Graduation

Yep, that's pretty exciting. GraduationI!! The last four years have gone by so quickly. I have mixed feelings about this graduation thing. On one hand I'm ready to move on and start a life of ministry in the parish, on the other hand I will really miss this place. I think I'm at a good place, ready to move on but glad I'm still here. In that way the timing was just perfect. I don't feel like I've been here too long and I don't feel like I need to stay. I walked across the stage and checked to see if there really was a diploma in the folder and sure enough there was. It is quite the sense of accomplishment to have finally achieved a M.Div.

So the family all came in for graduation and we had a nice day. Baccalaureate was at 10am in the Wartburg chapel and graduation was at 3pm at St. Joseph the Worker. Both services were carefully planned and went smoothly. The best selling author, Jim Wallis, was our speaker and he did a fine job. His challenge for us was to connect our faith and our action in daily life. Also, we need to stop waiting for someone to come around to fix things, "we are the people we've been waiting for."

The next step now is ordination. That will be July 15th at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Juneau, AK at 4pm. Announcemets are to be mailed soon, or just show up--that would be fine too! I think that will be an incredible service. There will be people from the church that has called me to be a pastor there with the people who helped prepare me to be a pastor. Of course, family and friends will be there too and we will have a great time!