Weekly post

Sept. 10, 2007

Dear friends,

You might notice something new on the right-hand side of my blog, where the links are. It's "my bookshelf," and it's a feature of Shelfari, a book discussion Web site to which I belong. As part of my profile there, I have listed a number of books that are special to me for various reasons. Most of them I have rated with a number of stars; the few that have a small green box to the lower right of the cover mean that I've included a written review. In some cases, the only picture available shows a blank gray cover. In that instance, single-click on the book to see the title.

I continue to be thoroughly enjoying my classes, especially the opportunity to dive more deeply into a few narrower topics than survey courses allow. In Matthew discussions the other day, we spent a good hour on a couple of small subsections of the genealogy that opens the gospel, discussing some fascinating insights into the women named: their commonalities, what that says about Matthew's Jesus, and portents of Matthew's kingdom language. I'm loving it.

Ironically, I'm having at least as good a time in Baptist History, where the hour and a quarter was consumed with a spirited (scuse the pun) discussion on infant baptism. A spectrum of opinion, an enthusiastic professor, and a collective lack of fear for jumping off the diving board made for a wide-ranging and theologically grounded talk that was really insightful. I think that signing up for this course might have been one of the smart moves I've made, she said modestly.
I'm planning to write my mid-term paper on creedalism. Buckle your seat belts.

Next week, I'll have the pleasure of visiting Old Salem with my parents and friends of theirs from Germany. I expect/hope that the weather will cooperate and am looking very much forward to the outing.

I've been asked to briefly "pitch" the new hymnal at the 8:45 service at church on the 16th and am really flattered to have been asked. I like the ELW very much and am pleased to be able to tell a portion of the church family that in this instance, change is a good thing! I plan to specify that the new-hymnal progress has been referred to as "renewing worship" from the very beginning, a testimony to the Lutheran church's history as being semper reformanda.

Till next week,
Grace and peace,
Beth