Happy New Year Friends! Since I last checked in, I have made it though finals, the Advent season, the CTS Christmas Banquet, a wonderful trip back home, holidays spent with family, a trip back to Atlanta early so that I could preach, and that included some wonderful visitors who were able to share in that special time as well (such as my parents!). Phew. I'm tired just even looking at it all written out...and yes, there is probably much missing.
But! Here we are! 2013! Some anticipated highlights for this year include the welcoming of another nephew and another niece. This summer brings the possibility of new internships in new places (maybe even at a hospital near you!) 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of my graduating from high school This year will mark my half way mark through my degree programs (notice the plural there!?!?). 2013 will contain my "golden" birthday as well: I turn 29 on 9.29 - exciting right?
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| Bear (nephew puppy) & Mr. Darcy. |
Already 2013 has found me obsessed with:
- Books: I've been on a short story kick and seriously have devoured 4 books already. If you have suggestions of collections, please let me know!
- Mr. Darcy. The Walters' (ok...mom & dad) added the aptly named kitty, Fitzwilliam Darcy to the household.
- Taking better care of myself.
- The movie Pitch Perfect. (Google it. Watch it. Quote it. Sing it. May not be award worthy, but this ex-choir nerd LOVES it.)
- Downton Abbey. (And drinking tea.)
- Classes, specifically, the one I am in right now.
Our Middler year has us taking a class entitled, Explorations:Alternative Context, and there are multiple choices (choices = context = cities) to choose from. The basic description of this course says, "The course is designed to be an academic and experiential exploration of a significantly different cultural context and the church's mission, to deepen one's experience and understanding of the church and its ministry in a significantly different socio-cultural context so that, consequently, students gain clearer insight into the mission of the church in their own context. The course seeks to provide opportunities, through the challenges of an alternative social context, for social analysis, theological reflection, and a deepening of commitments to the Gospel.
The goal of Explorations is to understand, critically, the life and mission of the church in a culture other than one's own, so as to be able to understand, critically, the life and mission of the church in one's own culture.
By the end of the course, it is expected that participants will be able to:
- Experience a new sense of being linked to Christians across social, cultural, and national barriers.
- Utilize approaches (e.g., sector analysis, cultural analysis, etc.) for understanding the complexities of socio-cultural realities in a given context.
- Engage effectively in theological reflection regarding a context of ministry, relating personal experiences and cultural realities to Scripture and other parts of one's theological tradition. (A significant part of this outcome involves an expanded awareness of the way that culture and theology shape one another.)
- In light of the journey into a different culture, interpret an emerging understanding of how culture shapes the life and thought of the church and state the implications of that understanding for the public and ecclesial action of congregations in the global context.
(Good for you if you actually read through that all. I applaud you!)
Mine is entitled, Atlanta Immigrant, and yep, you guessed it, we're here in Atlanta immersing ourselves in immigrant experiences ranging from meals, guest lectures, worship services, tours of Atlanta, and more.
I'm working on some journal entries for the experiences we have been having - so stay tuned!
Here's one last pic of 2012 - The Walters!
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| Taken after the hustle & bustle of the holidays on my last night in town. *love* |
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