Seminary Week One

The first week of classes is in the can.

Friday I arrived in Claremont and proceeded through the rituals of student life.

Pay tuition installment #1.

Pick up the last of the texts needed for the semester at the Huntley Bookstore. (or so I think.)

Check in at Myra House, do a quick orientation tour to the premises and meet the other ETSC Bloy House student who will be staying at Myra House throughout the semester.

Back down the hill to the campus to community supper, worship and class.

Sitting in the first class, comparing the book lists in the syllabus to the early edition, discover there is still one more book to purchase. <3 Class ends pretty much on time, and now we (carpooling from Myra house with my retreat house co-resident.) get back to the house to discover arriving in the pitch black after the All Lights Out hour is a bit of adventure.

Saturday Morning early rising, after a less than perfect night's sleep we dress, and then drive to the campus and head out for an "early" walk to the Village before class starts at 8AM. OOPS. Seems we need to allow more time. (Why don't classes start at 8:30AM?)

The classroom just seemed to be getting hotter by the minute in the morning. Good introduction to the material, and a few new faces in this class but my new Myra House friend is in all three of the classes I'm in.

Worship in Kresge Chapel is a refreshing break from the heat of the class. Of course it has all the comfortable features of our Episcopal worship. Dean Sweeney reminds us that the texts of this week all carry one theme, being grown-up Christians. Not milk texts, this is real meat for the mature follower of Jesus. Oh, and a special service to acknowledge all matriculating students (that would include yours truly, and our Sr. Warden who has just begun the Fresh Start Course for Lay Leaders :-))

...pictures for library card...(thank goodness I had my hair cut and no stupid permanent this time around ;-))

Lunch in the Broken Loaf....

And back to class.

(Oh my ever loving Lord, does it really have to be this hot!) Craig Building air inconveniently does not work on the weekends. Really, CST, can't that timing system be adjusted?

By the end of the day I think I sweated away every ounce of water from my body. But it was a great first week of classes.

Ten years ago September 11, 2001 after watching and listening to the news of the Twin towers and Pentagon attacks I sat down in Craig 110 to start my first class in the first semester of seminary studies. That day I felt overwhelmed by all of what was occurring around me and scared to death I would never make it through any of the classes. I had started with a load of 5 classes and would recognize within a week that it would be best to cut back to the standard 4 classes if I was to make it through all the reading and writing requirements.

So different was the first day of classes this time around. I "know" the language of theology. I think in theological terms now, and have the basis for reflection well anchored. The mood of the week was friendly, and intimate. We are a small cohort, compared to the cohort I started with at CST, which seems a bit unimaginable because I thought that was a nice size entering class, about 40 of us in 2001.

Saturday was a very busy day in the life of our congregation and I was sorry to miss the memorial service for a very dear and gifted person, Stuart Kellogg. Yet, I am blessed and grateful that I have the opportunity to be supported and encouraged by the members of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, my church home. It was a wonderful way to conclude my first week back in seminary, by joining for the fellowship of the Annual Luau. I confess I was completely exhausted by the time I arrived home, and could only think just barely enough to bring in my things and toss them on table.

Sunday services, catching up with correspondence, and just trying to get organized.

Tomorrow is another day...for reading!