Another Year Wrapping Up

In this update:
Community from Afar
My First Sermon in Europe
Seminary Graduation
Seminars
Weekend trips
Katie B
P.S. dissertation

My First Sermon in Europe

This morning I preached my first sermon at our church here–in fact I realized it was the first sermon I’ve preached in Europe. Wow. “Laughing Hope: From Promise to Reality.” It was about how to live in the place between God’s promises and the reality of them being fulfilled. I focused on the story of Sarah and Abraham laughing at God’s promise (Gen. 17 & 18), then Sarah laughing in joy at its fulfillment (Gen. 21). It was well received. I blew bubbles.

Community from Afar

I recently read Henri Nouwen’s book, Making All Things New. He had this idea about community not being bounded by space that really struck me, given how things have been for us being over here. In his words (pp. 88-89):

“While it remains true that we will never know what community is if we never come together in one place, community does not necessarily mean being physically together. We can live in community while being physically alone. In such a situation, we can act freely, speak honestly, and suffer patiently, because of the intimate bond of love that unites us with others even when time and place separates us from them. The community of love stretches out not only beyond the boundaries of countries and continents but also beyond the boundaries of decades and centuries. . . . Thus the discipline of community frees us to go wherever the Spirit guides us, even to places we would rather not go. This is the real Pentecost experience. When the Spirit descended on the disciples huddling together in fear, they were set free to move out of their closed room into the world.”

Thank you all for being part of my community this year. You have been a blessing from afar.