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Dear Parish Family,
I recently returned from a week with my surgery, anesthesia, and nursing colleagues
providing care in Antigua, Guatemala. I was asked to join the team as the spiritual
care provider, which was a wonderful change for me. My medical colleagues resemble
closely the demographics of the city of Portland, and come from many faith
backgrounds, few are active in a worshiping congregation in any tradition. At the same
time, they are people of faith: faith that their work can make a difference, faith in the
power of community, faith that acts of generosity and kindness stretch and change us.
My primary role was to help us build our own community of mutual and outreaching
care, and to support everyone in the challenges of the work: the difficulty of providing
care in an unfamiliar environment and the “adventure” and occasional adversity of
travel. I also offered to pray with patients before and after surgery. Guatemala is,
demographically, about 40% Roman Catholic and 40% evangelical, and I heard many
testimonies of profound Christian faith: this shared Christian prayer was the highlight of
the trip. This experience helped me to appreciate the need for, and rewards of, health
care chaplaincy.
Hard to believe, but my first year in seminary at CDSP is already drawing to a close.
This year’s coursework has focused on the Bible. Seminary is in a “hybrid” format,
which means some travel for weeklong in-person sessions, but mostly structured
asynchronous online learning, with a LOT of reading and writing. It’s been both
rigorous and satisfying; the curriculum is well thought out and means that I do get to
spend significant time with my classmates, but can also continue working and can
remain at home here with my family in Portland. The seminary is in the process of
selling its Berkeley campus, which means that our in-person gatherings are beginning to
be hosted around the country. Our next gathering is in Portland in September!
I am not at home with you at Ascension as I am currently assigned in seminarian field
placement, in order to learn about ministry throughout the church. I am now serving at
the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukie, where I preached for the first time on
Maundy Thursday (and will do so again at Ascension). St. John’s has welcomed me
with open arms. It’s a great opportunity to learn in a place that’s a little bigger, a little
lower-church, and very centered in local community outreach. I miss our worship and
music very much, as well as all of you -- but have been delighted with the vibrant life of this parish and the kind welcome they’ve offered me as a learner.
Emily
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