Day Ten photo challenge

Post a picture of the person you do the craziest stuff with...
So hard to pick just one.  In order from top to bottom: My college friend Andrew, my friend Heidi from FLBC and USC, my friend Cara from FLBC and USC and my friend Nicole from Sky Ranch.

Diaconal Ministry in the ELCA

As I prepare to enter seminary and pursue candidacy with the ELCA next fall, I realize it might not be clear as to what I will actually be doing once I complete this course of study.  I will be pursuing a Master's of Divinity degree, which is the same level of education as an ordained minister, but I will not become a pastor.  I have started the Entrance phase of the Candidacy process, this is a parallel process to my education and consists of three phases, Entrance, Endorsement and Approval.  Following Approval comes Call.  Candidacy is a communal discernment and vocational development process involving the candidate's congregation, Synod and seminary.  It also involves lots of essay writing, meetings,  interviews and spiritual direction.  The idea is to find and nurture the candidates with an authentic call who will serve the world and the church. 

Diaconal Ministry is a type of rostered ministry, that exemplifies the idea of diakonia, the Greek word for service.  Members of the Diaconate serve the wider Church in many settings, seeking to connect the Church with the world through vocations of service as varied as chaplaincy, social work, education and nursing.  Diaconal ministers also work in parish settings and synod offices.  My eventual hope is to become a hospital chaplain. 

The Masters of Divinity degree provides the necessary academic foundations (church history, theology, liturgical praxis and Lutheran formation), while the candidacy process and associated requirements will prepare me for the actual practice of ministry.  It seems overwhelming (and trust me, it is!), but I am taking it one step at a time and there is plenty of support along the way.  The articles below describe the Diaconate. 

Overview of Diaconal Ministry


Diaconal Ministry in an evolving church

Day Nine photo challenge

Day Nine...post a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

This is my friend Becca.  We met six years ago when we started the Urban Servant Corps in Denver, and have been inseparable ever since.

Day Eight photo challenge (yeah, I know I forgot day seven)

Sorry, there is not going to be a day seven.  I had a major car malfunction yesterday, and was not in the mood for doing much of anything when I finally got home after having my car towed. 

Day Eight: A picture that makes you laugh

 These pictures are me and my friend Patty.  Patty and I worked together at Flathead Lutheran for two summers and moved to Denver together to do the Urban Servant Corps.  I have a wide variety of crazy photos of Patty and I doing humorous things.  But she always makes me laugh and I wish she lived closer to me!

Day Six Photo Challenge

Post a photo of someone you would like to trade places with for a day.

So, there is not actually a human that I want to trade places with,

because I am pretty satisfied with my life.

I have a good job, lots of people I love, a beautiful apartment and I get to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country.

However, I would not actually mind trading places with Annabelle for a day.  She gets to sleep on the couch all day.  People prepare her food twice a day, which would make me very happy.  Most days I am too tired to actually cook a balanced meal, and even if I manage to cook, washing tons of dishes is too much to deal with.