This Saint Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, will be the thirty-fifth anniversary of my ordination. I have been contemplating this week all the things I learned, and all the things I did not learn, in a seminary education from 1981 to 1984.
- I did not learn how to pastor a congregation through a pandemic.
- I did not learn how to hold meetings through Zoom, or any other online platform.
- I did not learn how to lead worship in front of a camera for a YouTube or Facebook Live audience.
So, I have been thinking about asking my seminary for my money back.
But then, I remember what I did learn.
- I did learn that God loves us, even in the midst of plague, famine, or a wilderness journey.
- I did learn that being a pastor will require learning something new every day.
- I did learn that Jesus said, “Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?”
Perhaps that M.Div. degree is worth it after all.
The M.Div. was definitely worth it for your Congregation, You are a great Blessing to us all.
Congratulations on this milestone anniversary! You surely were a blessing to me during the years I was director at Covenant Presbyterian Preschool!
35 years! That was my first reaction, then I thought – Russell and I have been married for over 37 years. WOW!!! We will be holding church service my ZOOM on Sunday.
And while they did not teach us “mopping up when the toilet overflows,” I did pick up that tidbit on the church’s dime, working at MoRanch.
Which reminds me of my ordination day—the septic system overflowed and George Heyer, giving the charge, wondered aloud if it was a metaphorical sign from God of the shape of my ministry.
The toilet was overflowing and Alan and Jim ask me to go in the women’s bathroom and turn off the water at the wall. I was dressed in heels and a long skirt . I also remember the sun coming out from behind a cloud during the ceremony and the sunshine flooded into the sanctuary, reminding us all God was there that day.
I wish it could have all worked out with the music. I really do miss it;went to that church because of Russell and ended up really liking your message; I always remember one special sermon out of many and that sermon was on CHANGE IS GOOD peace my friend
<3 I do believe you followed your divine path!! None of us, alone, are prepared for this!! Psalms 91 is where I get my strength for this!!!