BLOGGER ADS

The ads for Instant Ordination I understand, afterall I have posted quite a bit about seminary life.

The ads for Reformed Theology I also understand, seminary and theology go together (usually).

But the ads that just recently showed up about finding out whether or not your spouse is cheating and getting help recovering from an affair -- I'm baffled. I thought those ads were somehow tied to the content of the blog.

Maybe someone thought, "Hey, it's a priesty-boy site. He probably could use some information about affairs."

Or not.

Hmmmm

THE SEARCH GOES ON

I logged onto the CDO site looking for somewhere else I could drop my resume. I found three parishes that were looking for a priest in another western diocese. This one actually has a deployment officer to contact. I sent an e-mail requesting additional information. Hopefully I will hear something next week.

I also received an e-mail from my bishop today. He thanked me for keeping him informed of my job search. So I immediately sent him an e-mail telling him I just contacted this other diocese and would be sure to let him know what happens.

If none of these pan out, I just might think about applying for that suffragan bishop position in Olympia.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. We've been invited to a party, but to be honest, I'm not really up to it. Between house cleaning, shopping, church and everything, I think I'll stay home and watch it here.

Peace

LANGUAGE

I had a brief conversation the other day with a fellow seminarian (whom I will call Bob just in case). Turns out that Bob got in trouble for referring to God in the feminine. Now this is something I probably wouldn't have done, but that's okay. I've looked at the text in question, and this was not a feminazi sermon by any means. A listener, however, caught the use of the feminine pronoun and was deeply offended; God, apparently, is a male in every sense according to this listener.

Even for me, that doesn't equate. I use 'he' simply because it's convenient. I despise people's efforts to force a female pronoun on God every chance they get. However, there are instances when referring to God in the feminine makes sense -- Wisdom being the perfect example. I've tried to invent another pronoun for God, but shheit has some pronunciation problems; so I stick pretty much with 'he'.

Holding to a strictly male view of God has problems. If the Trinity is intertwined in love, and the three persons of the Trinity are all male, is God gay? If the Trinity is all male, wouldn't it have made sense to create a woman first (or only) simply to have something different? If the Trinity is all male, would creation look like Bob Villa did the work, or (as I suspect) like the guys at Possum Lodge did it?

Ultimately this is not a theological issue, it's a power issue. The being we call God is so vast, so utterly different that it can't be contained by gender. I think that anyone who attempts to limit God doesn't really want to know God, they want their own personal genie -- you know, "Phenomenol Cosmic Powers! Itty-bitty living space." In other words, God in a box.

God isn't male. God isn't female. God IS.

Peace

15 MINUTES OF FAME

So I'm getting ready for bed last night and the TV is on because I like the Channel 5 news (not to mention that it's the only station that gets decent reception in that room). They take a break and do that stupid, "Here's Jay to tell us what's on tap tonight. Jay?" Like it's actually a live feed down to Burbank. The show was taped at noon people!!!

But I digress. Jay says, "Thanks. Tonight we've got a great show for you. This famous person and that famous person are here, along with the Spokane Streakers. Join me for a great show, tonight after the news."

I almost had a stroke. These IDIOTS trotted buck naked (well, almost buck naked, I understand they were wearing shoes) into a Denny's, the weather was like mid-teens, and left their car running for a quick get-away. Someone saw this from the restaurant, drove off with their car (which ended up being found totally trashed several days later) leaving them naked to the elements and hiding behind some cars until the cops "rescued" them. And now they're on Leno.

I'm not sure if I'm more upset with the fact that these bozo's got away with something that 98% of us would be severely penalized for, or with the Tonight Show for booking them thereby telling millions of gullible people that this is a good thing to do.

Just proof that the LCD usually wins out.

Sigh

PROGRESS??

I received an e-mail yesterday from that parish out west. You know the saga: resume sent; resume returned; called church; given contact phone number; wrong phone number; did a search; called contact; got new e-mail; e-mail returned; fixed problem; re-sent e-mail with resume attachments. That, in a nutshell, is my first dip into searching for a job.

Now that you're caught up -- I received an e-mail from the search committee chairman. He said that he did receive the e-mail and was able to download the attachments and he will present my letter, resume and references to the search committee at their meeting next week.

People have asked if I'm excited about this whole thing. Well, not really. It's way too early to be excited. I'm happy that they finally got my resume; but they could very easily say, "Thanks, but we're looking for someone with at least some parish experience." If they contact me and say, "Let's talk," that excitement/terrified feeling will probably increase.

Peace

HERE IT IS

Okay, I know you have all been waiting to see what I won -- unless, of course, you just linked over to Tracy's site and saw it. So -- here is my much coveted Shiny Thing prize:

Now, you might be thinking, "THAT'S what all the fuss is about?" Well, yes. It's shiny, I worked hard for it, and it's MINE dammit -- ALL MINE. So all you little people can just kiss my . . . .

Ooooo. Get a grip. Breathe. Maybe this is why I never won anything before. How quickly all that fame and fortune go to my head. As Joe Walsh once said, "Everybody's so different, I haven't changed." Yeah.

I think I need some time with my field ed group. Topic of the day: How to remain humble in when being lavished with gifts.

Peace.

I WON! I WON! I WON!

I think maybe this might be the first time in my life that I actually "won" a prize. Although there was the time I won a radio contest back in Spokane, but the dj forgot to do the required paperwork so I was unable to pick up my prize. I was beginning to think I had Loser or Sucker floating in little black clouds just over my head.

But then along comes Tracy. For those of you who aren't aware, Tracy is the publisher of the I Like Shiny Things blog (see also my Just For Fun links). This is, without a doubt, the funniest site I have ever seen. At least she appeals to my sense of humor. I'm wondering if that's because she's a fellow Washingtonian, Cougar Lover and Husky Hater? What are the odds of coming across a random website with all that in common? Kind of spooky.

Anyway, she tells the story of being attacked by her bed and dreaming of adultery or stoning the kids or sacrificing animals or something like that and offered a prize to the person who found that bible verse the first. Just coming off of the GOE I couldn't pass it up. Turns out, I won a picture to post on my site. I would post it here, but I'm not computer literate or savvy or intelligent enough to figure it out.

So -- Go to the Shiny Things site and see my prize. Read the other stuff too, it's funny. And if anyone can tell me how to get it here, I'll post it. I did try the right-click-copy-right-click-paste thing and it didn't work.

THE LATEST

Okay, so I took the advice of anyone who gave it regarding the previous post. Made some phone calls got in touch with the chair of the search committee. He now has my cover letter, resume and references in his e-mailbox. Hopefully there won't be anymore problems and I will hear something back. Positive or negative, I'm happy that we finally made contact.

I also heard that there was another parish a little to the northeast that was looking for an assistant -- but there isn't any official paperwork yet. I'll have to give that one a try also.

And there's still the suffragan bishop thing in Olympia. Does anyone know if Aune has formally put my name in the hat yet?

FUNNY HOW THAT HAPPENS

I sent a resume to a parish in a part of the country that I would like to live after graduation. It sounded really interesting, good package, etc etc. Mailed it on December 15.

Yesterday, having not yet heard from them, I decided to send an e-mail to the committee chair person wondering if they had received it or if the post office had lost in in the Christmas rush. Kind of a polite way of saying, "Are you interested in me or not."

Today I received that resume in my mail box -- returned as "Undeliverable."

Better luck next time, or try again??

HOMETOWN NEWS

Okay -- you all know how much I love the great Pacific Northwest. Its mountains, lakes, ocean, desert, rain forest -- it's got it all. Including stupid people.

Apparently three young men decided it would be funny to streak through the northside Denny's. Problem 1) they had their car stolen; Problem 2) it's WINTER!!!!

Full story here. Maybe not going back to my diocese is a good thing.

Peace

CLOSE TO HOME

I have a friend from a former parish that was going through his discernment process about the same time as me. Due to distance, lack of communication, whatever, that has slipped more into "acquaintance" mode over the past few years. During the summer of '01, he packed up his family and moved out to Ambridge, PA. During the summer of '01, I packed up my family and moved out to Evanston, IL.

For those of you who don't know, Ambridge is home to Trinity seminary -- a conservative/evangelical Episcopal seminary. Evanston is home to SWTS, a not so conservative/evangelical Episcopal seminary.

We received their family New Year's letter (apparently they missed Christmas, like probably 85% of other people I know) the other day. For the most part it was standard stuff: this is what our two kids are up to, this is what Tricia is up to, this is what Kirk is up to, etc. etc. I had to smile when they wrote, "Kirk continues to do his security job at the seminary every night." I wonder if boots and shorts are part of his official security garb?

It was his paragraph on the current ECUSA crisis that got me thinking. He referred to this as a "reformation along the fault line of Biblical truth" and said, "It's exciting that the reformation is occurring, though it is also very painful to see the church being ripped apart. We hope the Lord will have a ministry for us within the Anglican Mission in America when Kirk's done with his training here . . ."

I guess.

I was bothered by that. Was it his use of the term exciting reformation? His decision to go into the AMiA? The fact that I realized we were both seniors and when I talked with the bishop about my ordination he (the bishop) said that there were two of us being ordained (the other one from CDSP {who happens to be the one on the right}), which means Kirk isn't being sponsored by my diocese? Or the fact that he's throwing out terms like 'biblical truth' without knowing which version of the 'truth' he's bowing to? I don't know.

It's one thing to sit in a parish and talk this issue out with people who either haven't thought about it or are looking for information in order to make a decision, as I did last summer in Walla Walla. It's quite another thing when the controversy hits this close to home. The problem with delivering a really good sermon is that sometimes you actually have to practice what you preach (see Between Games below).

I'm wondering how this scenario will play out. I'm wondering if we'll decide to go our separate ways. I'm wondering if we'll stay in contact but agree to not discuss this issue. I'm wondering if I can do this with a graceful understanding.

Peace

IT'S DINNER TIME

So I have this friend at seminary. I would say "one of many," but being the introvert that I am I'll just say "one of a few" instead. Anyway, I have this friend -- who I'll call Harry Potter to protect their identity -- who has this knack for showing up just as dinner or dessert is being served. I don't know if it's from years of being single that s/he has honed that Free Food gene or what, but it is rather comical. And what makes it even better is that we don't ever eat at the same time.

Dinner at 5:30 -- there's Harry. Dinner at 7 -- there's Harry. Dessert at 8:17 -- there's Harry. Snack before bed at 10 -- there's Harry. Saturday morning pancakes -- there's Harry (no, I'm not kidding). I don't really mind, s/he makes for great conversation. As I said, it just strikes me as really really funny. It's gotten to the point now where if Harry doesn't show up (mainly for dessert, but sometimes dinner), I feel slighted.

Tonight, however, would be a bad night to show up -- I don't think we have enough noodles. But I didn't see Harry's car in the lot, so maybe that won't be a problem.

Most bizarre thing on the news today: A Norwegian (I think -- one of those Scandinavian countries anyway) CPA was found dead at his desk. The autopsy showed he died two days before anyone noticed he was actually dead. "Sven's sleeping at his desk again. Maybe he should cut back on his hours, yah??" Not sure if that's appropriate dinner conversation, but if you're reading this while eating dinner you've got bigger problems than that.

Peace

THIS IS WHY I DON'T GAMBLE

I picked the Eagles to beat the Panthers. I picked the Colts to beat the Pats. So, if you want to know who to bet on in the Superbowl, ask me and pick the opposite.

I watched both games today, and it was almost like the Colts and Eagles expected to win. Like they expected it would be easy. Like they didn't expect the other team to play hard.

Lesson:

Play with integrity. Play with purpose. Play together.

Peace

BETWEEN GAMES

Well, the Colts choked in their final game of the season. Too bad, I was really pulling for Peyton and Tony to get to the Superbowl. They only lost by ten, which technically makes it a close game. If you saw it, the Pats should have won by 28 or more. All I can do now is hope Philly comes through and beats the Panthers.

Yes -- I preached my first sermon at St. A's today. It went well. I had several gushing reviews, a few post-sermon challenges, and some very good feedback from my sermon review committee. But, as in football where you are only as good as your next call, I'm only as good as my next sermon; which will be 2/22.

The 8:30 went fairly well, although I forgot the big chunk in the middle about some of the specifics of the Episcopal church. I thought 10:30 went better because I remembered that chunk and was also able to add a paragraph from the adult ed class that looked at Job. Specifically, I suggested that Mrs. Job was the most important person in that story because she forces Job to define his faith/theology/ whatever, instead of blindly doing the same thing over and over again.

So, here's the sermon (but after reading it, I think it was much better live):

Epiphany 2 – C
January 18, 2004


Ooh look . . . big people. In trying to figure out what to preach on, I consulted my handy dandy sermon help book (showing everyone my copy of Celebrate the Good News: Children’s Chapel). It said that I should talk about the importance of weddings and then have the children decorate a wedding cake. Sorry, no cake here; instead I’m going to preach on Paul.

If I were a parish priest – and I’m not, but maybe one day when I grow up I will be – if I’m a parish priest, this sermon would be the first in a series on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. This passage we heard today begins what I like to call Paul’s section on unity through diversity. And I think that this is a particularly important topic for today’s church.

I came to seminary over two years ago thoroughly convinced that I was answering God’s call. The idea that I should become ordained was first broached by a former parish priest in the spring of 1996. After many conversations with many people, and the not so subtle movement of the Holy Spirit in my life at that time, I finally agreed. What followed next was a string of college classes as I worked toward my BA, regular meetings with a discernment committee to help flesh out this whole experience and meetings with the Commission on Ministry to further prove and present my call. I knew that by attending seminary I would change, but I also knew that my desire to answer God’s call would not. I was as sure that I should be ordained as you are as sure that you are sitting in a pew.

That is, until this past summer and the events surrounding General Convention. We are all aware of those events and the continuing fallout that our church is experiencing, so I won’t reiterate them. Nor will I use the pulpit to tell you what I think about the ordination of Canon Robinson. And I won't tell you what you should think about that ordination. But I have to admit that that surety I felt regarding my call to ordained ministry was being challenged, and challenged in a big way.

Let me fill you in on a little Seabury secret: I’m known as the campus Calvinist. That whole “predestination-God-knows-everything” thing . . . Yeah. So looking at that, I keep asking myself, “What skills, gifts, talents do I have that I can offer to the people of the church during this time of crisis?” After all, in my view God knows everything in advance, which means that God knew about the current crisis before it happened, which means that God knew just what kind of mess he was calling me into. Man, I hate it when that happens. Which also means that God knew what gifts I would have to offer the church during this time of crisis.

It really is true that the bible not only speaks to Christians through time, but also to specific issues; and I believe that this is one of those times. The beginning of this subject is the reading we heard earlier. He makes his way through different spiritual gifts, compares the church to a physical body, writes one of the most beautiful passages on love ever, and finally ends with his opinion on orderly worship.

Some of the spiritual gifts Paul mentions are prophecy, wisdom, healing, faith, tongues and interpretation. He is very clear that there are a variety of gifts, and that no one gift is more important than the other. Why is this? Because Paul is also very clear that those diverse gifts are given by the same, unified Spirit. There isn’t one gift that glorifies God more than any other gift; but all diverse gifts, taken as a unified whole, witness to the glory of God. Diverse gifts, unity of purpose.

As we read through Paul, we will hear him state that just as the physical body relies on the different “gifts” of its parts to function as a whole, so the body of Christ must rely on the different gifts of its members to function as a whole. Feet rely on knees, hands need shoulders; healing needs faith, and prophecy needs wisdom. We are an interconnected whole of diverse parts.

Kind of like the Episcopal Church – an interconnected whole of diverse parts. We have high church and low church; sung services and spoken services; contemporary worship and traditional worship; conservatives and liberals. We are a diverse denomination that is made even more diverse by our theology of inclusivity. Our history is based on including the best of Roman Catholicism and the best of Protestantism and an understanding that both ends of the spectrum have something valuable to offer.

Our church is in a difficult position right now. But we can’t afford to surround ourselves with all of the other “eyes” who see things the same way we do and avoid those who are different. We can’t afford to claim that our gift is greater than any other gift. This is what Paul was writing about to the church in Corinth. There was a prevailing belief that some gifts were better than others and that some people really weren’t needed. But Paul knew better.

In our own church, we have one group of conservatives that thinks they have the right answers and are choosing to separate themselves from the rest of the Episcopal body. That’s wrong. We also have a group of liberals who also think they have all the right answers and appear to be separating themselves from the rest of the worldwide Anglican communion. That also is wrong. I have a feeling that if Paul were writing to the Episcopal Church today, he would say essentially the same thing. There are many gifts, but one Spirit; there are many body parts, but one body; unity through diversity. But the bible is the Living Word of God, and Paul IS writing to the Episcopal Church today. What he said to the Corinthians so long ago is equally applicable to the church today.

There are many gifts, and not one is more important than any other. What’s important is that we recognize that we all have gifts to share with each other. So, what skills, gifts and talents do I have that I can offer to the people of the church during this time of crisis? I’m still discerning exactly what those might be. But whatever they are, they are skills, gifts and talents that are unique to me and which you don’t possess. And neither do I possess those skills, gifts and talents that you offer. We need each other. Anglo-Catholics need Anglo-Baptists; liberals need conservatives; feet need hands; prophecy needs wisdom; and to separate ourselves from each other is ultimately more harmful to the body of Christ than to debate with, struggle with, discern with and live with each other.

So, with what diverse gifts did the Spirit bless you? Have you spent any time recently discerning what those gifts are and how they might best be used to proclaim Jesus Christ as Savior? Now, more than ever, it’s important that we spend some time figuring that out and more time putting those gifts to good use. And I also pray that we learn to recognize the face of God in each other through our many diverse gifts in order to be unified for God.


I need to go watch the other game now.

Peace

20 MINUTES

No, that's not how long my sermon is after practicing it. That's how long it took me to do dishes. Water pressure is an amazing thing. What used to take an hour to an hour and a half took me 20 minutes tonight.

I was so happy that I just had to tell the world.

SATURDAY

Well, we all survived Boar's Head. The Middlers did a decent job at roasting us. Baby pictures of "in the beginning," pictures of our so-called "twin" (mine was Sheriff Woody from 'Toy Story') and future pictures of where we might be in 20 years were all a big hit. They used our menu from last year (smoked turkey legs that weighed a good 5 pounds each), so dinner was also good. We brought three of those things home and they'll feed us for the rest of the week.

Afterwards there were a variety of parties in a variety of places. I stopped in on one and was informed that when you type "Caroline Divines" into Google my blog site comes up something like sixth on the list -- who knew!! I apparently had one too many drinks and had some bizarre dreams Thursday night.

Friday morning came way too early as I had to be at church by 6:50 am for their Friday morning eucharist. I forgot about Boar's Head when I committed to being there. Oops. I decided that since I was involved in that service, and then the rector and I were going out later in the day to visit a parishioner (who has the first stages of Alzheimers) and his wife that I would wear the collar with the training stripe. (Sorry David).

I think that I'll wear it whenever I'm at church functions -- Sunday and Friday services, home visits, etc., but not the run-of-the-mill meetings and workday. People see it connecting me to the church on a different level than if I were to show up in a shirt and tie. In my book, that's a good thing. One thing that was hard getting used to (no, not the 75 year old man who called me "Father") was the physical feeling of it. It felt very much like wearing a tie, and it was somewhat annoying to look down and wonder where it had disappeared to. The tie, that is.

I went to a deanery meeting today. It was an interesting experience. I'm wondering how different deanery meetings will look at whatever diocese I end up in.

Tomorrow is my first sermon at St. A's. I'm not worried about delivering it -- after both preaching classes and preaching in Walla Walla this past summer I'm passed that. It's a different kind of anxiety though. It's more like: I've been with these people for the past 1-1/2 years while attending seminary and I want to show them that, yes, I can talk to adults. And as promised, I'll post the sermon Sunday afternoon.

Finally, I need to do some reading for my field ed group as well as clean house. For those of you out there who are getting into the clergy business, or are already in it, I highly recommend reading 'The New Rabbi.' It's the true life adventure of a Jewish synagogue looking for their next rabbi and all of the ups/downs/ins/outs that that entails. From what little I've read of it so far, I think that this will be one to re-read whenever I'm involved in a search process.

Have a great weekend, sermon tomorrow.
Peace

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM HOME

I get to work from home today. Kind of different; I don't really feel like I'm doing anything -- and I guess I'm not if I'm blogging. But one of the things about my field ed site is that I don't have a desk or regular access to a computer, so for that kind of stuff I can work at home. I'm spending most of the day creating Children's Chapel lesson plans for the next few weeks. I need to make sure that my substitutes are ready. Although I am having a heck of a time with the lesson for Epiphany IV. How do you talk to kids about the crowds being pissed off at Jesus and trying to throw him off of a cliff? I think I'll look work on Jeremiah that week -- "What will I say, I'm only a boy."

I also miss my chaplain. I've been working in the office all day and it occurred to me that I really enjoyed having lunch brought to me every day during the GOE. Makes me almost wish for another week of testing.

You will also notice that I changed the comment system. My comments disappeared (along with several other peoples) and I wasn't able to get to their website to figure out what was going on. So, in this rushed world of instant gratification, I deleted the old comments and plugged in HaloScan. Hopefully they will be more reliable.

Finally, Boar's Head is tonight. It's the big shindig on campus to both celebrate the seniors getting through their GOE's and to have some fun at their expense. Although this year that "their" is now "my" and it's a little different than in years past. I keep myself, "You don't have anything to worry about. You're a plain vanilla type guy who isn't intentionally funny or weird (although people find me both occassionally), and the strangest thing I've done since being here is wear Sorels (winter boots) with my shorts & t-shirt." Somehow I think it'll be a whole lot worse than even I can predict.

Too be honest, I'm more worried about this than the GOE. Pray for us seniors.

Peace

TODAY

Today my larger field ed group met. We apparently do this on a regular basis. The students meet every week, and every other week we spend time with our field ed supervisors. It didn't occur to me until today, but our group includes me, Tripp and Heather -- the original Class Trivenors (or Triumvirate as we came to be known). I find it oddly appropriate that the three of us, who started our seminary career together, are now in a position to end it together. (Yes, I realize that we still have another term to go, but let me wax eloquently here.) So much has happened and so much to come, it's good to be together again in the end.

Basically we ask questions (that we submitted earlier and are randomly pulled out of a hat by the clergy supervisor) of experienced clergy so that we can (hopefully) gain some knowledge of what it's really like to be clergy. Everything from housing issues to the Anglican schism to organizing retreats were covered. And how funny was it that one of the two Baptist ministers got the question about what it means to wear a collar!!

The next group meeting will be at the church I'm working at, so I'm in charge of pulling together lunch for the group. Let's see -- lunch for this, planning the Matriculation dinner, planning the Easter brunch, working on the dinner for last year's Boar's Head -- my God, I'm not a priest I'm a clerical caterer!!!!

Tonight is a meeting of the planning group for the parish's winter weekend. So I'm going to that. Part of what I'm doing in field ed is attending every meeting to get a feel for how this parish runs. Not too exciting, but my practical brain says that I'll need to have that in my memory banks if/when I end up in a parish.

Finally, when I got home earlier this evening I noticed a big mess in the kitchen. For those of you who have been in the apartment recently, bigger than normal. By some miraculous intervention, we now have hot water pressure in the kitchen sink. This is cause for great joy. Although my neighbor came by and said that her's had basically disappeared. I told her she could have it back after we moved out.

Peace

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Today was my first day of field ed. Kind of boring actually. Worked on my sermon a little, did a practice run (13 min, not a bad Sunday length -- unless you're a Baptist), worked on Children's Chapel, had to find a replacement for this Sunday, chatted with the rector for a bit. It'll get moving soon though.

I also sent the requisite forms back to my home parish and diocesan office. These forms are required if you want to continue on the ordination path. Found out from my rector that he met Trevor, my theology prof here at SWTS. Wonder how that happened? Trevor? Trevor?? {**Note to Trevor: Is there a reason I'm not allowed to post comments on your blog??**}

I also need to coordinate the parish calendar with the family calendar -- apparently the biggest skill a rector needs to develop as I drag my family into this.

What else . . . Oh, if you are a really big NCAA BB fan you can catch my Zags on ESPN2 this coming Saturday, 1/17 at 11 ET, 10 CT, 9 MT & 8 PT. I would, but that's WAY past my bedtime, especially when I have church in the morning. Tripp might want to catch this so he can see what hockey in Spokane looks like. Kidding. If you really want to know what hockey in Spokane looks like, go here.

And after thinking about posting sermons, I too will jump off that cliff like the rest of the clerical lemmings and post mine after I deliver it. Look for it this coming Sunday between football games.

Peace

A DAY OF (HOME)WORK

So, the GOE is a faint memory of an intensely bad dream which I can't remember all of the details. And just like you wake up in a fog, trying to remember where or why you are here, fumbling for the light switch that has somehow moved from the left wall to the right, I am slowly removing the cobwebs from my head.

Today my list includes laundry, the bank, returning a book that NU thinks is overdue, purchasing a required book for my field ed (who knew??), and dishes. Just a day in the life of your average clergy-to-be househusband. Oh, and I think I might get some reading-for-enjoyment in. Something that hasn't happened in a very long time.

Tomorrow my field ed starts in earnest. I think I'll wear clericals with that black stripe down the middle of the collar so that I can get used to being made fun of before I actually have to wear it for real.

My mother in-law called yesterday. Wanted to know how the exam went. I said fine, except for the Caroline Divine thing. She said, "The what??" I told her to read about it here, it would take too long to explain over the phone. And the doc that my wife works for/with wanted to see my questions. He's RC, so I KNOW he doesn't have a clue about them (probably doesn't know much about the history of Anglicanism either).

I also went and bought new shoes yesterday. My definition of hell: eternal shoe shopping. But I came out with two pairs and still married; I'd call that a successful trip.

So now I'm off to accomplish my list. For those back in class, enjoy the term.

Peace

A DAY OF REST

The associate rector of the parish where I work, and where I'll be doing my field ed, suggested that I take the whole weekend off to recover from the GOE experience. At the time I thought it was nonsense, but now I'm glad. Man, I was tired. So it was nice to send the girls to church and stay home, take a nap, a late shower, work a bit on my sermon for next week, and then watch football games.

I'm glad that Indy won simply because I'm a sentimental sap who wants to see Manning and Dungy do well in the playoffs. Now it's Green Bay and Philadelphia. After GB beat Seattle last week, I'm not THAT sentimental about Favre and the Packers, so I'm hoping that Philly pulls this one out.

And speaking of that sermon -- it's been awhile since I've had to preach and I'm slightly rusty. Hopefully I can pull it together this week. I'm not only preaching, but I've picked some people to sit in on a "sermon review" board. Should be fun, but I don't want to look like an idiot the first time up in front of them.

I've seen some sermons of other people (Dave, Tripp, Jane, Susie), but I'm not sure I want to put my sermons up here. It feels slightly odd to me. Pros & Cons anyone??

Well I'm off to watch the Packers & Eagles -- I love playoff football, but I'm sad that there are only three more games after today (the ProBowl doesn't count, but I still watch it).

Peace

IT IS FINISHED

Apologies to Jesus, but hey, they seem like such fitting words after a major ordeal.

So, here's my take on the GOE: Overall they weren't that bad. Honestly. I mean, when the first question asks you to clarify why the resurrection of Jesus is a central tenet to the Christian faith . . . Didn't need 2-1/2 years of seminary for that one. It was a good start. And truly, it's not generally the question that gets you (with one major exception -- see below), it's the time limitations and the pressure that puts you under.

Question 2 was under the auspices of "Liturgy and Church Music." This, apparently, is where they hide questions because nobody can think of an actual liturgical question. Last year the seniors were asked to give the history of the daily offices. This year we were asked how the ordination of a priest presented a coherent theology of priesthood. We weren't overly happy about this one.

Question 3 was history and they wanted to know how the origins of the Church of England and ECUSA were shaped by the politics of their time and how that affected the authority of bishops, priests, deacons and laity.

Question 4 was contemporary issues and wanted to know if we would argue for a park in our part of some nameless city, or if we would argue for the development of low income housing.

Question 5 was scripture and asked us to reflect on the prophetic ministry of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. This was the all day question, 9-5. The general consensus of the SWTS seniors is that this was the most fun. It was really cool to examine a gospel as in depth as we could within the timeframe given.

Question 6 was ethics and moral theology. Before I comment on this, I want to list the questions.

In a three-page essay:

A. Identify and describe distinctive elements of Caroline moral theology, including its close association with ascetical theology. Demonstrate how these elements are expressed by at least three Caroline Divines.

B. Demonstrate how historical and theological contexts shaped Caroline moral theology's emphasis on individual conscience formed by ecclesial catechesis.

C. Show clearly and explicity how the distinctive elements of Caroline moral theology and ascetic theology can be incorporated into the educational responsibilities of a parish priest today.

Okay, first of all -- the Caroline Divines weren't even on the curriculum. They were mentioned once in passing -- as in: "The Caroline Divines were a bunch of theologians that essentially defined Anglicanism and some helped create the 1662 Prayer Book". This is the question that I am most interested in seeing my score. I think I did pretty good on the entire GOE, but I have my doubts about this one. At least it was open book.

Finally, question 7. This is the famed "coffee hour" question. We had six areas to address in the area of "Practice of Ministry", closed book. As it should be, since you can't always run to your bookshelf when someone in the grocery store asks you something like, "Aunt Sarah wants to be cremated. How will she be resurrected if there is no body?"

We covered ministry of the baptized, a youth group mission trip, problems with the new musician, the refusal of postulancy by the COM & bishop, prison ministry, and an older parishioner who wanted his dog annointed because it has cancer. Believe it or not, I was actually finished at 4 but needed to spend the last 45 - 50 minutes getting down to my 3 page limit.

So we are finished. Results come back in mid-February. My immediate plans are to find a football game and sleep for six hours. My wife and Kid are back home after being banished to the Hilton all week, and life seems to be returning to normal.

Thanks to all who kept the seniors in your prayers.

Peace

The GOE starts today. Leave helpful comments and prayers here.

Peace

TICK TICK TICK TICK

Can you hear it? The clock, ticking down until the GOE, that is. Really, I'M NOT STRESSED. Really. Honest. I'm fine.

But this weekend is full of "get ready" types of things. I'm running through old GOE questions one more time to get a feel for them, and reading the answers to get a feel for my thoughts compared to others who have taken this thing in the past. We need to get laundry done and get Mrs. Ref and The Kid ready to move out (they are staying in a hotel this week so nobody accidentally dies). Which means we need to have everything ready for them ie food, clothes, etc. I've also completed the next two lesson plans for Children's Chapel that need to go to my replacements so that I don't have to deal with that during the GOE. And finally, I finished my sermon that I'm preaching on 1/18. That's a big plus, because now I don't have to write it during my first week of field ed, I just have to practice the delivery.

Not much to say at this point. I wonder if this is how first time astronauts feel? Strapped to a pillar of explosives, wondering if all of your training will pay off or if you'll be the one to make the mistake that leads to a fiery end. Such comforting thoughts.

The GOE eucharist is tomorrow, and I just found out that someone actually scheduled sacs for this thing. How considerate. I'm really looking forward to that service. Mrs. Ref, in a fit of creative inspiration, has a gift for all of the exam takers that will be passed out during the service. That'll be fun.

I have also met with my GOE Chaplain. She's so sweet. She's got all my meals planned out and when she's going to deliver them, asking what I do and don't like, am I allergic to anything, etc etc etc. I'm not confident about this thing, but I'll be comfortable and well fed.

Peace

TRADITION - TAKE 3

For anyone who's actually read the posts here, you'll remember that I shot off an e-mail to the local CCM station asking why they stop playing Christmas music the day after Christmas - just when the season is actually starting. I think I sent one to the program director and got no response. I also sent one to the morning dj, without a response. Until this morning. Imagine that.

She was very polite and promised to pass on my "concern" to the mucky mucks who make those types of decisions. Not that I'll be here next year to hear Christmas music after Christmas day, but hey, at least she didn't blow me off, right? And on a somewhat surprising note, she actually said that her family celebrates the 12 days of Christmas. I guess there's hope for the Protestants after all.

Side note: The Kid called the station the other day and asked the dj why they won't play Christmas music. She was very polite about the whole thing, but didn't seem entirely convinced when she was told that Christmas was over. Yes, this is the same Kid who told a fellow seminarian that her Nativity scenes were wrong because the wisemen were at the manger. I think she needs to join an altar guild somewhere.

Peace