Wednesday, February 6, 2013

be our hope and highest joy

Hello all -

An evening prayer for this night. The stars are bright and brilliant and wheel far across the sky over our little mountain village, the mountains stand tall and keep watch over us who live here. I'm reading through a liturgy piece before I go to bed, and came across this - thought it was worth posting.

"Creator of the stars of night, we give you thanks for this gift of life. Increase our faith and open our eyes that we might recognize Jesus in all whom you call us to love and serve. Abide with us as darkness deepens and be our hope and highest joy, until at last with all your saints we dwell in your unfailing Light. Amen."

May Christ always be your hope and highest joy - peace to all my readers!

From sleepy Holden Village -

Dean

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Daughter of Heaven

Hello all -

Another, from K. Rusby. Sometime I will post something substantial! Haha. This one's called "Daughter of Heaven". Sad, melancholy, and moving.

"Daughter of heaven Oh, daughter of now
Drifting away and don't make a sound
We'll cry when we hear that you ran from this town
She's gone to a new place now
She's gone to a new place now

Daughter of heaven Oh, daughter of now
The stars are your jewels the rubies your crown
We are standing off for your right to stand
She's gone to a new place now
She's gone to a new place now

Daughter of heaven Oh, daughter of now
Your eyes they were closed and your hands they were bound
There's a time in the past when I had to come down
She's gone to a new place now
She's gone to a new place now

Daughter of heaven Oh, daughter of now
Drifting away and don't make a sound
We'll cry when we hear that you ran from this town
She's gone to a new place now
She's gone to a new place now"

In other news, I applied for housing at Luther Seminary - I applied for a small studio apartment - the "LDR Efficiency" apartment. It's the cheapest, so hopefully I get one of them. I don't want to have to pay a lot of money for housing, so I'm trying to go as cheap as possible. I'm getting more and more excited to begin my two years at Luther - I'm excited to return to the classroom, engage in serious theological conversations, and further discern my call and service to Christ's Church and to the ELCA. I'm excited to be surrounded by professors and faculty who are world-class scholars and practicing ministers of Word and Sacrament. I'm excited to get to meet not only my peers but my future colleagues in ministry, both ordained and non-ordained.

Life here at Holden continues with its daily rhythms. The town is small now, only about 50 people. There's only 1 guest, the rest are staff. I'm thankful for times like these. Today I co-hosted coffee at chalet 5, baked my ciabatta loaves, and cooked with good friends in their house where they were hosting a Super Bowl listening party. Then we had Eucharist together, and it was, as always, a beautiful service. 

I'm leaving Holden in just a few days to return to Minnesota - back to family, friends, and the farm. I am so, so, so excited! I can't wait to see my brothers - I haven't seen Dustin in over eight months. I know for some people that might not seem like a long time, but for me, that's been too long. I miss getting to chat with everyone back home, and actually see their faces. On the rare occasion that I'm out of the Village, phone calls and Skype get real old, real fast. It will be good to sit on the porch, cup of coffee in hand, BS and joke, and have those meaningful life conversations with mom, dad, and brothers while watching the snow fall. There are so many things about being home that I am looking forward to. 

Anyway - that turned into rambling. I'm sorry. Haha. I'm going to turn in for tonight. 

Christ's deepest peace, my dear readers - 

From my little mountain town in Washington, 
Dean