My Modern First Pentecost

So today is Pentecost and as is expected the Pastor lady preached about the first Pentecost. There was the swooshing of spirit, flames and everyone speaking in many different languages. She spoke about how everyone would have been praising God in a language they understood but there would be many languages all at the same time. What I instantly thought of was an experience I had last summer. Last sumer I served as a Steward for the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The official languages of the WCRC assembly were English, Spanish  French, and German. The vast majority of our printed materials were in all four of these languages, including the worship materials. For close to a month I got used to hearing everything in these four languages. However, during worship people would speak in their own languages. At one point during a worship service I looked around and heard people praying in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Thai, Korean, Chinese, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Hindi, and other languages I couldn't even begin to identify.

To me, this is a small glimpse of what I can only imagine the first Pentecost was like. 

What Am I Doing With My Life?

Today I freaked out! I don't really know what happened. One second I was working on seminary applications and looking at different seminaries' websites, and the next I was freaking out and thinking that there is no point in going to seminary and I would be better off becoming a hobo.

Applying for seminary has been so stressful. There are so many different factors to consider. My list has also been shortened dramatically because of the cost of applications. Princeton's application deadline is February 15th and I am hoping to get the finances together so that I can submit the application by that date. The only thing stopping me is the fees. My back up is Andover Newton Theological School. Part of me wants to go there because it is comfortable. I've spent a lot of time at Andover Newton over the years and it isn't far away. I plan to apply to Iliff School of Theology in Denver. It doesn't have an application fee is I apply prior to March 31. While on their website today I saw that they have a program in conjunction with the University of Denver for the Doctor of Philosophy in Religious and Theological Studies degree program. The concentration that truly interests me is Religion and Social Change. But can I picture myself with a doctorate? Dr. Devin. That's weird. They also offer a Social Change concentration with their M.Div.

I do not think that I want to be a pastor in the pulpit every Sunday. While I enjoy working with youth I do not see myself as a youth pastor either. The thing that I am truly interested in and would like to, somehow, work with is equality. Economic equality, gender equality, all different types of equality. Organizations like That All May Freely Serve and The Morelight Presbyterians are amazing! I could see myself being involved with groups like these and other groups that address other equality issues. Social Justice is a huge concern of mine. I guess I just want to help the world, as cliche as that sounds. But I suppose there is reasoning behind why my friends have nicknamed me Dix (as in Dorothea Dix).

I can also see myself working with groups like my beloved World Communion of Reformed Churches or maybe the World Council of Churches. I think ecumenical work is cool! Volunteering for the World Communion of Reformed Churches was one of the best ideas I have ever had. So social justice, equality, ecumenism, theology, social change, world religions. These are my interests, but how do I turn those into a career? How do I sustain myself? How do I prove to my family that I am not wasting my life by studying religion and by trying to help others?

epic fail

I FAIL EPICLY AT BLOGGING!

I'm not entirely convinced that anyone actually reads my blog so I suppose it is okay then. It's not like I am letting anyone down. Now I shall blog about what I was supposed to blog about a month ago. The World Communion of Reformed Churches!

So, I spent 18 days at Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI) for the World Communion of Reformed Churches. From June 11-29 I got to know people from all over the world....literally! We covered 6 of the 7 continents and well over 100 countries. It was such an amazing experience. Meeting people and learning about different cultures was fantastic. I learned a few words in other languages (for instance, Labas means Hello in Lithuanian) and I taught some people about how certain things are done and said in the US. It was a great networking experience as well. I now have friends in places all over the globe that I can go visit! :)

On top of meeting so many great people from around the world I also learned a lot! There were two Eccumenical bodies: The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (based in Geneva) and the Reformed Eccumenical Council (based in Grand Rapids). Durign the Uniting General Council, these two bodies came together to form a new organization: The World Communion of Reformed Churches. Sort of like an Eccumenical super power!

Over the course of those 18 days I learned about the Accra Confession (which I think is pretty cool), what life is like for Christians in other parts of the world, the indigenous people in North America, and abotu different justice topics. all of the documents we covered (Which are a lot) can be found online at http://www.reformedchurches.org/documents.

This experience has sparked something in me for Eccumenism. I want to get involved in any way possible. The National Council of Churches is getting together in November and I plan to apply to be a steward. I love working with other Christians on eccumenical relations. It is just so amazing. I realize that I sound like I am being sarcastic but I am 100% serious.