Weekly post

Well, things are winding down but by no means are over. After today, no classes Tuesday, then a full complement of classes Wednesday, then preparations for exams. A Greek final on Monday, May 7, at 9 a.m., and Theology on Thursday, May 10, at 10 a.m. I expect to wind up with a C in Greek and either an A or a B in Theology, a Pass in Art of Ministry II (pass/fail), an A or a B in Homiletics, and an A or a B in Religions of Africa.

As for the summer, I have an interview this afternoon for a summer internship with Daybreak Respite Care, a day care program for adults, mostly older adults, with cognitive and/or physical limitations. It's a job I have a real interest one, and I hope I get it.

Yesterday evening, I had a terrific evening with the youth group at Emmanuel, saying a few goodbyes to folks who will not be there next week. I'll have one more Sunday morning and one more Sunday evening with them as the vicar intern, then it will be over. I feel able to "end it," although I will miss it. And that, I think, is a good way to be.

Keep me in your thoughts over the next few weeks as I wind up my second year. Given that I've set myself a four-year program, I'm now about halfway through.

Grace and peace,
Beth

Weekly post

April 23, 2007

Dear friends,

I have learned that with youth groups there is no such thing as being a spectator. I had been looking forward all year to the second annual "Youtheran Idol" lip-syncing group presentations, when one of the adults innocently asked, "Wouldn't you like to go watch one of the groups rehearse?" Famous last words. Somewhere out there (watch for it on YouTube) is a video of the vicar, hardly dressed for an aerobic workout (30 minutes of rehearsal included), lip-syncing and doo-wopping with six kids in a performance of "Stop in the Name of Love." God help us.

I preached yesterday at Emmanuel, and it went beautifully. You might remember that I was never happy with my sermon on Transfiguration Sunday, February 18, and never felt fully engaged with the text. On this occasion, my text was John 21:1-19, and I delivered the Gospel and preached the sermon entirely without notes, not even an outline. I had become sufficiently engaged with the text and its message that I knew what I had to say and approximately how I wanted to get there. I was energized and passionate, and it was a good sermon. Whew!

On the academic side, I had a Greek hour exam on Friday that I did badly on despite having studied diligently for it. I'm attempting to just curl up in a ball and wait for the remaining five class sessions and then the final exam. I also sincerely hope that today I will have returned to me a paper that my homiletics professor has had for two weeks and an exam that the theology professor has had for seven weeks. Or eight?

WOOHOO -- five more class sessions for my Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes, Greek, Theology and Homiletics. I am continuing to explore possibilities for summer work, but the possibility of supplying at the church in Summerfield depends on the church making a decision about wanting an interim, and that can't be rushed. I plan to e-mail my conference contact today and ask him about it.

Grace and peace,
Beth

Weekly post

April 16, 2007

Dear friends,

With apologies, a very short post today. Two more weeks left in the semester, then a week of finals. Within those two weeks lie three exams and two papers. Deep cleansing breaths are ineffective.
Grace and peace,
Beth

Weekly post

April 9, 2007

Dear friends,

Today I turn 40. In a perfect world, I would spend the day, the whole day, with loved ones, meditating on the implications of the halfway mark. Well, the world isn't perfect yet (I'm working on it), but my mother is giving me the gift of her time by spending the day attending classes with me, a treat for me -- to show my mother a day in my life. I know also that I'll be spending the evening with friends, also a treat and a celebration.

I am so very blessed. My cup overflows, embarrassingly so. I have a marvelous family, and I am right where I would like to be at 40 -- doing what I love, preparing for the servant leadership I find so fulfilling. Yippee! Or, yipes. Take your pick.

The relentlessness marches on. A presentation, a paper, and a quiz today, two exams Friday, and that Religions of Africa paper eventually must get done.

Elsewhere ... beauti-full.

Love,
Beth

Weekly post

April 2, 2007

Dear friends,

I have survived the week that included two exams, a quiz, three papers and two sermons, in part because one of the papers has been postponed. The visiting professor for Religions of Africa is now back in Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe is struggling to hang on to power. At the moment, there is no electricity in Zimbabwe, so the professor cannot receive e-mails. As a result, he has granted an extension on the paper. We are all glad to have the extension, but not at that cost.

In a couple of weeks, the son and I will join a group of a dozen or so youth and chaperones to see a Broadway traveling production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Greensboro. The confirmation youth have been studying the Old Testament this year, and are excited about seeing part of it come to life. I'll be helping lead the annual Good Friday lock-in and am planning some role plays that I hope will be fun and thought-provoking.

In only a week, I'll be giving a sermon in class on Psalm 103:1-8. Some ideas have been percolating, but I'm not there yet. Inspiration, come quickly! Likewise for the sermon I'll be preaching on John 21:1-19. All reasonable ideas gratefully accepted.

Bet you thought I was going to say, "In only a week...." something else! Well, I'll deal with that on the day it happens. I'm putting on a brave face in the meantime. But truly, this is a good place to be at this age. Being in this place, on this track, headed for ordination ... really, that's my gift to myself, a gift I could not have come up with were it not for the foundation and cheering section that is my family. Bless you and thank you.

Grace and peace,
Beth