is more important for a person to develop a relationship with God then a relationship to a church. That is not to say that a Church, as it is commonly thought of can't foster that relationship, it is to say that we should not assume because one is not part of a church that they can not have a solid relationship with God.

I think that may be the downfall of current mainline religions. We have put emphasis on our membership numbers and our appearance as the Body of Christ and have not put our focus on building a relationship with God in order to become part of The Body. So often we struggle with the traditions , and rituals that lose sight of what those traditions and rituals are about. They are about having a greater connection with God.

We accept the difference and marriage styles, the different relationship parents have with their children, different styles of friends,etc. We accept that they are different but we still consider them acceptable. Why is that so often we do not feel the same way about a person's relationship with God. We do judge people if they don't meet their friends for coffee once a month as we do, but we are quick to judge them if they don't go to church on Sunday.

I am a church going person. In fact I truly enjoy going to church. I feel that is where I most often connect with deeply with God. But it is not the only place that I connect with God. If another person doesn't feel comfortable in a church setting I would never want them to see that as a barrier to their relationship with God. Because their are certainly other ways to meet God and to a foster a relationship with God.

greetings from Drew

I am sorry for the time lapse in blogging, but as you can imagine I was very busy geting ready for school. I feel like busy is the theme of this blog. However. I have arrived at DREW. I am HERE!!!! In case you cna't tell I am so very excited about it. Orientation was very long but informative. I hvae have no doubt that I am at the place God intented me to be at. I am so excited for this journey. Everyone keeps saying there will be ups and downs and I feel that there is no other place where I would like to expirence them.

The community here is so welcoming, open and honest. I have already met some amazing people. I know that this will be another place where I will make life long friends. I can't wiat for classes to start. I have such great anticpation for the discussions and the debates that willl occur.

The icing on the cake was meeting Ben and Melissa from the blogoshere world. They are truly great people and have very helpful to me.

Well I'm off to organixe my apartment some more and do a bit of fun readding before all the calss reading starts