From the Desk of Intern Steven

Nebraska knows how to keep their interns busy and I've been loving every minute of it.

I've really been enjoying EfM on Sunday evenings. I find that it is the perfect way to end the week. The level of spiritual and theological exploration and study is really fulfilling. I would advise anyone who isn't involved with it to get involved. You can learn so much about Scripture, the Church and even your own faith. It really is a blast.

I've been working at St. Andrew's and the name of the game is "Get Involved." I've been helping withe everything from Youth Group, to preaching a Sermon, to helping build a ministry banner, to stuffing envelopes, answering phones, emailing parishioners and members of the Diocese of Nebraska.

I always enjoy our staff meetings and they are filled with lots of information (and not a little bit of laughter.) I'm learning so much from Father John on how to run a team. He doesn't micro-manage his employees and really trusts them to get their work done. They in turn love working for him and the product they put out is to the glory of the Lord. (No he doesn't read this blog so it isn't brown nosing it is just the truth.) I hope that no matter what I go on to do that if I find myself in management of any kind that I can learn to have the same level of respect and trust with my co-workers.

This last weekend I helped do cardboard testimonies sharing our story. The way it works is in silence someone got up and showed a sign that described a challenge or a struggle. After 10 seconds they would flip it over and the other side shared how the Lord blessed them or gave them a way through or a solution. They were very deep and moving. At the end of it St. Andrew's had Christine their Capital Campaign Consultant wrap up by reminding people, "We don't give because of budgets or because our church has debt. We give in thanksgiving for the blessings of the Lord and the ministry of this church." My cardboard talked about losing my job and how after that I found in a calling in God's church.

I also helped construct the Christian Education Ministry Banner which was a part of the processional at 2 of the services and was hanging up in the Church Hall for the other two. I hope to get more involved with Christian Education in the upcoming weeks. A solid Christian Ed program can make or break a parish and St. Andrew's has worked hard to develop their program. In time, I hope to contribute to it in some meaningful way. For the moment, I'm content to step back and listen to what they do.

Random Thought: My grandmother sent me some glove liners to help keep me warm and I'm very grateful for the gift. Any and all gifts that keep me warm or fed are always well received. (I almost referred to myself in Third Person but I've heard a few people out here really don't like that.)

We are inbetween books for the moment but I'm reading the Good and Beautiful God which I'm enjoying. I need to get a little deeper into it but it is meant for group discussion and exploration. I may pick it as my book for later in the year but probably not. I'll most likely pick a work of fiction. I love reading fiction.

I'm loving my time at my non-profit. I've helped launch Conversation Clinics to help our clients practice their English. I'm also developing a volunteer Orientation program.

My roommates and I continue to worship together and eat together. We don't get to spend as much time together as I would like but we are busy with our parishes and non-profits. All in all I"m happy to be here. I feel like God has brought me here to learn and to grow and I'm trying to get my "money's worth."

Thank you to everyone who has offered support to me and/or this program. Your charity, your prayers, and your thoughtfulness makes all this possible. All for the honor and glory of our Risen Lord.

Your Humble Intern,
Steven

One Month In

I have now been in Omaha for a little over a month, although it feels like I have been here much longer (I mean that in the nicest way possible). The support network provided by the program has been fantastic. It is hard to believe how different my life was only two months ago. I was living in northern Virginia and working in Therapeutic Recreation, now I’m in a different time zone surrounded by people I have only known for a few weeks. I suppose the lesson is when you try to follow God you can end up in unexpected places, but if you have faith and a strong community then things will work out.

One of the highlights thus far was attending the consecration of the new Bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska, Joseph Scott Barker, on October 8^th. The Resurrection House Interns were asked to help pass out nametags, which was fun and a good way to meet people. I had never been to a Bishops consecration before, and it was certainly an impressive ceremony. There was beautiful music, a great homily, and I was fascinated by the tradition and symbolism of the service. Not to mention the “tailgate” themed reception due to the Huskers taking on (and beating) The Ohio State Buckeyes that night. It was a great experience, and I even got to meet the both kind and dignified Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

My church placement at All Saints is going well. I am progressively getting more responsibilities, and they are diverse enough to give me a well rounded picture of what life as a Priest might look like. I have participated in services as a chalice bearer and reader, done administrative tasks such as editing the contemporary service power point, spoken to the 11^th and 12^th graders about college, been preparing to give an adult education presentation on two saints (Martin of Tours and Oscar Romero), and been assigned my first preaching date on November 16^th. I am able to experience some of the challenging parts of the priesthood, such as tagging along on a hospital visit to a parishioner and serving people in need at a Mobile Food Pantry event. However, All Saints also knows how to have fun as evidenced by the “Raise the Roof” tent party featuring a live band and food provided by the wonderful people at Big Mama’s Kitchen.

For my non-profit placement I am currently working at the After School program at Miller Park Elementary School. I’ve been with the 5^th and 6^th graders, helping them with homework and assisting the staff as needed. So far it has been fun, but I forget how much energy Elementary School kids have. There are other programs in addition to Miller Park I want to volunteer with, but have not officially begun yet. My goal is to get experience working with, and finding Christ, in a variety people.

One of the things I am enjoying most is the leadership of people associated with the Resurrection House program. Fr. Jason Emerson clearly has a passion for helping my fellow interns and I discern God’s call in our lives, and his Thursday visits are both intellectually stimulating and fun. Our spiritual director Fr. Phil Chapman has vast amounts of life experience, as well as great jokes, and has generously agreed to spend time with us every other Monday. At All Saints I am benefiting from both the seasoned veteran Fr. Tom O’Dell and the Associate Rector Liz Easton, a young Priest who actually went through the Resurrection House program a few years ago. Both should be great resources throughout the year.

I would like to close with Psalm 131. The former Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, Sam Lloyd, once stated that reading this Psalm everyday is guaranteed to lower your blood pressure. As a naturally introspective person who is now doing more reflecting with regard to discernment, I can testify to the validity of Dean Lloyd’s claim.

“My heart is not proud, O LORD,

my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters

or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with its mother,

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD

both now and forevermore.”

-Psalm 131 (NIV)

Kate in Omaha

Why would someone drive across 11 states, leaving behind familiar faces and places, take a leave of absence from seminary after one year, and move to Omaha, Nebraska to live with two complete strangers (both boys by the way)? Maybe because they are a little crazy, maybe because they are seeking God's purpose and yearning for their life, or maybe a little of both. 

My name is Kate Hahn, I am 24 years old, I am an only child from Arlington, VA, where my parents are still living. Halfway through my Junior year of seminary (that is the first year) I decided I needed extended time and space for true discernment as I wrestled with the possibility of a call to the priesthood. In May 2010 I graduated from Randolph-Macon College (R-MC), a small liberal arts school in Ashland, VA. I attended this institution with the help of a pre-ministerial scholarship, The A. Purnell Bailey Scholarship, which required me to attend seminary for one year directly following graduation from R-MC. So, in August 2010 I entered Virginia Theological Seminary as an M.A. student, still discerning a call. 

After returning from a visit to the Holy Land in January 2011 it became clear that I was not ready to accept a call, especially without any type of real, "long term", experience outside of school. And, I quickly began applying to Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) programs hoping to find the answers to my questions, deepen my spiritual life, and learn more about myself through the intentional living model that the ESC offered. In the spring of 2011 God granted my prayer requests as I received a call from Resurrection House, and in September 2011 I gave away a portion of my belongings, and packed up the rest to move to Resurrection House for my year of intentional living.

 

It has been a little over a month since I arrived here and I am beginning to get adjusted and settle into my house community, both my non-profit and parish placements, as well as the larger Omaha community. My parish placement is Church of the Holy Spirit in Bellevue, and my non-profit placement, the Miller Park Elementary after school Community Learning Center (CLC). I am coming to love and cherish my parish placement by the day, the parishioners have welcomed me in with open hearts and arms and Father Tom, the Rector of Church of the Holy Spirit, works to give me exciting a challenging responsibilities, such as a Bible study which I began last week, and the opportunity to give a sermon this upcoming Sunday. At the Miller School I have been working with the third grade class, and we are getting to know one another as I help them with homework and work to be a familiar face within their CLC experience.