In the blink of an eye, the first half of the semester is finished! As I write this, I am seated at a desk in Berkeley, CA on the campus of CDSP where I will spend the week enjoying some much-needed rest! “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.” (1 Chronicles 16:8). November, a time for giving thanks in the US; a time to make known God’s deeds among the peoples.
Yet, I’m not quite sure what to write. So much has happened this past month and I have been with you three times over the course of it! Still, I am in awe of God’s deeds. They’ve allowed me to be in Sheboygan to grieve with you after Terry Kohler’s passing into eternal life. They’ve allowed me to share the joy of Walsingham pilgrimage, Grace Church, and Sheboygan itself with my classmate, Nick Evancho. They’ve allowed me to take part in our Diocesan Convention with our wider church family. All the while, somehow, they’ve allowed me to keep up with my studies, serve faithfully at my field education site, and even move into on-campus housing. How? How has this been possible? How has this ALL occurred in four weeks’ time!?! Make known his deeds among the peoples. God’s hand is truly at the heart of all that has been accomplished!
Even my being in CA comes as a blessing! My travel was covered by Frequent Flyer miles and my housing is thanks to a former classmate who could get me a room gratis on the CDSP campus. My time here should be just the stress-free break I’ve been hoping for! When I return to campus, I trust that my time away will find me with renewed energy to finish the semester. Granted, in addition to classes, I’ll also need to finish moving and unpacking. My great joy has been my time with the students at Georgetown University.
My preaching class is one of my highlights of this term. My practice group instructor is Mark Jefferson. He comes from a Baptist background and is currently doing his dissertation with Rev. Tom Long as his advisor. Mark’s instruction is lighting a fire under our group for our sermons. I’ve recently been preaching at Georgetown and it’s made a huge difference. At Georgetown, I must preach from the floor and without a sermon manuscript. I’m learning to use my voice.
My preaching class is one of my highlights of this term. My practice group instructor is Mark Jefferson. He comes from a Baptist background and is currently doing his dissertation with Rev. Tom Long as his advisor. Mark’s instruction is lighting a fire under our group for our sermons. I’ve recently been preaching at Georgetown and it’s made a huge difference. At Georgetown, I must preach from the floor and without a sermon manuscript. I’m learning to use my voice.
I’m also discovering which “voices” influence me. Last year, I was overwhelmed by church history. This year, I’m learning whose voices from the past speak to me and give me a clearer understanding of the tenets of our faith. It’s as if everything is starting to shift further into focus. I look forward to what comes next.
I give thanks for all of you regularly. This journey would not be possible without your prayers and support. Thank you for welcoming me, my classmate, and ALL who walk through the doors of Grace! Bishop Matt at convention challenged our diocese to share our faith regularly outside our parish doors. I see what is happening with Grace Abounds and with the Guild of Mary & Martha and give thanks for these new forms of outreach.
Next month will hopefully find me refreshed and able to share something that feels more substantive than this month’s Postulant’s Path seems to me. “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.”
By His Love, Bobbi
Next month will hopefully find me refreshed and able to share something that feels more substantive than this month’s Postulant’s Path seems to me. “O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.”
By His Love, Bobbi
"Krafting" a Bridge 