The Severance Lounge

Are you still out there?

2008-08-14T13:39:00.003-05:00

Wanted all of you to know that I was thinking of you. Check-in if you can. Take care, Cheyanna

Moving Out

2007-10-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I posted my PIF online and waited for the avalanche of mail offering me all kinds of incentives if I would just please consider coming to serve their church. (sound of crickets chirping) Obviously, the response has been somewhat less than I had hoped. So I thought, Ok, they just need a little jump-start. I sent my PIF to ten or thirty of the more desirable churches and waited for their enthusiastic response. I now have a stack of letters that all begin with, "After reviewing your qualifications, the committee has decided.........................." By the time October rolled around and we had no money to pay the rent, we became homeless.

Lori's sister offered us a room in her house so, with the help of several seminary friends, we packed up our stuff and moved to eastern Ohio. Our address is now:

Ron and Lori Church
320 Alice St.
East Palestine, OH 44413
(563) 564-0813 (my cell #)

I am now searching for churches in eastern Ohio, western Pennylvania and northern West Virginia. I am expecting to achieve the same level of success here as I experienced in Iowa. I will keep updating all of you (both of you?) on how things are going as I continue the adventure of finding that one church for which God has prepared me.

Ron Church

November 6th

2007-09-22T10:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Just wanted to mention that Kenda Dean will be speaking at UDTS on Tuesday November 6th. We used Kenda's book - The Godbearing Life - in Les' class. Kenda specializes in youth and family ministries.

UDTS is a bit behind in sending out publicity (which is why I wanted to mention it here). I am planning on traveling over from the great NW early Tuesday and staying Wednesday for tables before heading home. Would be happy to pick up anyone along the way...I can travel west on Hwy 9 or 20.

Hope to see some of the 'old timers' in Dbq.

If you want a ride email me at debwise at mchsi dot com

Blessings,
Deb

2007-08-24T22:54:00.000-05:00

These last few weeks have been among the most difficult of my life; no joke. Things are still a little rough. The two big things are my denomination and my landlord. First, the landlord. He is a great guy with a good heart and is a strong Christian...he's one of those that says "praise the Lord" a little too much and a little too easily. Really, he's just a lonely guy who needs company. My apartment is in an old house where there are five apartments all together; my landlord lives next door. I just found out today that he has been in my place several times without telling me but manly without asking my permission. He has been in my place about 4 times without asking. I am so frustrated.

The biggest frustration is my stinking presbytery. I was told to choose an old exegesis exam and take a month to do it. When I came to the sermon I was supposed to write a whole sermon. The committee would review the material and we would have a conference call when I could defend my work. HA...defend...HA...that was the last thing that happened. The committee did not get together to discuss my work prior to the call...plus they were not in the same room when we were talking. In all, there were four questions asked and one of those was about my girlfriend. The others pertained to how I wrote the sermon and why I did not write it include this or that. Imagine if you will...writing a sermon and having four pastors (one who is retired) critiquing your work. They said things like..."why didn't you say it this was" ....or "I would have say this." One gentleman asked my theology of heaven...I thought I answered the question as best as I could.

When I got off the phone I thought I nailed it. WRONG! I was told there were more questions raised after I got off the phone...WHEN I COULD NOT DEFEND OR ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. One of the "concerns" was that I am not reformed enough in my theology of heaven and hell. Plus, they were concerned about the grammar in my sermon. Let us remember that grammar and theology are not what a reader would be looking at in an exegesis exam.

When my liaison informed me of the outcome I was frustrated. Part of my frustration was directed toward because of things she did not tell the committee. For instance, that grammar is not something that is looked at...or that I was told not to worry about grammar in my sermon because it is a manuscript for ME. Also because my liaison told me that, in her opinion the committee would have passed me if there was a church pursuing me. Which just makes this whole big-giant-enormous-fat-hoop trite.

When I asked what my next step was and my liaison told me a lot of nothing. Really, she was not sure. I told her I needed written instructions...it took three weeks to get written instructions...three more weeks with my life on hold.

In all...I am frustrated with things. It have made me question a lot of things...like my call. I really could use some prayers and supportive words...God bless...

Walking On Water

2007-08-24T17:12:00.000-05:00

When I started CPE, my supervisor (a Presbyterian) asked me, "How good an evaluation do you need to convince your committee that you should be ordained?" I said, "I need to walk on water." Hence the title of this post. As it turned out, I took to hospital ministry like a duck to water. I ended up getting a stellar evaluation. Then I had an appointment with my committee.

When I walked into the conference room to face the committee, I felt like I was walking into a Bizzarro world where nothing was familiar. The committee that in the past had nothing but doubts and criticism for me suddenly had nothing but praise and adoration. It was embarrassing! I was certified as ready to receive a call without hesitation. I was sent forth to engage the forces of evil with great fanfare. I was hugged by everyone in the room. Again embarrassing!

Maybe I didn't walk on water, but I did work hard and I did do a good job and I was recognized for having done a good job. At the end of the day, that is really all that any of us can ask for.

Grace and Peace
Ron

2007-08-04T22:10:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are still watching the blog, I thought I should put my update in also. I am finishing my summer CPE at the VA Hospital in Oklahoma City. Over the course of three months of ministering to hospital patients every day, I have undergone a startling metamorphosis. I have been transformed from an uncertain seminary graduate into a minister. I still don't like talking about myself. But no one else is going to do it for me, so I have to do it myself. My supervisor told me that my instincts for ministry are amazing. On one occasion, I noticed that a Vietnam Veteran was suffering a PTSD episode. I intervened and was able to talk him out of it. I have visited the families of deceased patients. I have talked with patients who had just been told that they are not going to get better. I visited with a patient who only had one leg, and he was going into surgery to have it removed. In my surgical round, I stood next to the surgeon as he lifted a patient's beating heart out of his chest. In my peer group meetings, I have figuratively torn my own heart out and laid it on the table for everyone to examine.

What I am trying to say is that I have come a long way in just a couple of months. I am not the same person you knew in seminary. I came here with nothing. I gave myself to the patients and they taught me how to minister to them. I meet with my COPM committe in about two weeks. My supervisor said that with the evaluation that he is going to give me, they should approve me to seek a call, no problem.

I ask your prayers as I continue to navigate the hazardous waters of ordination. I thank you for the prayers that have been given for me already, they are a major reason why I have gotten as far as I have.

Ron Church

Keeping in touch better...

2007-07-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

Greetings my dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

While I am all for keeping and using this blog, we all must admit, it hasn't been the most effective tool for keeping in touch. I suspect it's due to busyness and the inconvenience of remembering to check this site now and then.

I would really like to keep in touch better with most of you to share ideas & resources, keep updated on the journey, and to encourage one another in Christ. The format that works best for me is simply group emails (with all the addresses in the “Bcc” line while emailing to yourself in the “To” line so as to not send out emails with 50 names exposed!).

If any of you are interested in keeping in touch with me, please just send me an email with the best email address for you. Here is the best email for me in this regards: roms1417 at hotmail.

Thanks & blessings!
Chris

"Reverend" sounds a little strange!

2007-07-06T12:52:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,
We are settling down here in Edgington after a 90 mile move from Dubuque to just south of the Quad Cities. Ordination was May 20th, and Installation at Edgington Presbyterian Church was last Sunday, July 1st. I started officially serving this congregation on June 3rd. It has been a busy month...much busier than I ever anticipated for the first month on the job.

I have already buried two members. The first death happened just two weeks after arriving. A leader within the church and community, a highly respected and beloved individual, committed suicide on a Friday morning. It's an interesting feeling driving to a home where a family is waiting for you where a loved one has just taken their own life! The funeral was huge...I was told there was around 300 in the sanctuary; the balcony was flexing from the weight on it, and people were in the basement listening on the p.a. system. I spent a lot of time that weekend...and continue to do so, talking about God's faithfulness in light of our own unfaithfullness.

We went to a Quad City Swings baseball game a few weeks ago in downtown Davenport. THey are a St. Louis Cardinals minor league team, and I kept thinking how much Scott P., Blake S., and the other Cubs fans would have enjoyed being there.

The installation last weekend was great. Pat Sileo gave the charge to the congregation, and Cheyanna Losey gave the charge to me. Phil Jamieson and his family came down from Dubuque...it was just a really nice afternoon of worshipping God, and participating in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

I appreciate your prayers as I will be delivering my first "powerpoint" sermon this Sunday on Galatians 6 (lectionary). The church installed a retractable screen and mounted a projector to the ceiling last year. They have been using it for announcements and for music, but never for a sermon...we'll see how this goes!

Peace to you all,
Mark

we're here (in Spirit Lake) where is everyone else?

2007-07-04T06:51:00.001-05:00

just curious where folks have settled...still surrounded by boxes - but starting to make the parsonage a home... hope all is going well with everyone

the post has been strangely silent for a long time!

Peace,
Deb

a new appointment

2007-05-06T12:48:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends and Colleagues in ministry,

This morning I announced to the congregation my appointment to Spirit Lake UMC in the Iowa Annual Conference as an associate pastor effective July 1. I had my interview last Sunday with the pastor and PPR committee. The family was able to go along and visit the community and the schools. Hannah gives it two thumbs up - as there are cute boys at the school!

I must admit that I am still a bit surprised to be going so far west - Spirit Lake is on the border with Minnesota, just north of Lake Okoboji. It is a smallish rural community - but a large church (over 300 in worship on a Sunday). The senior pastor has been there for 4 years, her name is Kay Hooper. I have been called to be responsible for Family and Youth ministries with a focus on spiritual formation and leadership development.

While I am excited about this new chapter in my life, it is a very different one than what we have enjoyed for the past 4 years. My whole family would appreciate your prayers during this time of transition...

We will be having an open house/BBQ on June 24th from noon - 3pm. We hope that you and your family will be able to join us for some southern style BBQ. In the meanwhile, blessings to you and your ministries!

Yours in Christ,

Deborah

Looking for a Bible Study.

2007-04-19T19:40:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

I know that all of you have a lot going on but I am hoping that a few of you would be willing to participate in a Pastor's Bible Study via email. I am not in a position to have one in our area so I am reaching to others via this wonderful blessing of technology. If you are willing and able please email me at closey(at)winco(dot)net.

Thanks!

Happy Anniversary

2007-04-18T12:50:00.002-05:00

A brief post because I thought of you all fondly on Monday. I don't know how many of you preach lectionary, but this Sunday's readings are the very readings that I preached that fateful day three years ago when John 21 vanished from the Bible (if only for a short time).

Just wanted to let you know that I thought of you all (particularly a grinning, chuckling Kim Wilson) and cracked a smile.

Now...if you will excuse me...I need to go look something up in 2nd Mark. I'm preaching on how we can "solve the mysteries of faith" just like Jesus did while driving around in his van.

sorry...here is the picture I promised before!

2007-04-15T22:28:00.000-05:00

They called me...God help them!

2007-04-15T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,
I apologize for not contributing to this blog for a very long time. I am not a very computer literate person and when the old blog went to some type of new blog from Google I was afraid of it and chose not to endanger my computer with a potential virus (Sorry! I am paranoid about these things). Anyway, this is an official notification that I have accepted a call to Edgington Presbyterian Church in Edgington, IL. Edgington is a small town about 15 minutes south of the Quad Cities in Great Rivers Presbytery. Yes, I am the mystery UDTS senior that the Reverend Cheyanna Losey was writing about a couple of months ago. E.P.C. worships between 130-150 on any given Sunday and they are absolutely wonderful people! Graduation is May 12th, Ordination is May 20th, and we move to Edgington the last week of May to begin full time ministry. God help them!

Isaiah is doing well...he is 4.5 months old and growing like a weed. He has Shaylene's eyes and smile, but he has my ears and toes (what more could a baby ask for?!) I have attempted to attach a recent picture of the family from opening day...the Cardinals sure stunk up that day but seem to be doing better. Rebecca is doing well; she is very anxious and excited about moving.

Please feel free to drop a line and let us know how everyone is doing.

In Christ,
Mark

Checking in...

2007-04-04T08:33:00.000-05:00

Only 12 more days of classes - so things are winding down here for Seniors...I think I have 5 papers to write - but who's counting?!?

Still no word from my annual conference as to where I will be serving - which is a little nerve wracking for the entire family. (ok, its more than a little nerve wracking...but totally out of my control...which is ok)

A group of UM churches in my county did a pulpit exchange over Lent - I have to admit at first I was skeptical, and selfishly I didn't want to be gone from my pulpit for 5 weeks - but I have to say it was a great experience for all concerned. You might want to consider doing that sometime in your ministry.

We used "Artisans of the Crucifixion" which is a series of dramas about various crafts people who may have made the nails, the whip, the cross, the crown, and carved tomb (you get the idea). What was great for me was not only visiting the churches, but having only one sermon to learn for 5 weeks...and the congregations heard the story with new eyes and ears...most folks said that the events of Holy Week came alive for them as never before...anyway, its an idea.

Otherwise all is good here - except for the snow fluries, but hey, it's the mid-west and early April!

Blessings to all who are out there in cyber world - Graduation is May 12th - if you can come and celebrate with us - great - otherwise, we'll be thinking of you!

Deborah

HELP.

2007-03-11T09:16:00.000-05:00

I confess to all of you that I did not become a Christian until I was an adult. As a result I did not have to attend Confirmation Class. I am now teaching Confirmation and I am puzzled by this rite of passage. First of all let me say that I have really enjoyed this time given to me to get to know these students. They are amazing people and I look forward to years of watching them grow.

Secondly, help me understand this process.

Is it normal for the students to go through this process because their parents are making them? Is it normal that they do not really care about being a part of the congregation? Is it normal that they think this is a waste of their time?

Also, how do you reconcile knowing that they do not want to be a part of this congregation and will most likely not come back after they are confirmed? How do you recommend to the Session and congregation that these students get confirmed and accepted as active members knowing that they have no real intention of following through with that? How do you not feel guilty for lying?

Please pray for me. I know that I have to let God work through this process but I am struggling.

Thanks.

Update from the Homans

2007-03-02T17:06:00.000-06:00

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ,

Time really has flown by. Already a half year gone!!! Ministry has been full of suprises, as well as all the more predictable moments in ministry. It was an interesting month this last month existing as a Colts fan in the heart of Bears country (we are only an hour or so away from downtown Chicago so you can imagine.) Naturally small verbal jabs were thrown all in good fun and somehow I even managed not to gloat much after the big win.

Ministry has been going really well here as the youth fellowship is really beginning to grow. We have 10 kids coming to Senior High fellowship when there was none at all last year. I'm teaching "topic classes" on a regular basis as our adult ed has grown to three classes and 15-30 adults in Sunday School. Preaching every week has been a bit of a grind, but I have recently forced myself to take a full day away to work on nothing but my sermon and that has helped a ton. Otherwise it is the usual things.

God has really blessed us and the Holy Spirit continues to sustain us. I am so thankful for this community and really am amazed at how God led us to this place. I too miss the interaction and community that we had at UD. What I wouldn't give for a night of praise band, beer and theology, or texas hold 'em. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to catching up with friends at spring renewal.

William is growing like a weed. He just turned 9 months old. He has 7 teeth, working on more... says mama, dada, and trinitarian perichoritic coactivity, and of course... the most exciting news - he is finally sleeping through the night!!! Alyssa and I are also expecting him to start crawling any day. The church simply loves him, however more Sunday's than not he is the showstealer.

On a prayer point, and perhaps seeking some group wisdom.. I have a situation that could potentially develop. Long and short, a former member who had a "falling out" with the church purchased a ciborium for our church (I had to look it up... it is what catholics use to hold the sacred host i.e. magic wafers). It was purchased like 4 years ago and was simply never delivered to the church. We are having a dedication Sunday this month, and low and behold.. out of the woodworks comes this ciborium. Brothers and sisters... what on earth am I supposed to do with this ciborium????? Any words of wisdom would be very welcome.

Otherwise... a few shout outs. Cheyanna - Its great to hear all the great things happening in your ministry, Scott - it sounds like you are exactly where God wants you to be as well, Chris- God bless you in your ordination! I know he has great things planned for you. Finally Matt - if you ever find your band getting close to the Chicago area... give me buzz, I'd love to have you play!

For all the rest who haven't posted, I do pray that all is well with you... I know we are all busy... It seems as though in some way Easter and Christmas were just one long season :p. I pray that God be with you in all your ministries and you have a blessed Lent and Easter.

God bless, God keep, and God speed,

Spencer

P.S. feel free to e-mail me any time - (text adjusted to avoid blogg fishers)
spencerhoman(at)msn(dot)com

Marks of Community

2007-03-01T17:09:00.000-06:00

Greetings Everyone!

In the past month I have on two occasions spent time with a graduating UDTS senior. What a blessing it was for me to hear about how everyone is doing. To have someone tell theological jokes and laugh at the stories I told. Both times were great fun.

The second such meeting found me at a Presbytery Assembly meeting voting on the ordination of a friend and classmate. I sat in awe of the journey that God has allowed me to witness in that student. And while I will not share their news I am happy to report that there will be another UDTS grad in our presbytery.

I discovered at this Presbytery meeting that we all bear marks of the UDTS community. When our classmate was standing before the body for examination I heard the echoes of professors voices and echoes of conversations we have all had in the classrooms, hallways and cul-de-sacs. For a moment I closed my eyes and I was back in the comfort of our community. I heard words like trinitarian and community. The icing on the cake was when our classmate was being escorted out and I heard the person walking with them say "Have you had Professor E.C.?" I chuckled.

Life here is going great. I am still amazed each time I receive a paycheck. How is it that I get paid for doing something I love so much? I officiated at my first funeral EVER last week on Ash Wednesday. It was a powerful experience. I am still exhausted.

Congrats to Matt & Emily on the baby! Welcome to parenthood - it is a heck of a journey. Matt, do you have a free Friday or Saturday to come down and play in June?

Be sure to stop by if you travel our way we are only one mile off the interstate.

I'll bite ...

2007-02-24T08:09:00.000-06:00

OK, out from the tomb I walk ... maybe that's what the smell has been around here. Anyhoo, hope you all are well. Two things from the Johnson house of which you may not be privy: baby and award nomination. No, they are not related.

First, we are expecting our first child smack in the middle of Holy Week. We are quite excited, and now beginning to have a bit of anxiety; normal, I'm sure, but that doesn't help my stomach. Certain grandparents-to-be are excited and manipulative ... it's like getting married all over again, but with lots of yellow and green baby things strewn about the house. I must say, Emily is doing very well with the pregnancy. She's a trooper, and leaves the complaining to me (I am much better at it, after all). We'll let you know when the big day arrives.

Also, our band m28 has been nominated again for a RAMI Award as the best area Christian Artists. We are excited about that, too. If you'd like to vote for us, you can do so here: Rockford Area Music Industry Awards.

The music ministry is going well. Our MySpace is a flurry of activity (If you don't have one to relate to your community's youth, you are really missing out ... MySpace is their community) and we are building relationships with people 18-35 all over the world. If I ever meet someone from your community, I'll be sure to send them your way.

The offer still stands to all of you for us to come and share our music in your community. Let me know how we can be a part of your participation in God's mission for your local church.

Love you all in Christ!

Lazarus Time, Baby!

2007-02-23T11:36:00.000-06:00

Hey everybody! I call this blog out of tomb! (Wait...that would make me Jesus...check that)

I thought that I would be the one to break the drought...with a call to arms (or pens, or whatever). Please fire out a quick paragraph or two letting us all know what's up. I know you're busy...we all are. Just a few words about your church and/or looking for a church. That's all. I'm going first.

Things are good here...although I am really feeling the weight of two things. First, I feel like I am running out of things to say. Sermon writing has become increasingly difficult over the past few weeks...especially on weeks like this one where I have three sermons (Ash Wednesday, Memorial Service, Sunday). Second, I really miss the community of UDTS. I think that part of problem number one is that I don't have people to bounce things off of, talk to, and the like. I'm still doing my share of reading...but without the processing, it just isn't the same. That, and I miss the recharging effect you all have on me (well, except you, Serverson...quite the opposite). I'm trying so different things that have be recommended to me, like reading more fiction, intentionally looking for mentors at presbytery, and "public journaling" (what the kids call "The Blogging"). They have all helped some...but it just ain't the same.

There are a lot of blessings alongside the challenges, too. We had a really simple Ash Wednesday service...and it was amazing. It was really powerful for me to administer the ashes...kind of sacramentally creepy telling all the people you have come to know and love that they are mortal. The town and the church have been very welcoming...I'm praying at the Boy Scout banquet on Saturday. The best news of all is that Julie got a job this past week. She is now working at the United Way of Fort Collins as a Youth Volunteer Coordinator. She helps organize and mobilize area youth to help out in the community. Perfect fit, methinks.

Anyway..life is busy, good, rewarding, and lonely in shifts. I can't believe it's been half a year since graduation. I just blinked and three weeks went by...I started writing this in January. And while there are moments...there have never been doubts that God wants us here and is using us here. The call is still strong...though the brain is tired. And so I am off to do some reading for our Synod's New Pastor's Retreat that I am going to on Monday (I found out that one of my fellow retreaters is going to be Jane Busey). Hope all is going well with you all...know that you are loved and missed.

An invitation to celebration!

2007-01-29T17:58:00.000-06:00

Greetings dear friends in Christ,

Sorry for not being very engaged in this group. Like all, the first year of pastoring and moving is all quite overwhelming. I’m sure we will all be able to stay in touch better next year. Anyhow, I have some great news.

Thanks to God's grace & empowerment, and all the prayer and support of many, I just successfully passed all the EPC written and oral ordination exams!!!

This blessing is made even more special, as the journey was even more challenging, in that I had already passed the PCUSA exams, but needed to redo some of the ordination process when I transferred into the EPC.

We are going to celebrate this with all our heart, and with the fullness of Christ's joy (life offers so few opportunities for such joy and celebration, so you've got to go all out when the Father grants such a time!), and so we invite you to celebrate with us!!!

This means, Lord willing, my ordination and installation service will be on March 4th at 4 pm at Third Presbyterian Church. You are all of course all invited.

Truly our triune God is good…all the time!

In joy inexpressible & full of God's glory,
Chris English

Preaching each week...3 1/2 years later

2007-01-19T08:32:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends, (especially my Presbyterian brothers and sisters)

I tend to think that while it takes UM students longer to complete seminary, there are some advantages to serving as a student local pastor during seminary...

After 3 1/2 years at Apple River UMC I have been through the lectionary cycle as well as the liturgical calendar...I still struggle with some of the same preaching issues that you share...and yet God provides.

This is what I have learned...

Lent is much harder than Advent/Christmas. I think that its because it means much more to me than to the average parishoner...finding a way to make Lent meaningful is still a challenge.
(By the way, I really like to use some of the elements from Cloth From the Cradle for advent/Christmas - and this year I ordered the Iona Community Lent/Easter book...)

The lectionary is my friend - but so is preaching Lectio through a book during long stretches of ordinary time. 2 summers ago it was Genesis...complete with powerpoint pics of some of the great art of the world to emphasize some of the points... this year - inspired by our Acts reflections during Missional Church with Bonnie Sue - I preached through Acts. Get out those exegesis papers and notes from class and take them on a ride through a book of the Bible.

That being said, small group ministry is where it's at...because just a short while after the aforementioned Genesis series - I was leading an OT Disciple Bible Study short course - and more than one member of the class said "I have never heard this story in the Bible before" I wanted to die - I had preached what I thought was a pretty good sermon on that passage just 6 weeks earlier! argh!!!!

Be faithful in your preaching of God's Word, love them, be kind, challenge them, try to tell their stories - especially at funerals. Oh and - read for fun...and meet the other pastors in town...and in the town next door.

Scott, I don't know that I can expect to have friends like I have had friends in the past - and so I agree that is a great struggle. Personally I can't flip a switch and be pastor one minute and friend the next...have tried here - and it does not work. May be a female thing - we are a bit different about relationships...lol

I may be a bit cynical about traditional Sunday worship - perhaps because I am worn out by the ultra small church (40-50 in worship) and the lack of resources...I think the folks here are doing as well as they can...it is hard to be at peace with being good enough.

You are all missed very much - our numbers are dwindling as 5 more graduated in December. Honestly I am glad this is about over...my focus right now is on a call from my District Superintendant offering me a church somewhere in Iowa...

Blessings,
Deb

Greetings from the Land of Ice!

2007-01-16T08:18:00.000-06:00

We are still buried under a bit of ice. We are all watching the powerlines in hopes that they will not fall down. Thankfully we have only had power flickers not an outage. God is good

When Jewett mentioned the theological attributes of a banana it made me realize how much I am missing having conversations and strectching my brain in the area of theological studies. I am learning a lot about about how theology is lived out in a small town but I don not feel as if I am being challenged as much as I was while we were all in class. Is any one else encountering this?

Finally, will any of you out there share how you manage to get your sermon done and delivered well each Sunday? I could use some help in that area.

I pray that all of you are enjoying the winter weather. Take care.

2007-01-15T16:44:00.000-06:00

Grace and peace to all!

There are just enough hours in every day. Just enough. Life couldn't be more full now unless we got pregnant again. Did I actually write that?

I'm not sure what to write. I feel so far away from all of you though I know that we are united by the Spirit. But the Spirit won't play Texas hold'em with me, play drums to my bass guitar, discuss the theological attributes of bananas or throw me a hardball in the street.

The Spirit is at work in my church, preparing the way before me so that I might be welcomed and given the freedom to do new things. This month we are starting four new small groups of four to six couples each. I was hoping for two. God is bigger than I think.

There is much more to say but it doesn't feel the same writing it down. Feel free to call sometime, collect even.

In Christ
Dave J

Message from Johnny A

2007-01-12T09:29:00.000-06:00

The last of my seminary classes ended in mid-December. Although I have not yet recieved my diploma in the mail, I am confident I have received my M-Div. During Sept. and Oct. I was in conversation with a church in South Dakota who was ready to extend a call and Jeannie and I were ready to accept the call -- when, I recieved Ord results and did not pass my exegesis exam. The church still wanted to find a way to have me come as their pastor so between the church, CPM, COM, clerk of Presbytery and myself we arranged for a temporary supply contract with a stipulation allowing the church to extend a call to me after passing my ord exam this January (results of course in March!).

We began our ministry at the Turner County First Presbyterian Church in rural South Dakota on January 1st. I am in the process of getting to know the congregation members and prepare for the exegesis exam (book of Acts). We are enjoying the members and they have been receiving us with open and loving arms. We are located in the country, six miles from the nearest town (which boasts a population of 1300). We are also loacated only twenty miles from Sioux Falls, population somewhere around 110,000. Jeannie has found employment already which allows her day shift and no weekends!

We are just enjoying life and getting to know the local hang-outs, basketball games, and resident deer, pheasants, and assorted other creatures. God is good!!

Let It Stop, Let It Stop, Let It Stop

2007-01-10T10:17:00.000-06:00

Greetings all from the world's laziest blogger!

First, let me say something for those of you who may have been worried: Berthoud Pass (location of a recent avalanche) is nowhere near Berthoud, Colorado. Our house isn't buried in snow, we haven't been forced to resort to cannibalism, and, no, we are not investing in sled dogs.

That said...

We have had an unholy amount of snow. It started out the weekend before Christmas with a good 'ol two-and-a-half-foot dumping. It has been followed by two 8-10 inch snows the next two weekends and they are predicting another storm this weekend (they are spotty on the amounts...anything from 6 inches to another 3 feet). These snows have piled on top of one another, melted, re-frozen, melted, and refrozen again. The result, on the streets, is a skating rink. The result, in the alley that our garage opens up to, is an experience I can best describe as "Driving Through A Foot and A Half Of Mashed Potatoes." In a Honda Accord. Or a Toyota Tercel. Yeah.

Needless to say, we are getting a bit tired of it here (can I get an amen from my back!?), but the good news is that there haven't been an injuries or the like as a result....yet (can I get an amen from my back!?).

One more story related to the snow. Julie and I decided to fly out on Christmas Day down to CA to see her folks. We got to the airport, made in through security in time, and were bumped from our overbooked flight. Flights out were still full of people who were trying to get out after the storm...so....we spent 9 hours in Denver International Airport on Christmas Day. Christmas Dinnner was a spinach salad and a BBQ chicken pizza. Ho Ho Freaking Ho. I could launch into a soliloquy about how unethical it is to overbook flights on Christmas Day, but...we better keep the seminary blog a solid "PG." Once we got there, things were great. Christmas Day itself? Not so much.

All in all, things are well here. I remember Bill once telling me that there will come a time when you run out of ideas for preaching. I'm getting there quicker than I thought I would. The result has been (in my opinion) an over-reliance on personal stories. I have been trying to read more to "refill the tank"...but I am having a hard time placing that on the priority chain over everything else. There are days I feel tired...but the good news is that Sundays (and most days) are still extremely energizing and help me to get perspective on what God is doing here.

Aside from the tired/spent feeling that I have been told comes with the first year...oh yeah, and the unholy, unrelenting, back-devouring, soul-sucking snow...things are going well. Julie and I are quickly discovering that our greatest challenge here may be finding true friends. We love the people here...and they have welcomed us with open arms...but I can't really go anywhere in this town without being "THE PASTOR." And while people in the church are more than friendly with me...there is still a distance (that I might argue needs to be there to some degree) and a hesitation on my part and theirs not to get too personal. I have had good interaction with the very-busy Methodist pastor, but her attempts to do ecumenical activities have been coldly received by the other congregations in town. And so...really...there are times (esp. when I'm tired) when I really miss having "compadres" to really talk to. But this, of course, is the "downside" of a small church in a small community. We keep praying for those friendships to develop...but we still enjoy and revel in small town life, the support and love of a small church, and the miracle of God doing big things even in small places. Still, (of course) prayers are always appreciated.

A few random comments in closing:

The last five movies I have seen (in chronological order):
1) Casino Royale
2) The Good Shepherd
3) Casino Royale
4) Casino Royale
5) Casino Royale
That should answer the "Did you like the new Bond movie?" e-mails I've been getting. I simply can't get enough of it...when it comes out on DVD, Julie's going to have to dangle cookies in front of my face to get me off the couch.

I have yet to use any of you in sermon illustrations...although I was tempted to use the "Zod Hand" in a Christian Ed class where we were discussing providence.

Thanks for the e-mails and calls...I'm sorry that I am often sluggish in returning them. I have heard a rumor that John Armstrong is now in South Dakota. Can we get that substantiated? Julie and I are headed to the Black Hills this summer...I want to know if I should pack my clubs.

As always...the door is open for any who wish to visit. Know that you all are missed.

Yo Adrian!!!!!

2007-01-10T09:36:00.000-06:00

Greetings brothers and sisters,

Looking to the lectionary for Jan 21st, I've been thinking on the theme of "uncommon vessels." I came accross this tidbit that is very interesting. If not a sermon illustration... it is at least a very interesting look at The Theology of Rocky. It is an interview with Sly about the Christian themes that run throughout Rocky. He relates his own Christian trials and his own Christian growth... and this turns out to be a great testimony from a very unlikely vessel. If you like... check it out: http://forerunner.com/rockybalboa.html

You can also listen to the entire recorded phone interview there as well if you like.

Also.. a small spoiler... he hints at a Rambo conversion to Christianity!!!!! Oh my.

God's blessings,

Spencer

Seeking Communication

2007-01-09T19:36:00.000-06:00

Greetings Everyone!

I hope that 2007 has found you healthy and content. While we have nowhere near the snow the Phillips' have, we are still enjoying our winter season. If for no other reason than I actually get to see the farmers in the daytime, during the week and thankfully in worship on Sunday.

I had a parishioner come to me asking me to do research about the rapture. They gave me some information they were looking for and said, "I know that you are busy, but sometime could you look some stuff up for me . . . " It was a God moment in that I had walked into the building with the intention of finding something to study and challenge me in my walk with God. So anyway, I did a very small amount of research in some of the books on my shelves and found out a lot that I was not even aware of. So I am coming to all of you in hopes that you have some spare time to talk about what God has taught you about the second coming, the tribulation, the rapture and all the apocalyptic language that permeates the Bible.

Thanks in advance for your replies to one no longer walking the halls of academia. lol

Amy's belated update

2006-12-20T11:20:00.000-06:00

To my lovely friends & family,

It's time for another "captivating update from Amy." But before I get to the nitty gritty North Carolina - and other - details, I'll start with the most important part of this message:

Merry Christmas everyone! I pray that you have a joy-filled week as you celebrate the best gift any of us have ever, and will ever, receive - the gift of the Giver Himself in Jesus Christ!

Now to the details. As most of you know, last month I visited First Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem North Carolina for a weekend of interviews for the position of "Associate Pastor of Growth (discipleship)." I hoped to hear from FPC last week after they finished interviewing the last of their three serious candidates. I expected a "yes," a "no," or a "we need more time to pray and discern." And crazily enough, after all my yearning to stay in the Northwest, I hoped to hear a "yes." I felt God tugging at my heart to say "yes" to them! I did indeed hear from FPC, though their response was not the "yes, no, or wait" that I expected. Instead, they invited me back for a second interview weekend. The committee and staff are stuck between two of us candidates. As part of their discernment process between the two of us, they have invited each of us back on separate weekends for more extensive interviews, which include teaching a Sunday school lesson and bringing written small group curriculum that corresponds with that lesson. (For those of you Presbyterian-savy folk, it's basically a "neutral Sunday school," though I've never actually heard that term used). So, I will be returning to North Carolina the weekend of January 21.

My thoughts and emotions about the second interview are varied and many:

* I am both discouraged and encouraged. I won't hide it - my first reaction to the news was to burst into tears after I got off the phone and try to resist the urge to throw things. I wanted to know an answer, not prolong the waiting....again! And I was/am discouraged about the amount of pride in my heart that my initial reaction revealed. Yet, I am encouraged that FPC wants to continue to pursue conversation. That is not a bad thing at all!

* I am both thankful and confused. I am thankful that God started to form a "yes" in my heart to a position, even though it was so far away. Yet now I am confused if God is really calling me to this particular church. I dislike that the interview process with FPC now seems like more of a competition that a call. But I think that might just be me and my wounded pride talking.

* I am both at peace and anxious about the coming months. I am anxious about the upcoming interactive interview, especially since I don't have much experience teaching adult Sunday school. I am also anxious about what happens if FPC doesn't work out as God's best - that means back to the beginning again. All the other positions I have applied to have either been closed, or I have closed because I wanted to see how FPC worked out (It feels "unfaithful" to be in serious conversation with more than one church at a time...maybe it's time I get over that)Yet, I am at peace. I am at peace because I am refuse to believe that God has left me on my own to make these decisions. I am at peace because, despite what it may look like from a rational point of view, I know that this is God's timing, long as it may be. God is, and will always be, faithful.

There's my the update on my heart and the call process. Thanks for listening

Here are a couple other tidbits from the rest of my life:
I'm still substitute teaching and enjoying it quite a bit, and all for the same small school. The biggest adventure in substituting the last month - teaching an hour of elementary P.E. and the regular teacher didn't leave me any lesson plans. Fifty-five minutes is a long time to make up games that kids, ages 5 to 11, can do together without breaking bones or going crazy. God is good - I'm still alive and more importantly, so are the kids!
My grandma Sandy and I baked well over 200 cookies today and I only ate two! I shouldn't get too excited about my will-power though. The day's not over yet, and I have a feeling my number of cookies consumed may rise! :) (and I feel no remorse about that!)
Okay, I think I've bored everyone enough by now!
God's Blessings to you all. Thank you again for all your prayers and love.
Amy

Working on stuff.

2006-12-18T16:28:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas All! I am currently working on stuff for church. Just wanted to share this link in case any of you need it or would like to include it in your church newsletters. It is to the PCUSA financial aid options for college and seminary students. We have some students in college and heading that way this next year. This time of year they are getting busy filling out forms in triplicate trying to find money to pay for their education.

I hope that your work on stuff is going along as well as mine. Enjoy the holidays!

Correction

2006-12-08T11:07:00.000-06:00

Sorry, that's www.thebricktestament.com

The Severance Lounge

2006-12-08T11:03:00.000-06:00

The Bible in Legos

Thought you might want to check out this website .... It's the entire Bible story in legos. Parental supervision suggested! A new way to present the scripture in worship?
Have fun.
www.bricktestament.com

Found This On the Laptop

2006-12-07T12:36:00.000-06:00

No better way to celebrate Advent than remembering a holy pilgrimage last Holy Week.

The Problem

2006-12-04T10:20:00.000-06:00

...and breathe. I actually took some time this morning to stop and "self-assess" what's going on. Thought that I'd share the results.

Nothing quite like having a Thanksgiving Week on the 26th, Hanging of the Greens service on the 3rd, and a Cantata on the 10th (a.k.a. 3 weeks sermon-less) to think, naively, that you will catch up.

I suddenly realized last night that I have fallen into that old familiar trap of "I'll catch up when......." That it's sort of like Reading Week, except that I have spent my "off time" doing more work instead of going to Cubs games, playing Halo, and the like. But then I stopped. I was just as busy last year with everything going on, and I took Reading Week to spend time with Julie, to rest and vegitate a bit on the 'ol couch, to take time to spend with friends. And then the real question: "Why haven't I done this over the past few weeks?" And that, well, that got me going.

And it all started flowing...you know how it works. REST? HOW COULD I REST WHEN I HAVE..... budget meetings and new members classes and session and deacons and lunch meeetings and annual meeting and visitation and...yeah.
Never had that problem at Seminary. Greek a week or so on the horizon or...time with friends? But then I remembered something that I told my Uncle this past Thanksgiving when he asked me if I was getting any real relaxation time (his Father was a minister): "I got plenty of rest at UDTS...It's easy to say, well, a Preaching Paper isn't that big of a deal in the large scheme of things. You can't say that with funeral preparations."
And no, you can't. But what I am realizing, here, is that you have to take a step back from that position, too. It's a bigger deal than a Preaching Paper...but it really isn't (in spite of what some may have you think) the biggest thing.

And so I have come to (capital t cpaital p) The Problem: I am constantly overrating myself and my ministry.

Now...don't worry. I'm not going down the "I'm worthless" road here...quite the opposite...but what I have been noticing over the past few weeks (especially over "stewardship season") is that fewer and fewer people have done the "drop-in" visit recently. And I have noticed a marked increase in comments such as, "I know your'e busy...and I don't want to burden you with unimportant things." Julie felt guilty asking me to decorate the tree this weekend! What I have realized is that my unitentional perpetual air of self-importance and busyness creates a wall of distance that really only "digs me in further." I am saying, non-verbally, "Leave me alone...I am about the WORK OF GOD. Leave your petty lives out of this." And so, really, the problem is that I really think it all rides on me.

Which brought me, this morning, to what Lyle once said in class: "The furtherance of the Gospel does not depend on me." I'm now expanding that.
The furtherance of the Gospel does not depend on this Sunday...or any Sunday. It does not depend on the 2007 budget or who is nominated to the next class of elders. It does not, in spite of what some people tell me, depend on my reponses to somebody asking me questions and trying to figure out if I'm a "liberal" or "conservative." It does not, in spite of what I feel sometimes, hinge on a single funeral. It does not depend on my ability to be insightful and/or humorous at Bible Studies. It does not depend on my ability to bring in new families. It sure...sure as anything...doesn't ride on a sermon. It does not, in spite of what I have heard, even rely on this Church.

I think that I'm slowly living out that what I have known all along. All it does rely on is a manger and a cross. It depends on a self-giving God that breathes heaven's purposes and glory into everyday life. And that divinity, just below the surface, pops out in those things that I so often ignore or minimize. Hugs. Lazy talks over coffee where you talk about the Broncos for fifteen minutes to get the courage up to get to what you really need to talk about. Prayer. Fifteen minutes talking about grandchildren at the care facility. Walks. Silence. Above all else...having and giving time to God and neighbor.

And so, bottom line, I need to realize that parish ministry is no more or no less important than seminary. The key is to take the time to find where God is moving and working and not get hung up on "my stuff." I stopped this morning...and thought. What do I treasure and draw upon from my time at seminary? The simple stuff. The unplanned stuff. The things I took the time to hear and experience. Lunches. Friends. Dicussions. Challenges. Relationships. Growth. The times I truly stopped...in and out of the classroom...

And stopped taking myself and my schedule so darn seriously.

The Severance Lounge

2006-12-03T13:54:00.000-06:00

The last week ... 1 and 1/2 papers to go. (I'm not counting days, I'm counting pages.) I now have some idea how you who have graduated felt last spring. Although, graduating for me doesn't mean moving or taking a new church ... But it is truly a bittersweet time. This has been an amazing place to get to know myself as a new creation in Christ, and to begin to understand community. Thank you to all of you who have contributed to my learning in so many ways. Thank you for loving me in the spirit of Christ. How much more we grow when faith is lived out all around us!

I have to admit I am truly excited about being able to give fulltime ministry the time it deserves. Sometimes the back and forth from home to Dubuque gave me an escape ... both ways actually, and life in the church provided a dynamic illustration of all that we've been learning. But more often than not it was very difficult to be so divided. I've never been a good multi-tasker! And so soon, I will join you who are now serving in that place where you've been called. It is my great and humble privilege to do so. And it has been my great privilege to travel this road with you all. For those who are diligently working on those final papers, write on!
Blessings,
Cindy

Moments of Joy

2006-11-20T12:41:00.000-06:00

This past week I had the opportunity to attend a workshop concerning Alzheimer's and Dementia. I have worked with adults and their families in the past living with these diseases and found this workshop amazing. I received practical tips to use myself but also a chance to learn some to offer families seeking advice. Most importantly I was able to attend with 5 other people and learn from them in the break time and car ride real issues to pray about. I was given a glimpse into the life they are living and a chance to see how I as the pastor can be more than the person who preaches on Sunday.

On another note: not only did I listen to the leader for 2.5 hours before I looked at my watch but I did not want to go home. Yes, I admit that there were times that I was analyzing her delivery more than her message in order to find a way to mimic her. But overall the message was uplifting and encouraging and very educational.

I recommend her book and seeing her any time that she is in your area. Here is a link to her website. I hope that you find it helpful.

Also, in case you are looking to check in with what we are up to, an easy way to do that is to check out our church website which my handsome husband has dedicated many hours to updating.

I pray for a happy and fun Thanksgiving holiday for all of you. I'll also pray for rest to come to you and yours in some format.

anybody out there?

2006-11-13T21:45:00.000-06:00

Has the well dried up? Where is everybody!?! While I don't really feel that I have too much to say, I have given up whining like Moses and stepped into the process once again...I beenThe title of candidate has been conferred upon me as of last Tuesday and life has been full of adventure and lots of drive time to that end...I am now ready to stay put but we all know that is not possible! Let me hear some sweet amens from the great cosmos!!! Hope your feet hit the floor praising God each morning!!!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

2006-10-18T13:26:00.000-05:00

Even at the risk of over-posting...As I have been preparing for an upcoming New Members Class, I have been going through my class notes. The following is the result:

Top 10 margin notes from my UDTS class notes:

10) From Pastoral Care: "What if, when we are baptizing the horse, a wolf attacks? Can we baptize it, too?"

9) From Presbyterian History and Confessions: "Leave me alone. My brain is now in the OFF position."

8) From Doctrine: "Gladiatorial?"

7) From Redeeming the Routines: "Conclusion: I am a bloated sack of Pop-Tarts."

6) From Doctrine: "Did he just call Tillich a Nazi?"

5) From Theology of Old and New Testament: "Moessner says: We need to stop thinking that we are better than the ancients. Scott says: Oh yeah? I've got a Honda Accord."

4) From Greek: "If I ever meet the Dative in an alley, I'm going to kill it. No mercy."

3) From Doctrine: "Meritorious?"

2) From Church History: "Ad Fonzie: To Arnold's! To find Chachi!"

1) From Greek 2: "Times I looked at the clock: 11:15, 11:23, 11:31, 11:33, 11:38, 11:42, 11:43, 11:44, 11:45, 11;46, 11:47, 11:49, 11:50, 11:50, 11:50, 11:50," followed by a short break with the sentence, "Yes, Barb, I know I'm a terrible student," followed by, "11:51, 11:51, 11:52, 11:53, 11:53, 11;53, 11:55," followed by, "lost track."

Ah memories. God bless.

A Response and Two Trivial Comments

2006-10-18T09:53:00.000-05:00

Greetings all.

First...in response to Cheyanna's comment. Am I the only person who found "Napoleon Dynamite" overly strange and only slightly amusing? I've heard the old "watch it 85 times, then you'll get it" argument...but I think that you could come up with memorable lines and life-application-type humor if you watched any movie 85 times. (Well, maybe not "Platoon"). Anyway...God bless whoever it is that's reaching out to the kids with a theology book about a cult classic movie...I'm just not on board.

Second...I woke up to 2 inches of snow this morning. It's October. October. I wore shorts last week. Welcome to Colorado. (By the way, if you have the urge to ski, the door's open).

Third...I was driving home from work last Thursday when (as is standard procedure on this particular radio station at the end of the work day) the song "Bang on 'De Drum All Day" came on the air. I made the mistake of actually listening to a pop song...and heard the following:

CHORUS
I don't want to work
I wan' bang on 'de drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on 'de drum all day

Ever since I was a tiny boy
I don't want no candy
I don't need no toy
I took a stick and an old coffee can
I pound on that thing 'till I got
Blisters on my hand because
CHORUS

When I get older they think I'm a fool
The teacher told me I should stay after school
She caught me pounding on the desk with my hands
But my licks was so hot I made the teacher wanna dance
And that's why
CHORUS

Every day when I get home from work
I feel frustratedThe boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on the drum like it was the boss's head because
CHORUS

OK...let's get the obvious out of the way first. Given the choice between work and playing...er...banging on 'de drum, well...the choice is obvious. I'm with him...pro-drum. When we get to the play versus bang-on-'de-drum argument, though, I take issue. Now...don't get me wrong, I love 'de drumming. Played 'de big bass drum in high school...loved it. But I can't say that I'd choose banging on 'de drum (all day nonetheless) over a good game of Pachisi. For that matter, if "all day" is involved, I think that I may choose work, too.

The verses strengthen my resolve to abandon 'de drum and get back to work. Evidently blisters are involved, a loss of candy is involved, and a total disregard for education. This is a life-path I just can't go down. And so...as inviting as it may sound at first...I have decided that I, ultimately, do not wan' bang on 'de drum all day. Thanks for asking, though.

That said...time to get back to work. God be with you all.

Taming a liger.

2006-10-15T22:48:00.000-05:00

Matt and I found this book titled:

Taming a liger: Unexpected Spiritual Lessons From Napoleon Dynamite
by Jeff Dunn & Adam Palmer.

So far it is quite good. If you are looking for humor read the section in the back with Napoleon's recipes. The explanation that Tots and nachos are veggies produced much laughter.

If you are looking for something for the junior and senior high members of your congregation this just might be a good filler. Just tonight at youth group they were quoting this movie.

Happy reading!

The Severance Lounge

2006-10-08T22:12:00.000-05:00

Joy and celebration! The Rev. Craig Alwin is duly installed! Friends, what a special occasion it wasto be present at such a time...Not only is it a joy for our church but a double happy-happy for it to be our brother Craig...I believe I am the only one in our class to have the distinct privilege to be able to claim that one of my classmates is my pastor - in the official capacity! I must say there is cause to be over the top happy to think of the rest of the graduated that have been ordained, installed and given a key to the church building!!!

May all of you that have been "christened" properly for the journey of a wide and vast ocean be blessed and remember to hold on to the one who provides the strength and wind for a safe crossing...

The Oral Community

2006-09-29T14:38:00.000-05:00

Greetings to you my fellow missionaries to oral communities. I thought I would take a moment to let you all know that we have arrived safely to our new home and church family. We have been here 10 days and are loving it.

During one of my visits to this church one of the elders said, "We are an oral church. There was one pastor who tried to get us to write stuff down, but that does not work. We are an oral church." They warned me in advance. We have had many class discussions on it and still I am struggling to remember the difference. This is an amazing chance to grow out of my habits and comfort zone.

For those of you I have not told we were called to United Church a PCUSA church in Woodhull and small town in Illinois. This is a unique congregation in that the UMC and PCUSA churches united as one body in the 1960's. They use the UMC hymnal, partner with the Lutheran Churches in the area for youth group and mission projects and are for the most part farmers. In many ways seminary prepared me for this community.

There will be an ordination/installation service here on October 22 at 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come down and worship with us. If you need more details please email me at closeyATwincoDOTnet.

The following are a few things I have learned since arriving here:
1. There are certain waves to be used depending on whether you are walking or
driving. But regardless of your ability it is vitally important that you wave to
everyone.

2. Pastors are overwieght because everyone likes to give you baked goods.

3. I look too young to be a pastor. (For those of you that are younger than me
start spending some time in the sun to get some wrinkles!)

4. The use of the word AWESOME indicates that I am a young whipper snapper.

LOL LOL LOL
I love it here! Thanks be to God!

Dr. Colyer

2006-09-24T06:44:00.000-05:00

I know that this is probably old news - especially to the people who are still at UDTS, but I talked to Elmer the other day via e-mail, and he sent me this update on his "condition." I didn't know anything about this, and I hadn't seen anything regarding it on the blog. So I asked him if I could post it here so that the whole community could lift up him and his family. Obviously, he said that I could post it anywhere I wanted, or I wouldn't be doing this.

So - here is his update and Credo, unedited. Let's keep the Colyers in our prayers.

Update on Elmer Colyer’s condition September 18, 2006
I have Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma (SMZL), a fairly indolent form of lymphoma that responds well to treatment, but is finally medically incurably. At the end of April I was experiencing some abnormalities in my resting heart-rate, etc., which I discovered because of closely monitoring my health in relation to my training for bicycle racing. When the abnormalities did not go away, I saw my Dr. and discovered that my hemoglobin and hematocrit were low (12.4 and 37). This led to a flurry of tests and initial probably diagnosis of SMZL on June 16.
The medium life-expectancy for people with SMZL is 10 years. Most people with SMZL live 8-15 years. However, in around 25% of the cases SMZL transforms into really nasty aggressive form with a 1-4 year life-expectancy (14 month average according to one study). My blood work revealed some evidence of that my SMZL is transforming into the aggressive kind.
So I had my spleen removed in July for both diagnostic and therapeutic reasons. The biopsies of the spleen indicate no evidence of transformation into the nasty aggressive form. The latest blood tests indicated that my A LDH@ levels have dropped back within the normal range. So now the three prognostic indicators the help predict whether the SMZL will transform into the aggressive kind are all negative. This is really the best prognosis we could hope for, save for a miraculous healing of an incurable lymphoma.
Now we will wait until mid-October to allow my body and the SMZL to respond to the splenectomy. At that time, we will do another battery of tests to determine what the SMZL is doing. If it is in remission, we will A watch and wait.@ If not, we will decide the most prudent course of action at that.
The most likely course will be that I will have 1-4 or more really good years, basically normal and by appearances cancer-free. This will be followed by a relapse. The SMZL reappears in the lymph nodes or elsewhere. We would then use other treatment (chemo, anti-body or others) and then I would have 1-4 or more reasonable good years, followed by another relapse. In the end, you just kind of waste away under SMZL. You get weaker and weaker, end up in bed sleeping a lot, etc. and finally die from various complications. There are a number of new treatments on the horizon, but no magic bullets at this point.
Everything above is based on the best information available. Yet there is only a small amount of research on this rare form of lymphoma. There are massive individual variations in how different people respond to SMZL and to treatment. Thus while it gives us some idea what we "might" "likely" expect, we really do not know how things will unfold. My SMZL could transform into the nasty aggressive form next year or next week. I am in extremely good health and will continue to approach my SMZL aggressively. So I am still very optimistic.
In short, I plan to be around a lot longer than 8-15 years! But I will also live my life in light of the fact that I may only have 8-15 years or even less. I am not afraid of SMZL or of death. I am not angry or depressed. I am grateful to be alive, grateful for whatever years I have left. I will continue to live carpe diem. I love what I am doing as a professor and pastor.
I owe my lymphoma a debt of gratitude for giving me a clarity and passion around who I am, what I am about, what I value and what I don’t, and how I want to continue to live, a depth of clarity and passion greater than I have ever known in all my years of "redeeming my routines" (a course I teach here at UDTS) and reflecting on these kinds of questions many, many times. Frankly, there are not many things in my life that I want to change. God has richly blessed me. Over the past months I have been often simply overwhelmed by a sense of God’s presence in my life, surrounding and supporting me in the midst of all the tests, changes in diagnosis and the uncertainty of it all. I find it much easier now to live in the moment, embrace the simple joys of life, and live one day at a time.
So I greatly desire your prayers because I am ever so conscious that we really only live by the Grace of the Triune God, by the Triune God of grace, who alone is the Great Physician. Please pray specifically for my healing , for Natalee and my sons, and most of all, for God= s presence, grace and blessings through it all and whatever lies ahead.
Rev. Dr. Elmer M. Colyer
Blessings, Professor of Historical Theology
Stanley Professor of Wesley Studies
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
El 2000 University Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001
563-589-3389
Credo: What I Affirm in the Face of Disease
June 16, 2006
The Lord of my life is Jesus Christ, not lymphoma!!
Therefore by the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father and the Communion of the Holy Spirit:
1. I affirm and live out of my new life in Christ, in light of and toward my eternal life with and in the communion of the Triune God, and I affirm the goodness of my mundane life in this world despite the ambiguity, brokenness, and disease of this fallen and tragic creation.
2. I will continue to live as a servant of Triune God, in communion with God, out of love for God, and as a servant of, in communion with and out of love for, my family, friends, sisters and brothers in Christ, all people and all of creation.
3. I will live carpe diem in faith, hope, love and joy day by day whatever the future may hold.
4. I will continue to fulfill my vocation and discharge the duties entrusted to me faithfully and with excellence until Christ calls me home.
5. I will never give in, give up or give myself over to lymphoma and the complications that develop from it in my life.
6. I will not give in to self-pity, resentment, anger, apathy, and the rest, though I will be honest and open about my thoughts and feelings whatever may come.
7. I will joyfully receive and embrace the love and support of family, friends, Christian brothers and sisters and all others who offer themselves to me.
8. I will face my disease in a wise and prudent manner, accepting the best help medical science has to offer, but also alternative forms of health care compatible with my faith, and direct healing from God through the Body of Christ.
9. I will trust the Triune God to work for my good in the midst of this situation whatever may come, and I will be open to God= s presence and blessings in whatever form they may take.
10. I will entrust myself, my life, my health, my future, my death, my all to the Love of God the Father, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit Who loves me, created me, reconciled me, redeemed me and Who is and ever will be with me whatever the future holds.
Here I take my stand on the Grace of the Triune God, on the Triune God of grace.

is this where we post?

2006-09-23T15:16:00.000-05:00

I did not see where to sign up so I pushed a button and here we go!

You Can't Run, You Can't Hide

2006-09-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

I forgot to share with you all the funniest thing that has happened to me so far here in Berthoud. I came in on September 1st, my first day, and (of course) there was a lot of unopened mail addressed to "pastor" waiting for me. Volunteers here at the church had graciously divided it into three files: Important, Bills, and Junk. I made it through the first two piles before noon...the last pile I saved for the end of the day. I opened up the file and there, on top, was a letter to "PASTOR" from Rev. Jeffrey Bullock, PhD.

I opened the letter to discover that I am now a "Colleague in Ministry" and can "help UDTS reduce student debt" by "asking my congregation to give directly out of its Mission budget." We've got about 86 cents, if he wants it...and I'm absolutely sure that it will go to "reduce student debt."

I thought about sending a check out of my own pocket and specifying that it go "to fix up the old Losey place so that a family won't sink into oblivion" or for the "Phillips Memorial Waste Water Treatment Facility," but have thought the better of it.

Best to save my personal contributions to buy a brick in the "Angels in the Outfield" wing of the Dr. Anthony "Tony" Danza Center for the Performing Arts and Wrestling. That, brothers and sisters, is a piece of history.

Tennessee

2006-09-18T15:14:00.000-05:00

I realized the other day that I haven't actually written a post on here for at least a month. You might not even remember me...if you don't then don't read this, I guess. :)

Anyway, a lot has happened since the last time I was on this. So here is my feeble attempt at an update:
I took a call to Madisonville Presbyterian Church, and we moved down here at the end of July after my family and I partook of the Johnsons' goodness and stayed at their place for about a month.
We drove down here in two days, stopping just outside of Cincinnatti. We got here to the church - to find no one here. I could have sworn the PNC said they'd have somebody there all day...so I go check the doors - which are unlocked. I go in and call someone, and after a few minutes Linda Trout shows up to escort us to the place where we are to be staying. Now, I hadn't candidated yet, so I wasn't "supposed" to even be here. So we drove 15 minutes up the mountain to a cabin to stay in.
Ahh, the cabin. It's a two bedroom little place, infested with bugs, and the nearest tree is at least a football field away. Well, maybe a little less than that. No phone. No computer. No cell phone reception. No nothing. For a month.
After a couple of weeks, I meet with COM, who approves me to work in the field until October when I can preach before Presbytery and get approved. Then I candidate - the vote is a lot to three. Turns out three people don't want a full time pastor. Oh well. So I accept - which is a good thing.
Then we go looking for houses. We find one - and go to see a banker to get the mortgage. No problem - except the banker wants the money that the church is putting up written down as a gift. Well - the church is charging us 4% interest on $46,000 - it's not a gift! Two weeks of this goes by, with the church treasurer and the banker arguing and both of them assuring me that they'll "work this out" and we'll be in the house before we knew it. Finally, after two weeks, we went to a local bank that makes its own decisions about loans (and whose CEO is a lifelong presbyterian, and whose loan officer happens to be someone's first cousin...) - and we close the next Saturday. Ugh.
So now we're in our house - I don't have any nice pictures; my camera won't download photos on to our home computer 'cause it's too old and I haven't put the software on my work computer... It's nice; one floor, three bedrooms and an office for Jennifer to do homeschool with Robbie. Fenced in back yard, air conditioning (which is VERY nice in the South!), 3 years old. If you're interested, I can tell you more about it some other time.
I've been at work for a month two days ago. At least officially. Unofficially, I came in the Monday before that to find a woman sitting waiting. She hid from me at first. Eventually I got her to talk to me - she's terrified that her son is being maltreated at school. He's autistic, and her ex-boyfriend (and father of the boy) is apparently just being horrible to him. So I spend several hours talking with her, finally walking down to the elementary school to check on her son. I got a card from her a day or so ago - need to call her and check up to see what's going on with her.
Other than that it's been pretty standard new pastor stuff. Although a lot of the hospitality we expected is coming in different ways. They "pounded" us last night - we won't have to buy laundry detergent for at least a year! They're still getting used to a full-time pastor, and I guess I'm still getting used to a full-time congregation. It's a learning curve. But it finally did work out. We're in our house, and now all I need to worry about is whether or not Presbytery votes me in...and creating a youth group, and new members' class, and bible studies, and a host of other stuff.

I miss all of you. It's strange, sitting in the office all day long planning out classes and things. I keep looking up, expecting Jewett to meow like a cat, or Scott to curse like a pirate, or Ron Church to tell me that he can't tell me that story without more beer, or Kim Wilson scratching...something. But...it's just someone coming in asking for money. Keep in touch. I'll work at doing a better job of it on my end.

Rodents and Me ... flying, crawling, crying and running

2006-09-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a week ... Sunday as I began to preach at the second of my churches, a woman in the front row suddenly was struck with a look of tremendous terror. I thought maybe my illustration of the dying child had hit too close to home, but then I saw more people with the look. And something really odd happened: they began to move closer to the pulpit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something brown crawling slowly across the other side of the room. It was a mouse, and it was dying. In fact, I think it was dead. I only got through 45 seconds of my sermon, and I killed something! The kids all rushed to the front of the church to see the dead/dying mouse, and they all giggled. Then the patriarch of the church walked up to the little brown church mouse, stepped on its head, picked it up by the tail and threw it out the emergency exit. The kids groaned and the patriarch sat down like nothing ever happened. This is the small church.

This morning, I was awakened by a fluttering on the floor in my room at the Mainstay. By the dim light of the street lamps out my window, I saw a reflection in the mirrored closet door. The reflection was flopping. The reflection was wide. The reflection was screeching. The reflection was that of a bat. And after much chasing, running, ducking, hiding (along with the help of the night staff), the reflection was released into the still-dark sky. This is my life.

Early Wednesday morning , a father in title only allegedly killed his son outside of Galena and ran. He allegedly left his son in the truck he had just wrapped around a telephone pole trying evade police. His eight-year-old son allegedly was bleeding not from injuries sustained from the accident, but because he had been stabbed by his father. His father left him there and ran. He is still running. Marilyn, Deb and I spent that day (and they spend part of the next as well) as the presence of Christ for the kids the eight-year-old went to school with in Scales Mound. This is our world.

Almost Done

2006-09-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

Greetings to all from Muncie, IN

I survived the presbytery exam and received a unanimous congregational ballot vote from a few hundred members at Muncie First Presbyterian Church. All that's left is ordination in Spokane, WA on September 30 and installation in Muncie on October 8 (with a long drive in between the two).

The call is to an associate position. The position is generalist, with wide-open possibilities and freedom granted to pursue areas of ministry that most interest me and match the gifts God has given. Initially, I will spend time assessing the needs of the congregation and surrounding community (the church is on the corner of the Ball State University campus). I hope to serve as a facilitator and participant in small group ministries, preach once a month (or more), plan retreats, teach, encourage and equip 1st Pres to engage in missional service, and tap the potential for ministry to and by college students.

We've offered on a house and hope to move in the weekend of installation. Kim and the kids are still in Seattle while I finish my first week on the job here in Indiana. I fly home Sunday to pack up, enjoy Seattle and plan the two services.

Very happy to read about the other calls so many of you have received and rejoice with you in absentia. Also very glad to be closer to many of you than we might have thought.

Blessings to each and every one.

In Christ
Jewett

Survey says . . .

2006-09-14T18:15:00.000-05:00

Hey my fellow pastors and pastors in training. I am looking to conduct an informal poll. Please take a moment to let me know what you think to this question:

Is it a good idea to make your first sermon in your new call be your testimony to God's goodness and power in your life?

Discerning a call is a lot like dating

2006-09-08T23:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Blogger Buddies,
I'm sorry that I've let such a chunk of time pass by since my last update. I'm sure you are all curious about how the call process is working out in my life (!)....... Me too! :)

I was joking with a friend the other day about how I should never have compared seeking and discerning a call in the Presbyterian church with dating. I should never have joked about it because the call process has become eerily like my dating life:
* The church positions (read: gentlemen) that I dig think that I'm pretty cool, but simply not the right fit.
* The churches (read: gentlemen) that dig me, I think are pretty neat, but simply not the right fit.
* And all around, there's not much activity in either area of my life.

Well, I trust that the last point of commonality between the call process and dating isn't 100% accurate. From my human perspective, there doesn't seem to be activity, but I trust that God is actively at work, preparing a good place for me to end up. Every once in a while - more often than I'd like - I have a hard time remembering that point and I get pretty melancholy. Some days, I'm a melancholy grump. Other days, I'm joyful and thankful for ability to wait for the right place. In melancholy or joy, every day I am thankful for the wonderful place in which I get to wait - with my parents. After living with my parents for three months, I like them even more than I did before (which was quite a bit). Praise be to God that God sticks with me if I'm in a funk or feel like I'm on top of the world.

For those of you curious about the specific details of how the call process is going, here are the highlights:
* At the beginning of the summer, I decided to see how things worked out with the churches I was already in conversation with. This meant that besides positions in the Northwest that fit God's call on my life (few and far between), I didn't apply to new churches cross-country.
* In mid-July First Pres in Dunedin, Florida officially extended a call. After a week of prayer and thought, I said "no."
* The same day I turned down the job in Florida, I got two of the nicest rejection letters; one from a church in Virginia, and one from a church in Washington (this was the position I was hoping for).
* A couple more "you're cool, but not the right fit," happened along.
* By last week, there was only one church left that hadn't said no: a solo position at a small church in a suburb of Portland. Though I hadn't heard "no" from them, I hadn't heard anything.
* Tuesday, I knew the time had come. I have to do what God has called me to do, no matter where that might be. I sat down and started systematically searching through and applying to positions around the country. I've applied to a slew of churches and still have a good number of states to look through. I can only read so many Church Information Forms before my eyes go cross-ways and my mind goes numb.
* Wednesday, I received some welcomed news. The church in the Portland area contacted me and asked for a sermon tape. There's no denying it....I'd love to be in the Northwest. But, more importantly, I want to be where God wants me to be.

Thanks to all of you who have been faithfully praying for me and for God's call on my life. It is a gift beyond measure!

Incidentially, I've also gone out on a couple of dates the last two weeks :) No, there's nothing major to report. But, hey, it's encouraging! Maybe it's God's humorous way of reminding me that he's alive and active in the "dating" process of discerning a call!
God's Blessings to each of you,
Amy

9/11 Roll Call

2006-09-07T22:27:00.000-05:00

As we approach the fifth anniversary of 9/11, I thought it might be interesting to share where we all were when it happened, any particular insights you had on the day and the days following, and how it impacted your faith.

I've been watching some of the programming leading up to Monday, and I have to say I'm not really over it yet.

My 9/11/01 was spent at work, about five miles from O'Hare in Park Ridge, IL. People kept arriving throughout the morning with new updates, and one person brought a small b/w TV. As the towers fell, Chicago was evacuated, and I listened to Metra trains speed past the back of the building for hours ... they were all express trains, including the one I was supposed to take home. As train after train went by, I was astonished by the silence. Before, jets would fly over the office every 45 seconds and shake my desk. Now, it was just the click of fingers on the keyboard and a droning newscaster in the background.

The sky was empty for so long. It was strange to hear the Kennedy Expressway in the morning instead of the airport. The first time I saw a plane again (which I believe was a military supply plane a week later) I panicked. I think I ducked behind the building.

I know it sounds trite, but that was also about the time we started back to church. My stale, ambivalent and lethargic faith was sparked by a need to be with God again. I had desired that the revival sparked in me would be equalled by many in our nation, but that sometimes seems to have been a fleeting hope.

Photos of the New Casa Del Phillips

2006-09-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

I figured that I might as well put these on the web as long as I'm blogging today. Imagine it completely filled with unpacked boxes, and you've got it.

The Wetting of the Feet

2006-09-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

Hello everybody,

Thought that I would give you all a quick update. Julie and I closed on our house on September 1st (the same day I started here at the church)...we moved in on the 2nd...I preached my first sermon here on the 3rd. Things have been great so far. The church's goal seems to be fattening us up for slaughter, though. We have received 3 boxes of candy, 3 jars of jam, and a homemade peach pie over the past three days. We have enjoyed them on dishes that have been taken out slowly (one by one as we need them), as the majority of our stuff is still in boxes. Our progress in moving has been impaired by the fact that both Julie and I have pretty nasty head colds. Julie was hit hardest first and is getting better, I'm getting the worst of it now. We have managed to unpack the bedroom and one bathroom, though...and Julie's making good progress on the kitchen. All in all, things are going well.

I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I have the words "Pastor's Study" on my door. There are several things that I am still trying to get used to (slightly intimidated by). I knew that several of them would be "factors" in seminary...but now, in reality, I'm still trying to wrap my hands around them in my first week. You know, stuff like:
1) Preaching every Sunday from now until the end of time.
2) Interviewing secretarial candidates who mention their children my age.
3) Everybody calling me "Reverend."
and the biggest...
4) Working in a church for the first time without "partners in crime," or other pastors to bounce ideas off of and talk to.
That one is probably the biggest so far. My hyper-social itch is in need of a scratching, and we are still strangers in a welcoming, but strange, land. I feel the need for a walk with Bill Warhover, a game of catch, or a good 'ol fashioned session of bizzarro tables. The need for a community of ministry companions is what I miss the most so far.

On the whole, though, I couldn't ask for more. Julie and I have been so warmly welcomed and Berthoud feels very much like home. We miss you all, but are very happy with where we are...simply trying to adjust to being the "new kids."

Now...enough serious talk. On my first few days here, I was forced to commute to Berthoud from the Denver Metro area to work. On this drive, I noticed that all of the Chinese food establishments shared something in common with the ones in Dubuque. I pointed this out to Julie, and the more we thought about it, the more we think that there is a unwritten law somewhere that controls the names of Chinese buffets. I have noticed that most (if not ALL) Chinese buffets have one of three nouns (the Holy Trinity if you will) in their title:
1) Panda
2) Dragon
3) China
These nouns are often modified by two adjectives, not required, but still very common. These are the John-the-Baptist and Isaiah if you will:
1) Golden
2) Express
We have yet to find a buffet that does not incorporate at least one of the nouns...and only one that doesn't have one of the adjectives. Using this formula, I have decided that the perfect name for a Chinese buffet would be: "The Golden Panda-Dragon Express (from China!)" I mean, who wouldn't eat there? Simply the image of a giant mutant panda-dragon (much less a GOLDEN one) would get me in the door. Anyway...with these criteria in mind, I give you:

Top 10 suggested Chinese buffet names:

10) When Panda Met Dragon

9) Pan-Dang That's Tasty!

8) China O'Dragon's

7) Panda Barrel

6) Pobloki Panda

5) Ever Expressed With a Dragon in the Golden Moonlight?

4) T.G.I.Dragon's (The G stands for golden)

3) Long John Panda's

2) Sergeant Danza's Golden Heart's Club Panda

1) Goin' Pandas!

That is all from here...take care.

The Severance Lounge

2006-08-29T08:12:00.000-05:00

Prayers have been answered here. On Sunday I preached trial sermons at both Green Mountain (where I have been student pastor) and at Marshalltown UCC. Both congregations voted to call me and I have accepted. Together the two churches have a membership of 136 and worship about 90. They both have real potential to become full-time ministries all by themselves. The two churches are only 6 miles apart.

With the two churches I have full-time compensation, insurance, pension and all that silliness. I also have a real challenge and opportunity. I am very excited. I begin serving both churches on October 1st. This is a real answer to prayer. I love these small churches that have been allowed to atrophy. They respond like crazy to a little TLC. This also means that I can continue to live with my wife, in our home. What a deal!! We have a tentative date for ordination of October 15th. I will post again when it is firm.

Caryn, found my note this morning about your ordination on Sept. 10th. Was planning to attend, but we have our 2nd annual pet blessing service at 3:00 that day. I will think of you as I stroll amongst the dogs, cats, and birds. Have a blessed day.

Many thanks ...

2006-08-26T14:01:00.000-05:00

to Kim and Deb for the compliments, and to all of you who have been gracious enough to purchase a copy of "Tell the World." I am delighted that you have responded so positively to the music and the ministry. Kim, arranging us to come your way is as easy as giving me a call. We've got everything we need to come and do a worship concert for you, all you have to do is say when. Deb, thanks for remembering Emily in the mix ... she is often the earthly lifeblood of all I do, and she needs reminded of that, too.

I'm excited to get back to school (mostly to get done) but a little frightened as to how I'm going to balance this budding ministry with my two churches and school. Oh, well. It hasn't been easy since I started, so why would it be that way now?

One plug ... the songs are now all on iTunes for the techno-savvy of the group. Reviews have been favorable there and downloads have been brisk (oddly enough, in Australia and Germany).

Speaking of Germany, did anyone fine the whole Madonna mock crucifixion thing at all interesting? I found it strange that German officials were talking about shutting her show down if she did it because it would be seen as "religious intolerance." Christians must be in a stark minority in Europe for this to be seen in the light that it is. I can't help but wonder if anyone would even care here. Curious as to your thoughts.

EDIT: Thanks to Barb as well. Sorry for excluding from the initial post. Praying for you on the ords ...

The Blessed Banter

2006-08-24T08:08:00.000-05:00

It has been a very long week here in Rockford. Just the usual stuff ... trying to get my piece of the progamming in place before starting school again in a week and a half, but not getting to it due to this ministry stuff ... funerals, sick people, weddings ... it doesn't end! So, in the midst of it all, I check out, and check in with The Severance Lounge. And after reading the banter, I remember the community. You're awesome! (and quite entertaining I might add.) Thanks for sharing your wonderful news (Congratulations all!) and your zaniness. Let Christ's ministry continue ...

Musical Review

2006-08-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

Friends, I have come into possession of M28's CD and wanted to review it for you. This is Matt Johnson's work and it is OUTSTANDING. I have been listening to it non-stop in my car since I got it. The music is excellant, the vocals are great, and the message is uplifting. My wife also likes it a lot. I think it trancends quite a large age range. It won't sound at all foreign to John the Elder or Barbara the pachyderm. It also should delight high school kids and everyone in-between. It has me thinking about how I can put on a concert here with M28 as the main draw. I encourage you to visit Matt's website and get your own personal copy. He posted a while back so it is easy to find.

Matt, you have a real gift that carries the message of Christ in a unique way. God bless you and your music.

The Virus Unleashed

2006-08-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

Well...believe it or not...Jesus has not returned.

After a wonderful day of friends, family, and fellow clergy....I am now officially a Reverend. My start date in Colorado is on September 1st...our current closing date for the house on Nebraska street (pictures to come) is September 6th. We are excited about moving and starting...but I would be lying if I didn't say that it is a bit bittersweet not to be heading back to Dubuque. We are excited...but also beginning to realize that you all are not waiting for us when we get there. It is great to read about your new starts...know that we are excited for you and will be praying for you. But, selfishly, we still wish we could cross the cul-de-sac and see you anytime we want.

Anyway....the Phillips Retreat Center opens on the 6th. Let us know if you are passing through. There is one condition, though, you must refer to me as "The Right Reverend."

Peace to you all...more soon.

I am alive!

2006-08-19T22:23:00.000-05:00

After weeks of not posting, I wanted to let everyone know that I am alive and well! Ed and I survived the move to Treynor Iowa to live with Ed's dad. Having accepted a call in Red Oak Iowa on August 13th, and passed my final examination for ordination today, I am finally done!!! COM let me start in Red Oak on August 15th, so they must have thought I didn't look too shady! Red Oak is only about 30 miles from Treynor, so we are living in Treynor until we can buy a house. Red Oak is a lovely town in SW IA of about 6000 people.

Kim, you will be happy to know that the Congregation UCC pastor came and introduced herself on day 1 at lunch time. She is full of excitement and talks a lot and has quite a sense of humor (as well as a nose ring), so I feel right at home. I told her some of my rowdiest friends at seminary are UCC :)

My ordination/installation will be in Red Oak on September 10 at 3pm. All are invited to come! I would love to see you! My home church is about 1 hour from Red Oak, so it worked well to do the ordination and installation together.

I miss seeing all of you and hope you are doing well whenever you are!
Blessings to all of you, dear friends in Christ- Caryn

The hour is near...

2006-08-19T20:48:00.000-05:00

The hour is near for my fellow presbyterians to beef up for ords...I am among the walking zombies who traverse the hollow hours of night dreaming of timed tests and greek grammer...actually I am bracing for the winds of polity and confessions to collide with reformed tradition and pastoral fortitude - pray for those of us on the countdown for mental gyrations this week that we remained grounded and alert!!! Blessings to those who are taking the full cadre of tests!

Back in Dubuque

2006-08-19T19:01:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone, I've been away from the blog for a few weeks, so it was great to read everything and catch up. Amy I totally understand the loneliness of living at home, so I very happy to really be home in Dubuque. Scott, I wanted to stay in Colorado, I'll definitely come visit and show you some of the sights in Rocky Mountain National Park, found some very cool new places this summer while we were there. I hope everyone continues to do well, and I look forward to seeing all of you again sometime soon. For those of you in Dubuque I'll be around and working at the bookstore starting Monday so stop by if you want. God Bless.

Jared

Progress & Prayer

2006-08-19T12:57:00.000-05:00

Friday I met with the search committee for a second church in a nearby town. They - and my current church - voted last Sunday to share a pastor. The meeting went well. They are a lovely congregation like the one I am serving now. They are a smaller church, financially sound with a very nice facility. They are also situated in a large (for Iowa) community with tremendous potential for growth. I will preach there on the 27th. After service they will vote and, God willing, I will soon be serving both churches. This means full-time, or more, ministry. Ordination should follow this fall. It is only a matter of scheduling although that means involving conference, which means some headaches. I fell so blessed to have found two churches that both are committed to growth in Spirit and in service. I do ask for your prayers that this ministry might come together for the benefit of God's work in the world and for no other creaturely purpose.

Happy Birthday Tony!!!!

2006-08-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Anthony Oltmann,
Happy Birthday my friend! Have a wonderful day and week celebrating your birth!

Chicken Repentance

2006-08-12T12:30:00.000-05:00

Those of you that have for years attended the weekly cookouts may remember that for a long time now we have all given Mr. Phillips (almost Rev.) a hard time for cooking chicken on his gas grill. The snide remarks and sarcastic comments have resulted from his blatant disregard for the already lit community grills. I must confess that at times I have taken part in this hazing.

Today, before God, community and all search engines I admit my sinful actions and seek forgiveness. We have had the pleasure of cooking chicken on the Phillips grill all summer. This is possible because the lord of the manor in which we are staying purchased the infamous gas grill. The chicken we have eaten has been moist and delicious each time.

Now that I have been enlightened I find it impossible to go on without public acknowledgement that Phillips was right and I was wrong. Chicken cooks better on his gas grill.

Some Details

2006-08-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

Darren....thanks for pointing out my omission. My ordination will be on August 20th (a week from Sunday) at:

Parkville Presbyterian Church
819 Main Street
Parville, MO 64152

A quick update (again, sorry for the sporadic posting thanks to limited access)...we have put a contract down on a house on (of all things) Nebraska street. We are hoping to be into it before I start, but we'll at least, if all goes well, be in a week after. I can say now, without hesitation, that we have a guest room waiting for you all.

More later....good to hear from you all!

Jewett update

2006-08-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

All is well in Seattle. We are slowly getting into a groove living with Kim's folks. We've been swimming in Lake Washington several times, picked blackberries, hiked down to the river under Snoqualmie Falls (100 feet higher than Niagra), visited with old friends and travelled about 6000 miles by minivan since leaving Dubuque.

As far as the church search, we've narrowed it down to three. That doesn't mean we have three to choose from, only that we are actually still in the running. We leave on Friday the 11th for Muncie, IN. Dave had a very good visit there two weeks ago and they've invited the family to come back even though they know we are still looking at other places. Those other places are First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Wa and Central Kitsap Presbyterian in Silverdale, WA. I am hesitant to say more about any of the three (RE: Matt Johnson's sage advice on posting TMI that search committees might google.) other than that each one has unique and exciting opportunities for ministry. We hope to know by the end of August where God is calling us, but are prepared to wait longer.

Please keep us in your prayers along with the rest of the Dubuque community. We think of you often though we don't post enough.

God is Good!
Dave J

Update and Thought Jumble

2006-08-08T20:42:00.000-05:00

Hi, everybody! It has been a whirlwind of a summer, but what's new? They all seem to be going that way anymore.

Em and I have kind of gotten things back to normal here post-Gays. It was nice having them here and getting to know John, Jennifer and the kids better, and I'm happy we were in a position to help. It was a good lesson for the churches I serve on how Christians care for each other and the world. Now if I could only get them to be as gracious to their own communities!

We're taking a much-needed vacation to Montana tomorrow, so I would ask for your prayers as we travel and seek to find some peace before school starts back up for the both of us.

On the band front, be sure to visit the new and incomplete website. To those of you who have been asking, the CD is now available to order direct from there. If you are a digital downloader, it should be on iTunes in about six weeks, and Amazon will soon be carrying it too.

To all the pastors, please don't forget to consider our help as you make your plans for the coming months and year. We will travel, and it would be a great excuse to see all you graduates again. Let me know how we can help your participation in Christ's ministry to the world!

Blessings and my love to you all ... miss you.

From the Blogger Slacker

2006-08-04T23:49:00.000-05:00

I have been a horrible blogger....I apologize! Please forgive me! I have been emailing out one of those mass emails every month to update people. I try to keep the update from being too boring and tedious, so if you'd like to get it, email me and I'll include you on the list (amyholloway@hotmail.com). But enough with excuses....here's what's going on with me: NOT MUCH!

I candidated in for an associate position at a church in Dunedin, Florida. It was a great experience, they were a delightful committee, they extended a call....and I turned it down last Friday.

Today, I got a very kind and encouraging rejection letter from the church I was hoping for in Bremerton, Wash. Today, I also got a rejection email from the church in Fredricksburg, VA. There is one other church, in St. Louis, that I have been chatting seriously with, but I haven't heard from them in about three weeks.

My "gut plan" (subject to God's continued leading) is to continue to apply to the positions that open up in the NW that fit my gifting and to see how all the others I applied for earlier work out (of which only St.Louis is still possibility). At the end of the month, if all is a "no," I'll start the national search over again. I think God is pretty cool about this plan, but I'm open to lightning bolts! :) Today, I am peace with the slow pace of the search. I'm even feel excited as I anticipate what God has in store. Though the process seems slow on my end, I can't shake the feeling that God is at work fitting something tremendous and just right together....as I know God has done, and continues to do, with all of the graduates.

So that's the call process. The rest of the summer has been good. My mom's surgery went well. She just had her second follow-up visit to the doc. She'll be returning to work in two weeks. It's been a blessing to spend so much time with her. I've been spending a lot of time with family, and taking mini-road trips to visit friends. I preached at my home church once and volunteered with VBS (dressed up like a clown all week). It's been a good summer - a little rough around the edges at times, though not as much as you'd expect when combing schedules, habits, etc. It's also been a bit lonely at times. Lonely doesn't seem like a word I should use when I'm living at home again. But though I love my family, I do so miss having friends around. I miss all of you!

On a different note: Did you hear that the Pope has the Bird Flu? He caught it from a cardinal! :)

2006-08-03T20:45:00.000-05:00

Great to hear from Spencer and Dave J. Still hoping to have Caryn and Amy check in.

After a massive outpouring (1.5 inquiries) of interest in the details of my recent dream life I shall try to reconstruct a very odd dream. I have been having a bout of insomnia lately and some extremely wierd dreams. In this particular dream I was in Doctrine class with Dr. Colyer and all of you. Dr. C. had prepared some sort of despotic, demonic "pre-test" that he wanted to give. He selected me to take the test in front of the class so that we could all learn together.

The test constisted of two floor-to-ceiling cabinets with glass fronts. Inside each cabinet Dr. C. had arranged a dio-rama with theological implications. My task was to write out the complete meaning of each diorama on the glass front of the cabinets. As with all of Elmer's tests there was no time limit. Once he had given the instructions he handed me a 3 foot long hard salami. Oddly the salami wrote very nicely on the glass. It also erased very well if you turned it around and used the other end. I struggled, and wrote, and erased, and struggled. Finally, I finished and turned around to see that only Elmer, Cindy M., and one other unidentified student remained in the room. Evidently I took a very long time writing the answers on glass with the salami! Elmer said I got it right, but there was no credit in it because it was only a pre-test.

At this point I decided to take up his grading policy with him. I told him that I had gotten an A-, B+, B-, and a C- on my graded work. I meant to ask why I got a C- for the cumualative grade but before the words got out of my mouth he answered by saying, "You always get the lowest of whatever grade you get for the semester. That is just the way I do it!" This is where I woke up.

Now, I have come to consider my dreams and look for any meaning that they may contain. My insight here is that no matter how things are graded here on earth - God grades very differently. God doesn't want us to get the lowest grade we ever earned. If he did we would all be damned forever. God grades with much grace - not unlike E. E. Platt. Now, let's keep the salami cracks to a minimum.

Update from the Homans

2006-08-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

Well... It has been a long, long month. We have been homeless wanderers for about 32 days now, only 8 more to go. We have visited 8 different places, and stayed in no one place for more than 4 days. We have had a blast catching up with family members, but have really hated this living out of a suitcase thing. Good news is... we will FINALLY be in Fairbury, IL August 8th to move into our house. My start date there is August 13th.

I was ordained here at Moorhead, MN this last Saturday. What a wonderful day. It was two very very stressful weeks leading up to it though. The Presbytery of the Northern Plains has not ordained anyone in like 8 years, rather they've had like 30 CLP's.. so they are far.. far.. far to used to not ordaining people. The whole "talking to other presbyteries" thing was a foriegn concept I had to urge them to get beyond. Many phone calls later the Holy Spirit moved them and all fell into place.

William was baptized on Sunday. It was great for me to just be "dad" and have him baptized at my home church. Most of our families took part in the "two for one" deal we were offering so we spent the weekend entertaining thirty or so family members.

This week we are finally seeing things wind down. We are getting ready for and looking forward to the big move coming up. I will post again once we get a bit more settled in Fairbury.

It is great to hear from you all. It is wonderful to have this blog to keep up with friends who we are so used to just jogging outside to say hello to. We miss you and think about you often. I hope all is well with the moves and ordinations as we all move forward in the process.

God bless, God keep, and God speed
Spencer

Quick Update

2006-08-01T10:56:00.000-05:00

Once again I have access to internet...so here it goes!

Julie and I are busy doing two things right now:
a) Planning my ordination service
b) Finding a house

We are making progress on both fronts...slow progress, but sure.

For those who asked, the Ordination Service will be at 3:00 in the afternoon at:

Parkville Presbyterian Church
819 Main Street
Parkville, MO 64152

We will serve lunch between church and the service for anybody who comes....please let us know if you are coming, so we can plan accordingly.

A few comments b/c I haven't had time to catch up:

Darren: That is probably the best story I have ever heard, although I found your description of the events entirely too good. You need to paint with muted colors when talking about tube socks, man :)

Kim: You must tell us of the dream....and you must do it now.

John: How did housing work out for you (or is it "being worked out")?

Breeden: Sorry, man...we won't be in CO until September. Hopefully we'll get to see you sometime when you are in the area.

All: I realize that Rog Pobloki was a terrible omission on the Top 10 list. Please forgive me. And yes, Tony, Julie did give my two-cent allowance before I wrote that:)

Great to read and catch up with everybody. Hope you all are doing well...know that Julie and I are praying for you all and your current and future churches. Miss you all.

Ronald McDonald House

2006-07-29T18:09:00.000-05:00

Instead of leaving this buried within a thread, I'll slap it out here where everyone can find it easily. The address for the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City...

Ronald McDonald House
730 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52246-2509

The URL for the RMH in Iowa City is http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/ronaldmcdonald/index.html. The site contains phone numbers to the house and information (including an online donation page) about how to make contributions to defray the cost of a family's stay.

Email and snail mail

2006-07-29T13:48:00.000-05:00

I am sure I am not the only person here who desires email address and mailing address for thoes who have graduated. Here is a place for everyone to post their new email address and their mailing address (if desired). Help those of us who wish to stay in contact by giving your info. Plus it will help you. After all one can't pray for someone else with out an email address or a mailing address...help us to help you...

Wondering

2006-07-27T11:36:00.000-05:00

I have been wondering what is going on with several people and have decided to take the direct route. I will limit myself to four of five today.

Caryn, have you been called? Where? Have you started? Do you still make cheesecake?

Spencer, you have been in Illinois for a while, how is it? What is your church like?

Amy, how is your mother, summer, search?

Jewett, are you still hobo-ing across America?

All is well with me. Looks like I will soon have two churches and full-time work. I continue to love my ministry at my current church and look forward to every day. Recently had a dream involving: Dr. Colyer, a large deli salami, our class, two glass enclosed dioramas, and an odd testing situation. Am considering how I might share both the particulars and my insights. hmmm.

Rejoicing with the Ebbens!

2006-07-26T10:46:00.000-05:00

On behalf of Dan and Natalie Ebbens I am pleased to announce the birth of their son, Collin Daniel. Arriving ten weeks before the due date, he came in early Friday morning (apparently training for hunting with his dad later on) at 1:08 am. He weighed 3 lbs and 13 ozs. Needless to say he will need to remain in Iowa City until his Sept 24 due date. Dan and Natalie will be at the Ronald McDonald house. After quite a stressful and emotion filled weekend things are beginning to calm down. Collin is gaining weight and Natalie is recovering well. More than anything else right now, they ask that we be praying for them, particularly as Collin goes through next nine, critical weeks of development.

It really happened

2006-07-25T10:53:00.000-05:00

I have just spent the last few minutes reading the blog and it is so good to see what is going on in your lives. This has been a wonderful 6 weeks of ministry. I have already experienced many of the things our professors said we would, but I have also experienced new and in some cases odd situations. My second day at the church, I left to go visit a few of the shutins. I sat and visited with a very nice, although very confused elderly lady in the nursing home. After our visit I was going to leave her one of my new business cards from the church. She fumbled for a pocket, but she was wearing her pajamas and they had no pocket. So without missing a beat, as she told me how she felt God in her life, and saw the beauty of Creation in the sunrise, reached and lifted up her shirt exposing her left breast. Frankly, it looked more like a tube sock with five pounds of rocks in it than a breast. She then gently lifted up the body part in question and placed my new card in the top of her pajama bottoms, then gracefully allowed her breast to return to its normal position and effortlessly placed her shirt back in place. I tried as hard as I could to remember if Jeanie covered this in pastoral care, but I don't think she did. With that said, ministry is certainly interesting.
On a different note, this past Sunday July 23rd 2006, I was ordained. I can not believe it actually happened before the rapture. Praise God, and thanks to all of you for your influence on my walk. My time with you was a gift. All of you in someway helped me along the journey and I hold you in my prayers and thank God for our time together.
Carol and the children are all doing well, and school starts on August 7th, so the countdown is on. Briley went to Montreat North Carolina with the high school group, and Hayley is at camp this week with the middle schoolers. The twins... well... thier just busy, busy, busy.
Please keep posting, and I know God is moving and directing each of us in this next step.

God Bless and Peace through Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life!

Darren

How bad do you want it?

2006-07-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

I heard a quote last night that pretty much sums it all up: “It’s not how good you are, but how bad you want it.” (poor gramma an’ all!) I passed my final ords last Monday! Now I can write my PIF, do my final assessment, preach the candidating sermon and be examined for ordination!

All that still ahead, the first month of non-ordained ministry has been a great time. I have my first wedding (tentatively) planned for next summer, I’m helping with a baptism this week, I’m planning and leading worship at our contemporary service, I’m playing/singing in the praise band, I preached all three services two weeks ago, and I went on the Senior High youth mission trip to Denver the week before I was actually employed (which included climbing a 14-er, well at least the last few hundred feet. Dr. C. wouldn’t let me count that for “climbing” I’d be willing to guess!) And, just when I was wondering what to do with all our empty boxes from moving, the Senior Pastor announced that he was leaving to take the position of General Presbyter! (I knew that was a possibility before accepting the position, so it really wasn’t a shocker for me.) Needless to say, I haven’t spent too much time on line. And, it has taken me three or four trys to get this posted. I hope it doesn't post three or four times and annoy all of you like it is me. Ministry has been great though, absolutely great.

We have moved into our new home and are still in the process of painting and fixing all the “little” things. Right now we think it would be nice to be able to sit out back in the midst of tall weeds and complain about how the session isn’t taking care of the manse! Well, at least I’m thinking that – right now. Hopefully we will get all the “little” things taken care of before too long. You are all welcome to stop by, but do beware, if you stop by or stay over I may very well put you to work!

Kris and the kids are adjusting to their new roles as well. Members of the church have been showing them around town, introducing them to people and helping get all the paperwork for school registration taken care of – school starts August 23.

Blessings to all of you as we continue on our new journeys.

The Severance Lounge

2006-07-22T20:46:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to catch up with all you bloggies and let you know that I have had a great experience this summer with the church in Amboy, Mn...They have been a wonderfull group to meld with...I had my debut with organizing and directing VBS last week and it was loads of fun and fellowship! God answered prayer that it would be an outreach to the community and he brought others from different denominations! The kids were rapt with the stories and I had opportunity to go wild teaching them the music! Perhaps I should preface that comment with the fact that as a participant in marching band - it was either march or play the instrument! So putting motion with music allowed for my silliness to overflow! Loved it!

As a request for a straw poll..The question has been asked of me whether or not having a manse in the package is preferable to housing allowance or would their be an inherent deterent in offering the manse a housing? Just a nod one way or another might be helpful to the church that I am with and they are having a session meeting Monday so I said that I would post and see if I get some responses! Let me hear them because frankly, I had not really thought much about it yet!

Moving concerns

2006-07-16T09:49:00.000-05:00

Hello all - I'm about to leave to walk the block or so to preach at Matt's church, but I wanted to ask for your prayers. We've run into a little snag about actually moving down to TN...a member of the PNC is coming up here to get all of our stuff and move it down there probably this weekend (so I'll be calling on those of you in Dbq to help me get it on the truck soon...thanks!), but we don't know when we will be able to go with.
They want me to be down there living before I meet with COM and candidate, which is okay with me, but the problem is that as of right now we wouldn't have a place to live. One of the members has a house that he wants to let us "rent" (for free) for a couple of months while we casually look for a new house, but his daughter's in it right now. She apparently is in the process of moving out, but is doing it very "gradually" as they put it. There's another option of a rental house that we would have to pay for, but apparently someone is in that one as well.
Anyway, they are going to get together today to try to figure this out - and we would covet your prayers in order to do this smoothly and with the least amount of weeks of living without toys...three boys have a remarkable amount of toys... So there ya go.

The "plan" is that we'll move down to TN in the next couple of weeks, and sort of chill out while we look for a new house. The church is going to loan us their manse fund ($45000) for a down payment that we'll pay back when we sell the house. I meet with COM on the 8th of August, have a reception at the church on the 12th, preach on the 13th. My understanding is that they will begin my pay on the 1st, which is strange, but I'm okay with it. I won't be able to meet with presbytery to get ordained until late October, though, since I can't get on the docket for August and they don't meet in September. So the COM came up with the idea that I be what they call a "pastor in waiting" - I'll do the job but won't moderate session or marry anyone or do the sacraments. Annoying, but that's life, I guess.

Well, I gotta go. Peace and grace to you all.
By the way, my e-mail is jgay38@hotmail.com - drop me a note if ya want.

Radio Silence

2006-07-15T11:40:00.000-05:00

Greetings all from Nebraska...land of 100 degree heat and 85% humidity!

We found out a few weeks ago that Mom and Dad's internet childproofer doesn't allow us to post on the blog. We can read it, but can not participate.....so we have heard all the good news, but not been able to respond. I'm over here at my sister's getting my two cents in...but regular responses are not possible. Sorry.

That said......congrats to you John, Cheyanna, and Chris! Excellent news on finding places that already feel (to some degree) like home. It is great to read and "hear" the excitement.

As far as life here in Nebraska...we are enjoying having a chance to rest and spend time with family. We leave later today to fly out to CA and see Julie's folks, which should also be a great time to rest. All in all, we've enjoyed mowing (the old family business) and taking care of Marcy's kids. There haven't been too many "all living under one roof" complications yet....Mom and Dad have been great. I hope they'd say the same about us.

Saw a couple of movies this past week...both good. "Pirates 2" was a good time. "Cars" was my favorite movie of the summer....really an excellent story.

That about does it here....just wanted to drop in and say hey. But before I go...

Top 10 "Titles" I considered having the parishioners call me (before settling on "Scott" or "Pastor Scott")

10. JoJo the Preacher Boy

9. (in Ring Announcers Voice) Scott "The Passs-tuh From Nee-brass-kuh" Phillllluuuuuuuppps!

8. Cap'n Phillips of the S.S. Trinity

7. The Preachinator

6. King Joe of Mamma

5. Our Greatest Mistake

4. The Young Coloradian Puppeteer

3. Scottie Bag 'O Doughnuts

2. Dr. Sominex

1. The Rev. Dr. Henry Fawcett

That'll do it from here...talk to you again soon.

Prayers, prayers, and more prayers

2006-07-11T06:59:00.000-05:00

I believe I speak for Andy Ploenske and Mike Jones as well as myself as I ask for prayers for us on Thursday. We meet with our District Committee to be interviewed for recommendation to go before the Board of Ordained Ministry for approval to be commissioned. (I know, it's sort of the step before the step before the step; but if this step doesn't happen, the rest are a moot point.)
Anyway, its a friendly but challenging committee, and we'll get appropriately grilled. I don't know about the others, but I am appropriately nervous! It's been great to keep up with all of you as you go your various ways in following God's call.
Thanks
Peace in Christ,
Cindy Marino

For Inquiring Minds:

2006-07-10T18:56:00.000-05:00

I have been slow to post this mostly because we do not have regular internet access which means that I have to walk down to the library to access the world wide web. Lucky for me now that we have moved it is mostly downhill to campus.

The nuetral pulpit we had went wonderfully. We have accepted a call to a congregation in Illinios. We aren't sure when we move from here but will let you know when we have more details.

Thanks for all your prayers, support, encouragement and humor.

What's in the water up here?!

2006-07-08T22:05:00.000-05:00

To all of our brothers and sisters,
We (that's wifey and myself) realized recently that many of you probably haven't heard our news yet...On or about December 4, 2006, Angus Calvin Knox Hughes will be entering this world. As we do not know if the baby is a boy or girl yet, I have chosen a nice unisex name for the him/her; though Shaylene seems to have different ideas concerning the name of the child. Anyway, Shaylene is 19 weeks along and the doctor says that everything looks great! I remember when we moved here a couple of years ago I couldn't believe that couples were having babies while they were in school; now here we are...God sure has a great sense of humor! In the words of a pastor friend of mine from back home, "Babies are blessing anytime that they arrive." Please keep Shaylene in your prayers along with the other pregnant gals up here (Yuka Bosch, Natalie Ebbens, and Rebecca Hoch...I hope I didn't miss anybody). Peace and blessings to you all!

Update

2006-07-05T13:32:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! Just a little note to let people what the Gays are doing (gosh that always sounds bad when I put it like that!). Anyway, this last week we moved into Matt Johnson's place until we can go to our new church. We finished "getting here" on Thursday night (6/29) On Friday morning, about two hours before I had to leave to catch a plane at O'Hare to get down to a neutral pulpit in TN, Jennifer fell down the stairs. She's okay, but for a while I didn't think I could go preach.
But I did. It was a LONG weekend for Jennifer, but they all made it. I went down to Madisonville, Tennessee, where I just fell in love with not only the place but more importantly the people. Sunday afternoon the PNC extended me a call which I accepted on the spot. So we're off to Madisonville, TN!! COM is not meeting at all during July, so I won't be able to really get down there until the end of August, but we're really looking forward to it.
Madisonville is about 45 minutes south of Knoxville, about 10 minutes outside of the Great Smoky Mountains national park and Cherokee National Forest. It's really pretty there, so if you want to come down, just let me know. I'll probably have an accent in about a month, but that's life, huh?
Thanks for praying for us!

Two Crazy Weeks

2006-07-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hello All!

Well...we made it. Julie and I have been all over the map the past few weeks, but I am happy to say that all went well and is well. Julie's GFather's funeral and graveside went well, and we made it to Berthoud with at least some rest.

Things there went really well. The vote came down 69-1 (I didn't see Fawcett there, but I'm pretty sure cast the one vote absentee) and the church was really excited to meet us (and vice versa). I met with the Session, and they seem excited and open to change. The only thing that was a bit discouraging (to say the least) was looking at houses on Monday. Let's just say that you need a mortgage to sleep on a bench in the park.

All in all, though, we couldn't be more excited. Things in Minden have been good so far (the dial up connection has been a bit of a pill...thus the limited posting), and we are looking forward to having the Jewett Family Magical Mystery Summer Tour breeze through town on Thursday.

I found out that I am going to be the first candidate for ordination at Plains and Peaks after this summer's GA. I was told by the chair of COM to "expect a grilling" and that I can expect one question in particular: "Do you have any scruples?"

I have formulated my response: "Your Mom."

That will do it for me here....more to come. Hope you all are doing well. Congrats on the call, Chris. We miss you all very much...I keep telling my mom about Dave McCreery and calling myself the Pope....she just looks worried. That, and she isn't very good at Halo.

Talk to you all again soon,
SP

just to clarify...

2006-07-01T07:36:00.000-05:00

Thanks Tony for your congrats on my call. But I do need to clarify something in order to clear my good name and keep peace among us...

I did not call any group "heretical." I agree with you dear brother, this should not be done (unless the group is!)

I said the GA made a "heretical decision." This does not place the whole GA, and certainly not the whole denomination in heresy! In stating that this decision is heretical I stand in good company of all the PCUSA renewal groups, entire presbyteries, hundreds of congregations & thousands of faithful within the PCUSA, the global evangelical Church, and historical, orthodox Christianity.

Grace & peace all!

Superman has Returned!

2006-07-01T00:12:00.000-05:00

I have to say there is only one other return I am/was looking forward to more than this one. I don't know how many of you have seen it, and I am almost ashamed to say that I did not see it until Thursday of this week, but I enjoyed it a lot. I have not heard many other people's opinions of the movie and have not really read any reviews because I wanted to form my own opinion. There was a lot of character development and I thought it was done quite well, the casting was very good, Kate Bosworth surprised me greatly. Superman himself has many qualities similar to Christopher Reeve, he makes a great Clark Kent and had the ability to make the transition to Superman well. My vote for line of the movie, Lex Luther says, "Exactly Kitty, like seamonkeys."
I also want to point out that Superman is a good and faithful United Methodist, grew up in Norwalk, Iowa and I believe his mother is the secretary at Norwalk UMC. He even made sure there was a free showing in Des Moines for a charity that I am not certain of. I would recommend the movie, and I will be happy to go see it again. This Superman has hopes of returning to Dubuque sometime very soon to those of you who are left (possibly Wednesday and Thursday next week), and someday I'll find the superpowers to visit those of you who have moved on, until then God Bless and I look forward to hearing from you all. I hope everyone is enjoying there summer and that it is going as fast or as slow as you would like it to.

checkin in & checkin out...

2006-06-28T11:29:00.000-05:00

Greetings all,

It's official...Third Prez had their congregational meeting this past Sunday and formally voted me in as their next pastor! We are dancing with the Trinity!!!

So far I've heard from about 5 profs and a few peers, and my CPM chair, and—Praise our triune God— all have responded stating both sadness that I needed to separate from the PCUSA, but affirmed that this is a good call for us, and that our friendship & partnership in ministry will continue. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted in that regards.

Since the GA did go the heretical route of R5, and has now placed itself in schism from every major evangelical bodies and the majority church of the global south, I am in deep grief over this decision. I will continue to honor and pray for those of you who still feel called to fight the noble and needed fight for renewal!

As for me, I sat down and read through again the EPC's statements on abortion, divorce, homosexuality, Scripture, Christology, social justice, etc, I had tears in my eyes as I feel like I have come home to a group who stands where I stand and is focused solely on an evangelical mission!

I lose my seminary address and email here in few days. You can email me at roms1417@hotmail or keep in touch via this blog. We will move into a rental home while looking for a home to purchase here in Dubuque.

In amazement at God’s grace,
Chris

Guys on the Roof.

2006-06-26T09:09:00.000-05:00

As I sit here this morning looking out the window I see the maintenance crew on top of the roof of Phillips old place. It is raining and they are apparently attempting to find the leak that is present in every middle unit. They have been walking, knocking on the building and shaking their heads. I am not sure if the shaking of the heads is in disbelief or frustration but I know this cannot be easy for them to come in a fix something they did not do.

Please pray for them as they work to fix this problem down here in the Village. Pray for safety, good humor, patience and success.

Help needed...

2006-06-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons I choose this internship is because I would get to work as part of a pastoral team. I felt I needed that experience becuase I feel my immediate post-graduation call is as an associate pastor.

The help that is needed is with a funeral service. The pastoral staff has two people on vacation, one is one the work camp with the Sr. High youth group, and the other is busy the day of the service. I have been asked to lead a grave-side service for a former member that has moved away but wished to be burried next to her husband here in town.

There seems to be a learning curve for funeral services... I waas just wondering if you all could give a few tips for someone leading their first grave-side service. What are some things you wish you would have known before your first service? Anything would be helpful at this point as I have never done this before.

Good News!

2006-06-23T09:06:00.000-05:00

After having been told by my session that I should look for another church, there was something of an uprising among the the congregation. They prevailed upon the session to reconsider and last night the session voted to give me a contract through the coming school year. The session had based their previous decision on 'philosophical differences' because I was trying to get them to be an active church and they want to be an inactive church. To me, it was between obedience to the gospel and disobedience. Now that I have a contract, I will continue to bang my head against the wall throughout the coming year. (After a while, it almost feels good.)

Grace and Peace,
Ron

Prayer Request

2006-06-21T12:13:00.000-05:00

First I have to say what a joy to be able to have this community, even if it is online instead of live! I want to ask for your prayers this weekend as Ed and I go to do a neutral pulpit for two yoked churches in Lawton and Bronson Iowa. I had a neutral pulpit for Red Oak IA on June 11th which I am also still waiting to hear back on. Please pray for God's guidance and direction for us, and for my preaching this weekend. Thank you, dear friends in Christ, as your prayers mean so much to me!

Thoughts from Hughes at G.A.

2006-06-19T23:02:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,
I apologize for not posting on the blog before tonight, but I have been sorting through my feelings on what has happened here over the last few days. I'll try to share with you my thoughts on what has transpired here so far...

I have been serving on the Church Orders Committee. Our main overtures to deal with concerned ordination standards (G-6.0106b) and affirmations that marriage is for a man and woman. The first issue that we addressed was marriage. We handled three different overtures on this subject...the bad news is that my committee voted 30-28 against affirming that the Biblical witness for marriage is 1 man and 1 woman; the good news is that I got quoted on the Layman Online! If you click on the heading concerning marriage, you'll see me their in all my glory. Dr. Achtemeier congratulated me at the P.F.R. breakfast this morning on my baptism into the Layman! Dave's goal is to appear in a Layman headline (out of context) this week with his belief in a monotheiestic Mormon God (Or whatever they teach at Whitworth).

The committee did vote 30-28 in favor of upholding the current ordination standards. You all should have seen the witnesses that were paraded in front of us...One woman (an ordained PCUSA minister) claimed that God told her to leave her marriage of 14 years and become a lesbian; another woman (also a PCUSA minister) told us that she used to be a man, and has undergone a sex-change operation (she is now a family counselor in Atlanta!). I could go on and on. Regardless of where you stand on the ordination issue, these people are hurting very badly and in need of prayer and God's tender healing. I was nearly completely emotionally drained at the end of the day.

Plenary went well today. The G.A. adapted a resolution to create and distrubute sexual education curriculum that discusses all forms of sexuality, but only endorses heterosexual, married (1 man and 1 woman) sexual behavior.

Anyway, enough about sex. I ask that you all keep Dave, Dr. Achtemeier, and myself in your prayers as plenary meets tomorrow. Tomorrow is probably going to be very intense because the assembly is debating and voting on P.U.P., Christian marriage, and ordination standards.

Peace to you all,
Mark

P.S. I did see Gordon Jewett here (Dave's dad) and have heard many humorous stories of certain faculty members at U.D.T.S. from their friends here. I'll fill everybody in later.

GA Update III

2006-06-19T23:01:00.000-05:00

The good news continues to flow from this year's GA. I can't tell you the number of people I have talked to who have said that they see a different spirit about this year's gathering. I continue to see the Holy Spirit in many ways. I also continue to enjoy meeting new people and developing new friendships from persons across the nation. I am particularly grateful for the new friendships forming with the other seminary students -- what a pleasant and welcome surprise!

Today, we voted to uphold a sexual education curriculum affirming that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. We also voted to send to Committee on Social Witness Policy a 'resolution' calling them to study the war torn country of Columbia and the surrounding issues. Originally, the 'resolution' called for immediate action that would have called for too much haste without knowing enough information. In many ways, it paralleled former recommendations to GA that had been previous approved (ie, divestment and declaring American soldiers as war criminals). We also "received" (vs. approved) the Trinity paper with an ammendment making the paper more palitable. The ammendment called for the requirement of the FAther/ Son/ Holy Spirit formula to be used in Baptism (in the paper, it implied this was optional). I am not pleased with the paper, but with the "received" language and the fact that the recommendation calls congregations to study it (vs. seeing it as authortative) I am not going to make a big fuss. I did read through the paper a couple of times and the majority of it is fine. In fact, some parts are very good.

On a side, for you presby's, our polity teacher was on the platform today as the assistant Parlimentarian!! It was pretty cool.

Finally, I ask for your prayers. Tomorrow (Tues) we will be addressing the PUP Report, the famous "ammendment b" (homosexual ordination), and the issue whether marriage is between a man and a woman. Please, be in prayer for all those present at the assembly -- for humility, discernment, clarity, love, etc. Pray for the way we go about the discussion. Pray that the result would be God's will for our church.

I close with the assurance that God is at work in the PC(USA). He is doing something new and something exciting.

Celebration & sadness!

2006-06-19T09:56:00.000-05:00

Despite the denominational ramifications, I invite you all as my dear brothers & sisters in Christ to celebrate with my family and I.

I have just accepted an irresistible and undeniably God-given call to pastor the dear people of God at Third Pres right here in lovely ol’ Dubuque!

I have just sent you all a detailed email about these momentous decisions, so I ask that you please take the time to read it in order to protect and preserve our ongoing friendship, fellowship, and partnership in Christ.

Celebrating in the wild grace of our triune God,
Chris

GA Update II: It's Not All Bad

2006-06-18T22:01:00.000-05:00

Very soon, if not already, I am sure many affiliation groups will begin publishing material that purports negative aspects about the PC (USA). I want to assure any of you who are disenheartened that it is not all bad. There are two surprising experiences I would like to share.

1) I have been very surprised by the sense of community in my committee. For being a committee on GA Procedures and for only just meeting one another two days ago, I would have never guessed there would be a "community" formed. Granted, it was nothing like the intimate small groups I have been a part of, but it was far more than I expected. I walk away from the committee with many new friendships -- people I never would have met before, and with whom I am united because of the bond of the Spirit. It was a joy working with them. Everyone had both a tremendous respect for the issues at hand (however monotonous, technical, or tedious) and a tremendous respect for one another. I can truly say the Spirit was at work in our committee (not that he isn't in others, but hopefuly you understand!).

2) Sitting up in the second level of the arena I watched in awe, as people around the arena took part in the Lord's Supper. People from all over -- Korea, Nevada, Congo , Rhode Island and elsewhere. People from urban areas, rural areas, and suburban areas. People of all types, races, and opinions. All of these taking part in the Lord's Supper. Scanning the auditorium, I am constantly drawn to the communion table that is in the shape of the cross and takes up nearly the entire floor of the arena. This is an amazing event of the anticipation of the heavenly banquet. As we pass the plate and dip our piece of bread, the sounds of great hymns flood our ears in English and an African dialect. It is truly a worship experience I will never forget. (I only wish I could describe it better.)

Friends in Christ, know that there are great things going on in our denomination. God is not done with the PC (USA).

Lounging in Birmingham...

2006-06-17T08:15:00.000-05:00

Greetings from General Assembly!

I have actually be doing anything BUT lounging. Since arriving, I have been around people nonstop until this morning when I had time to relax a bit before the day began. In any case, I thought I'd update you all on how the Assembly is going so far.

Yesterday we began meeting in our committees. I am on the GA Procedures committee. We have and will primarily deal with budget issues and "standing rules" of the GA. So, there are per capita overtures, overtures to change the age of Youth Advisory Delegates, and other matters. Yesterday should have gone incredibly quickly, we didn't cover much of anything of substance. Yet, people still got hung up on details that make little differences. I will say, though, while I was hoping for one of the theological or ecclesiological committees (those are my interests), this committee has been an excellent lesson in parlimentary procedure and polity. Regarding the other committees, I have not heard too much. Mark (Hughes) spent most of the day yesterday in a committee discussing marriage -- I gather it was very intense. In a close vote, they did not affirm that marriage is between a man and a woman, if that gives you an idea. I have not heard much about the other committees. I'm hoping to be done with mine today. If that happens I'll be able to listen in on the other committees.

On the negative side, it is frustrating seeing all the politiquing and such. I would much rather the church be able to dialogue without Robert's Rules. At the same time, I have witnessed the fact that it is extremely effective at keeping things decently and in order. (However, it is completely useless in the realm of time efficiency!) It is also disheartening witnessing some of the heterodox and near heretical views that are brought up. Thankfully those views are far from the majority. It is also frustrating seeing those who hold similar views as myself live by the rules of power, rather than the rules of love.

On the positive side, despite the many "hot issues", power struggles, and cultural/theological differences, there is great unity in the Presbyterian Church. I have been deeply moved by the vast amounts of agreement on so many issues. While there are certainly divisive issues, at this point, they have been overshadowed by the unity. We have voted in an excellent moderator -- Joan Gray (you Presbyterian student will recognize her as the author of our polity book). She is a humble woman, with a great heart, and has clearly been called to help lead us in her position as Moderator. It has also been a joy spending time with the othdr seminary advisory delegates (TSAD's). It gives me further hope for the church. One of the best parts has been meeting so many people from so many different places.

By the way, the flight down was quite entertaining as we had an entire plane full of Presbyterians! It was quite humorous.

I hope that gives some of you an overview of what's happening so far. Hopefully, on the next one I'll be able to provide more interesting details. Unfortunately, I have to jet so I can hit my committee meeting! Please continue to pray for Assembly -- for humilty, discernment, listening skills, and a good sense of humor in everything! (Please post any questions!!!)

Shalom!

Moving on

2006-06-15T19:55:00.000-05:00

Moving on from UDTS is a difficult thing to do. In preparing to travel over 1000 miles to Amish Country I told myself to think of the great experience that awaited; I attempted to put DBQ and everything behind me as this would make the trip a little easier. NO GO. As I schlepped across the country I was continually reminded of ya'll. I passed about half a dozen "Bennett St." exits which only reminded me of, well, Bennett St. not to mention the neighbor with the same last name, and the "Bennett St." sign that found its way into Shawn's truck. I honestly passed a city named Phillips. There is a Sharon, Penn and even more strange a Dubois Penn. There was also a St. Clair somewhere in Ohio I believe.

When I finally got here I thought to myself "finally, now I can go about my work and try not to think about everyone else". There is a couple in my church with the last name Hoehne. On my way to work...every morning...I pass a "Hollow Way" (no joke), there is a sign outside a church I pass that reads "Jenn's Church", and last of all I pass a "Leicester Rd." (honestly). Senior's do not resist, there is no getting away from UDTS. Give in to the temptation and think of us...I just pray it has nothing to do with Bizarro Tables or secret meetings with the assistant dean... try to think only good thoughts…if nothing else watch Going Ape.

On To Minden

2006-06-14T10:34:00.000-05:00

I am in the process of checking my e-mail (and, therefore, the blog) for the last time before I pack up the 'ol CPU. Julie and I roll out on Friday morning. Please pray for our U-Haul truck (I've heard stories).

Boxes now fill our rooms, the walls are bare. There's a moving truck the size of Detroit in our front yard this morning being filled with the Jewetts' furniture. What was once avoidable or at the very least able to be put aside is becoming very real...we are leaving Dubuque and the community we have come to love very much.

Thank you for a truly wonderful three years...the memories of Bagel Bashes, impromptu worship services, raucous lunches, games of catch, Danza movies, Tom Jones listening parties, and all those other brilliant moments of laughter, prayer, worship, insight, and love will remind me of how impossibly good God has been.

Talk to you again from Nebraska.

Thanks.

PS--Two prayer requests:
1) Julie's grandfather that she was very close to passed away yesterday. Please pray for her, for me, and for her family.
2) We candidate in Colorado a week from Sunday....please pray for us, and I'll keep you posted.

Graduation Pictures

2006-06-14T09:54:00.000-05:00

Good morning all! I was just finishing up the pictures that I took at Graduation 2006! I thought that I would let you all see it before I put the offical link to it up on the UDTS website.

http://udts.dbq.edu/Grad_pics/index.htm
If you guys check it out - let me know what you think! I added captions to most of the images so make sure you look at them to see if I spelled everything correctly!
Have fun!