Mail Time

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays I work in the PTS mail room. I know it's not a glamorous job, but I really like it. I'm not sure there is a better job for sharing in fellow students' joys. If someone gets an invitation to a wedding, we know. If someone gets a book from a used bookstore, we know. If someone's mother sends her a collection of Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn movies, we know. [Thanks, Mom!] Whenever checks are issued, we are the first to receive ours.
When I heard during orientation that we are not preparing for ministry we are actively doing ministry, I wasn't entirely sure. But I see now how this job can be a ministry. We are sharing the light of Christ through serving our fellow students, faculty, and staff by making sure their mail and packages are delivered in a timely manner.

Church history

It always amazes me how many people are willing to say to my face, "I think history is boring" even after they know my undergraduate degree is in history. [I only graduated in May, so this is still a new thing.] So I tried not to be surprised when some of my fellow seminarians told me they were not looking forward to the church history requirements. We have to take at least three courses in church history: early/medieval, Reformation, and modern. There are many different options, and for this semester I am taking an orientation to early and medieval history. We began at the beginning with the cultural world into the the church was born, and today we heard a lecture about martyrdom and persecution of Christians. Our books work very well together. From the main texts, one is a history and the other contains primary sources/documents that were written at the time. I have studied the early church before but not in this depth, and it is very intriguing to see the flow and growth of the church.
Church history and history in general is important because we would not be here without the actions, events, and people who lived before us whether in 1909 CE or 1909 BCE. So look at your historical studies as a time for self-reflection.


Also, awesome quote...

"The Christian message offered a universal alternative to the religious divisions of the ancient Mediterranean world" [History of the World Christian Movement, page 33]

First Week

Today is the end of the first week of my first fall semester at PTS. It was been hectic and fantastic and full of meeting new friends. The weekly schedule is a little strange. Instead of Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes I have Monday, Tuesday, Thursday classes and Tuesday, Thursday, Friday classes. I also started my job at the mail room on Tuesday, and that was really fun. I get to give people good news about mail. I also have a second job that is only occasional. I'm a sexton which for PTS means I arrive at special events early, help set up, make sure everything goes ok. I'm a representative of the seminary to visiting groups. Pretty cool.
The workload at this point does not seem too heavy. It's about the same from college except there's more reading. By the time I get out, I will probably not be saying anything like that; so I'll enjoy it while I can. Two of the courses I am in are heavy lecture courses, the type I am not used to. Even my biggest courses at Drury were not as big as either my Old Testament course or the history of early and medieval church, but at the same time we get to sit in precepts [small groups] once a week to digest the information and have the small discussions I'm more used to.

Today I got to meet Elaine Pagels. She's an incredibly talented scholar who has written some incredible books. Today she lectured on the book of Revelation. This event deserves it's own post, so look for that later.

YAV

Today at lunch I met two people who have participated in the YAV program. The PCUSA offers this Young Adult Volunteer program for people ages 19-30 abroad and in the US for one academic year. The YAV program trains you, so all you need is an open heart and a passport. Before coming to PTS, I wanted to participate in the YAV program; and I still might. If you're looking for a program to serve communities, form your spiritual identities, and go out into the world, please look into the YAV program.

http://www.pcusa.org/yav/

First Day

It is our first day of classes. It's exciting to finally be in fall semester courses. I have two courses on Mondays: Introduction to New Testament Exegesis and Speech. Both seem like they're going to be really good. The opening worship service was about rejoicing evermore. The preacher was Dr. Beverly Gaventa who is my Exegesis professor. I enjoyed it, and President Torrance presided over communion.

Yesterday there was a welcome celebration on the quad [lawn in between the dorms] with all the clubs and organizations there to talk about what they do and how we can be a part of them. I feel like I signed up for 80% of the clubs, but I will have to make time decisions. I can participate in club events without being involved in planning. There are hikes, cleanups, spiritual retreats, fitness classes, liturgical dancing... how can I choose?

Language

Yesterday during orientation we talked about many different things, and from student counseling to jobs to academic integrity to harassment policies there was similar language used... the language of faith. This is the first time I have ever heard of plagiarism as "bearing false witness". We are expected to produce our own work and be honest about it because we are Christians, not because of what the administration says and not because of what the punishments might be. I like this viewpoint; I love this language. This is one of the reasons I wanted to come to a seminary, to be able to use the language that is important to me.

Orientation

After two months of living at Princeton Seminary, I am finally being oriented. Orientation is very fun and very serious at the same time. There is an awful lot of material being talked about, and everyone is trying to meet everyone else. It can be overwhelming at times. One of my favorite things has been worshiping together. The chapel services are run by Rev. Janice Ammon and Martin Tel the director of music. I had to opportunity to play guitar a couple of times during the summer worship, and I'm looking forward to being a part of the chapel choir and other opportunities as they come up. Rev. Nancy Gross is the Dean of Students, and she preached on Wednesday at the orientation worship service all about the different names we call God and how we can honor the diversity within our student body and the Body of Christ. My description does not do her justice. She said that simply loving Jesus is not a recipe for getting along and wondered what would happen if we listened more closely to God instead of each other. If you try naming God as our brothers and sisters do, you not only learn about each other but about God and God's presence manifested in the world. If we are not strangers to God, we are not strangers to each other. It was a powerful, moving service with beautiful music from around the world.
Last night I met President Iain Torrance at the President's Reception. He is one of the few people who when I told him I had studied abroad in Volos knew where I was talking about!
We still have a lot of material to cover, and classes start on Monday!!

From home

Today I received several pieces of mail from home. My church's monthly newsletter arrived with teh pastor's note being about celebrating when we're wrong because "God is faithful to lead us in new directions for our own good and the good of others." This is something I struggle with. I like to pray saying "God, I've figure this out. Bless my plan." It has taken me a long time to learn that when we pray "thy will be done" we mean "your plan will be followed." To understand that God leads us means that God leads all parts of our lives. I know firsthand how long-term plans can be shattered. The fall of 2009 "should have" been the semester I started my Masters in Anthropology, graduating in 2011, going straight into a PhD program, and becoming a researcher. I was going to be the next Edith Hamilton or Margaret Mead. Seminary was not in my plans. However, there was a much bigger plan happening around me. There have been times when I have been totally confident, and times when I have been scared out of my mind. Now, I can't imagine being at any other university or college or program. I can't imagine doing anything else but becoming a pastor.

Faith Presbyterian Church has been an enormous part of my Call. The other two pieces of mail I received were cards from two ladies in the church telling me some news and encouraging me. I am so thankful for their support and for the support of Faith in general. I see in the newsletter all sorts of exciting things. A Taize service on September 20, choir and handbells starting, Bible studies starting, Cursillo in October, the Crop Walk, celebrating a new building for one church and the closing of another church. All are opportunities for us to learn more about God's plan for us as individuals and for the larger faith community.

We are on a journey together. May the Father go ahead of us to light the way, the Son walk beside us as our companion, and the Holy Spirit go behind us to push us into places we normally wouldn't go. Amen.

Interesting

I thought that Princeton University students had already moved in. I was wrong. This weekend is their move-in. My undergraduate school has been in session for three weeks. It must be an East Coast thing to start courses in mid-September. PTS still has another week before classes begin. Orientation begins on Wednesday, and new and returning students have been moving in for several days. Yesterday I took some time to look at my dorm room and move some furniture around. I have plenty of room, and I'm going to be looking for another chair, maybe even a loveseat.

Yesterday I attended Plainsboro Presbyterian Church, and the pastor preached on wisdom and speech. Some of you may know, the one time I've preached in my life was about how we should speak to each other as Christians. The pastor used different passages but had the same themes that I did when I preached over a year ago. It seems so long ago. It was fascinating to hear the pastor.

^"For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits" James 3:2-5a

Break

I apologize for not posting in a while. Last Friday was my last day of summer Greek, and I have been taking a break. I have been reading and watching movies and hanging out with friends. I am preparing for the fall semester.

Princeton works on a broken semester system. The entire fall semester lasts from September until January. The fall long term is from September until December, and the short term is in January. In the short term students only take one class, but in this upcoming long term students take three or four classes depending on how many hours the classes are. I am taking a basic lineup of classes that will prepare me well for upper level courses at a later date.

New Testament Exegesis
Early and Medieval Church History
Old Testament Studies
Speech I

I am looking forward to these classes for different reasons. Exegesis because I can use the Greek I spent this summer learning, Church history because it's a chance to use my degree, Old Testament Studies because the Bible is awesome, and Speech because I enjoy public speaking. I think it's a well-rounded semester. I'm also going to be a part of the chapel choir.

But for right now, it's nice to sit back and relax and read a novel.