The dynamic and engaging worship of
the Garrett-Evangelical seminary community is at the heart of the memories I
treasure most from my years at Garrett-Evangelical. As
Dean of the Chapel, I had the opportunity to work with gifted and committed
students and faculty/staff colleagues in shaping and embodying worship that
treasured the tradition and creatively appropriated its depth dynamic to enable
us to worship in spirit and in truth. As
the director of the seminary choir, I shared in the ministry of music that broadened and deepened that experience. In classes on congregational song, liturgical
theology, and sacraments and rites, students helped me probe the deep faith
integrity within the intersection of theology, liturgy and music that nurtured
and enfleshed the celebration of the good news of Jesus Christ. With my brothers and sisters in the Order of
Saint Luke, I discovered the riches of the daily office and sacramental living. Because administration, faculty and students
were convinced that worship was at the heart of seminary education, I was and
continue to be grateful for fellow-pilgrims who enriched my own practice of the
ministry of worship at Garrett-Evangelical.
In retirement I continue to work on
the development of resources for the worship life of the church and its
tradition of daily prayer. To borrow a
phrase from Isaac Watts, the study and practice of worship has been and continues
to be “both duty and delight.”
I’ve brought what I taught and learned from my
students in two of my favorite courses with me into retirement (Teaching for Biblical Faith and Aging in Church and Society).
I’m active in a wonderful Growing Christians
(intergenerational) Sunday School class at Claremont UMC (a reconciling
congregation since 1993). We take turns teaching books like Borg &
Crossan’s The Last Week (our Lenten
study this year) and Karen Armstrong’s Case
for God. We deal with crucial issues like climate change and politics &
faith. As one friend who visited our class said, “I’d ask folks to do something
on Sunday and they’d say, ‘I don’t want to miss Sunday School.’ It blew my
mind! But now I understand!!!”
Pilgrim Place (where we live with Rosemary &
Herc Ruether; Barbara Troxell & her spouse, Gene Boutilier; and Don and
Judy Chatfield. calling ourselves “Garrett-West”) is an intentional, ecumenical
(soon to be interfaith) community of faith with 350 residents who have lived
and served all over the world. As a member of our Culture Change steering team
(www.pilgrimplace.org), I am working to
create a true sense of “home” in our health services center and assisted living
where a “person first” approach replaces the medical model on which most such
facilities were developed. I also help train and co-ordinate our Patient
Advocate program which includes over 50 trained pilgrims who accompany pilgrims
to medical appointments and advocate for them.
Serving on the Environmental Concerns committee at
Pilgrim Place and as chair of the Sustainability and Faith committee at
Claremont UMC means that I am advocating for the earth and against the Keystone
XL Pipeline, among other issues that support green and sustainable living.
I have been blessed to continue teaching an
on-line course for G-ETS (Vocational
Formation and Church Leadership). I
love staying in touch with students who are both in ministry and preparing for
ministry through this course. I’ve also been able to teach an independent study
for Claremont School of Theology students and mentor future deacons. Water
aerobics, reading, photography, travel and spending time with family and
friends are bonuses of being retired! We’ve added a new member to our
family—Samantha Jane (Sammie) is a loving dachshund who needed a home. She
loves our Birds’ Nest in the beautiful Black Hills where we still spend time
each summer and fall.
No comments:
Post a Comment