Summer Report

Since the last time I posted, the spring term (we call it Eastertide) has ended and the summer term (Petertide) has come and gone.  It’s hard to believe that at this time a year ago, we were moving in and getting ready for orientation and the Michaelmas term – this first year has flown by.

After celebrating Easter here, the school takes its spring break and we spent the time quietly – Aly was still in school and I had a bunch of papers to write before the end of the term.  On the 2^nd weekend after Easter, Margaret and I flew to Fort Worth for the weekend to preach at my sending parish (St. John’s) – it was a great, but fast weekend.  Early in May, the school takes a day off from classes to do a “church tour” of some of the churches in Milwaukee (next year, we’ll go to Chicago) – from Coptic to Orthodox to Anglican.  It was a wonderful trip – so many beautiful churches!

The term ends in the middle of May, so all the students were very busy writing papers and studying for finals.  As soon as finals were over, we had Commencement, and the day following, I left for my summer internship in Tallahassee, Florida at St. Peter’s Anglican Church.  It is a great and a big church – there are so many things going on all the time – many things to learn, as well as many chances to preach and teach.  My list of activities spanned ten weeks and three pages of items.  There were few distractions to the busy schedule – I flew to the Fort for Stephanie and Chris’ wedding, which was a wonderful event, and Margaret dropped in with the kids for a few days – it was good to see them – I spent most of the summer separate from my family, but became part of the St. Peter’s family.  If you’re interested, my sermons are on the saint-peters.net website.

The first Sunday in August was my last day in Florida – many tearful goodbyes and many thanks for a fantastic summer, and then 1100 miles back to Nashotah House.  It was great to see Margaret and Aly again, and we flew John up for the weekend to go to the Renaissance Festival near here.  Margaret was promoted to Kitchen Manager in June, so she’s been working all summer – she’s now preparing for the new school year starting next week.  I know she’s going to have a great (and healthy) menu for us.

After Labor Day, classes for my Middler year start – Hebrew, Liturgics, New Testament, Systematic Theology, and Moral and Ethical Theology.  Aly starts her senior year at Oconomowoc High School the same day.  Please pray for all of us as we continue our journey.

Blessings to all,

Richard

 All Saints Episcopal Cathedral ca. 1869










 

Church of the Gesu Irish Catholic ca. 1893













St. Anthony's German Catholic ca. 1872

St. Saba Serbian Orthodox Cathedral ca. 1912

St. Stanislaus Polish Catholic ca. 1872

 

St. Peter's Anglican, Tallahassee, FL
Vacation Bible School

Fr. Michael Petty - St. Peter's Anglican

...and the four Seminarian Fellows: (L-R) Me (Nashotah House), Aaron Harrison (Duke Divinity School),  Daniel Holloway (Beeson Divinity School), Chris Jones (Trinity School for Ministry)

 

Holy Week

It's Maundy Thursday, and I'm finally sitting down to write an update - my humble apologies for my inattention to this.

It has been almost 4 months since I posted last - here's what's been going on here:
Right before Christmas, I finished my first semester at seminary - all my papers turned in, finals taken, and library books turned in and for my efforts and with your prayers and support earned an A- average for the five classes I took (Church History, Historical Theology, Biblical Interpretation, Greek, and Church Music).  So far, so good.

My son John flew in on Christmas Eve - it was great to see him and spend a week with him, including a visit to the Milwaukee Zoo (he works at the Fort Worth Zoo).  Our first Nashotah Christmas was great!

After John returned to Texas, I started preparing for the mission trip (and course) to Lima, Peru.  I had 6 books and a reflection paper to write beforehand.  Immediately following the celebration of Margaret's birthday (our first birthday celebration in Wisconsin), I started packing - we would leave very early on the 6th, layover in Houston (with barely enough time to get my driver's license renewed), and fly to Lima, arriving that night.  We spent the next 11 days visiting several missions in the poorest parts of Lima, and the nights in class, studying the Mission of God.  This experience certainly changed me.  As many of you saw in my facebook postings, the people of Peru are truly wonderful, generous, and loving, though driving is not their best thing.  I returned to Wisconsin full of the blessings of God, but exhausted.  No rest yet, though - there were now two papers and a presentation to write to get credit for the course.  I finished these and my laundry just in time to start the spring semester (Eastertide).

This semester has me taking 5 classes: Church History, Historical Theology, New Testament, Ascetical Theology, and Parish Ministry.  Looking at spring break next week, I have 1 big paper, and 9 little papers to write, as well as beginning the preparing for two final exams - one oral and one written, and 5 more weeks of classes before they're all due. As Snuffy Smith used to say, "Time's a -wastin'" (I date myself).

Aly is also at spring break next week and looking forward to a break from her busy year also.  She got a top grade (a one) in her regional flute solo competition, as well as a one in her ensemble.

Margaret continues to work in the Nashotah House kitchen part time - everyone looks forward to her days and her great recipes that add excitement (as well as better health) to the land of bland.  She hopped down to Texas a couple of weekends ago to do a wedding consultation, attend a memorial service, and go with John to a renaissance faire.

All of us are looking forward to spending the weekend of April 21 in Fort Worth, visiting friends and family, I'll touch base at Radioshack - I still do a little work for them, Margaret and Aly will reconnect with some of their friends, and we will attend St. John's on Sunday 4/22, where I will be preaching at all 3 services - I've got to start working on my sermon this week also. 

We are putting together our summer plans also:  We will spend most of the summer in Tallahassee, Florida at St. Peter's Anglican Church where I will be doing an internship.  While there, I will be teaching a 10-session course on N.T. Wright's "Simply Jesus", practicing parish ministry, preaching at the Sunday services a couple of times, and learning as much as I can.  We also look forward to hopping over to Fort Worth for Stephanie and Chris' wedding early in the summer.  I suspect that Margaret and Aly will spend some time touring - hopefully, I'll get to help out a little.  More details on this later.

We have been blessed (the natives say) with the mildest of winters - the temp "only" got down to -8 for a couple of nights and we had not much more than a foot of snow through the whole season (don't I remember getting about that much in the Fort last year?).  Every thing's starting to bloom here - the days are warmish (50's) and the nights are not too cold (40's).

We have made many great friends up here - at school, at our church (St. Michael's), and in the community, but we really miss our Texas friends and family (and Mexican Food!).  May God bless all of you that continue to pray for and support us.
Peace, Richard

The December push

I appologize for not posting in a while.  In December so far, I have written 5 papers and continued to study Greek every day until the end of classes last Thrusday.  Currently, I'm studying for my finals in Church History, Church Music, and Biblical Interpretation (all tomorrow).  I spent a big part of yesterday working on my Greek take-home final exam, and need to review it before handing it in tomorrow. 

It snowed earlier in the month, but didn't stick.  Yesterday morning it tried again, and this time left us with about an inch (which still persists).  It is beautiful, but cold.  The temps stayed in the 20's all day and get down into the teens at night.  I know this is just a for taste of what is to come. 

I look forward to the Christmas break.  We are flying John up here on Christmas eve for a few days - we really look forward to seeing him in the flesh (non-skype).  Also, in January, I'm going on a mission trip to Peru - more details on that later.

We have another offer on our house from a couple of days ago that is hopefully in the works.

I miss the Advent preparations that we were accustomed to for celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord.

We really see the power of God working in our lives, and we appreciate all of your prayers and support - please keep up the great work.

I promise an update soon (after tomorrow).

Blessings and peace as we prepare for His coming,
Richard

Aly playing piccollo (and flute) at the Christmas concert.

First real snow yesterday.

My Greek take-home final in the works.

Mid-Terms

Our driveway.  The yellow horrizontal band across the middle of the picture (at the end of the driveway) is one of the corn fields on the campus.  The corn has been drying on the stalk for feed corn - they just started harvesting it today.

Fall is here

This weekend, fall was here in all it's glory.  We went up to Holy Hill to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians and from the top of the hill, all of the fall color: www.holyhill.com

The colors are pretty here at the seminary also (this was taken with my phone):

This is the Red Chapel (and the Blue House beside it) - the original buildings from 1842 - the chapel is still in use - these two little buildings 40 miles from Milwaukee (but closer to the natives) - pretty lonely.


Blessings and peace,
Richard

Matriculation

Last Thursday, September 29th, I became an official part of the community of Nashotah House - they call this Matriculation.  It is commemorated by a solemn mass (lots of smells and bells), and our promising to be faithful and honorable members of the Seminary - we sign an exceedingly old book (volume 2 as I understand), that contains the signatures of all the members of the community back to 1842.  Very inspiring and very cool.  We celebrate Morning Payer, Evening Prayer, and Holy Eucharist every day in this chapel - it is not uncommon for the altar frontal to change for every service.  Thanks and blessings to all for their prayers and support.

The blessing of an icon at the altar - I'm 3rd from the left.

Sitting in my stall.
Note the icon Gail gave me by my prayer book.











Day One

First day of class - Church History with Fr. Peay - starting in a few minutes.

Thank God and thank you,
Richard