Phases

Today marks another phase for me and some friends. Our colleague and friend Brooks Schramm, professor of Old Testament at United Lutheran Seminary (formerly faculty of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg) departed for California. After three and a half years, he took a call at in Santa Barbara to join his spouse, Dr. Kirsi Stjerna, professor of Reformation History, on the faculty of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (part of California Lutheran University). She was on the faculty at Gettysburg. I have known Brooks since his coming to Gettysburg in 1994. A scholar, pastor, and teacher, we were not  only colleagues but good friends. His presence will be missed by students and colleagues. I took he and Kirsi to Dulles Airport this afternoon. Eric Crump was also along. He has known Brooks for about 40 years. Needless to say, I already feel the void.

To be honest, I find endings to be difficult. I know my friendship with Brooks and Kirsi will continue but it will certainly take on a different dimension.  As I grow older endings become too present.

Christmastide 2018

I spent Christmas in New York as usual. Christmas in New York is a unique event. I think the important piece for me is being with family. The family is a lot smaller than when I was growing up in Brooklyn but the feeling is still there. In addition to family, it is always good to assist at the Christmas Eve liturgy at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. It has been a part of my life for a very long time. It is always good to see old friends.

The sad part of the holiday was the death of  James Echols. He was a colleague. He certainly made history. He was the first African American to be Dean at our Philadelphia Seminary and the first African American to be president of our seminary at Chicago. A fine scholar (Church History), pastor, teacher, administrator. A fine churchman.

On the New Year, I received the news of the death of Thelma Williams. She was choir director at Advent Lutheran Church where I served as pastor from 1975 to 1987. She was a fine harpist and the use of her instrument at the Christmas Eve liturgy made a memorable time for all. We remained friends after leaving Advent. She was also present when I received the Paulssen-Hale Chair at Gettysburg Seminary. She will be missed. Last night I found a tape from one of  the choir concerts at Advent where Thelma is singing, "Jesus is the way" with the choir. I had to play it several  times. May she rest in peace. Pastor Killings asked whether I was open to helping with  the funeral liturgy. I was honored to be asked and will participate. I  attended and participated in the funeral.

At the repast at Advent, I was able to see some of my former parishioners. It brought back good memories of my years in that congregation.

An Anniversary of 45 years

It seems hard to believe but 45 years ago on this day, June 10, 1973 I was ordained at my home congregation (Epiphany Lutheran) in Brooklyn, New York. I posted the anniversary on my Facebook page and there were a number of comments. Certainly more than I expected. In ministry, Word and Sacrament or Word and Service, there are always ups and downs, but the ups outweigh the down times. I have been blessed by family, congregants, students and colleagues who inspired and supported me over the years.

Prior to this 45th year, I had two significant events that occurred in April. On April 29th my portrait was unveiled in the Wentz library. I was the first African American to be tenured at Gettysburg...I must also say I will be the last since Gettysburg Seminary no longer exits. It is now the Gettysburg campus of United Lutheran Seminary. On April 18, I was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for service in ministry but the Alumni Association. My classmate, Bob Musser nominated me. I was certainly humbled by these two events. When I arrived in Gettysburg as a student in September 1969, I never imagined that Gettysburg would play such an important part in my life. I am thankful.

Catching Up

The past couple of months have been hectic but exhilarating at the same time.

Time abroad. On March 20 I left for Paris. It was an experiment. I started home dialysis (PD) in September and wanted to see how I might travel abroad with the cycler unit and ancillary equipment. It worked out better than I imagined. The Baxter company had the solution boxes delivered to Hotel du Lion a day or two before my arrival. When I connected in the evening, everything functioned as programmed. That lessened one part of my anxiety on the trip. My other objective on the trip was to continue my "Americans in Paris" project. I had read some of the literature and now wanted to interview Americans living in Paris. I was able to do three in-person interviews.

I interviewed Patricia who has lived in Paris for about 28 years. We had our conversation at St. Victor on a Friday evening. A few days later, on Sunday, I interviewed July who has lived in Paris for 48 years. We had our discussion at Miss Marple's, an English restaurant. On the following Tuesday, March 27, I talked with Catherine who moved to Paris in 2016. She is 80 years old. This is an exciting  beginning to this project. I hope to continue the interview process in Paris, in the fall.

On Sunday, 25 March, I presented my interest and research on the topic at the Paris Soiree gathering. They offered good comments for me to consider in my research. I was thankful for the opportunity discuss the project.

On Palm Sunday I worshiped at Eglise des Billettes, the Lutheran Church where Daniel Payne attended in the 19th century. I usually worship there when in Paris. Pastor Joly is no longer there. The new pastor is a good preacher, but the liturgy lacked something and there were no palms. The only indication that it was Palm Sunday was the gospel reading. I would have gone to Notre Dame afterward but I had lunch scheduled with a Judy.

In addition to the project, I did get to see the Mary Cassatt (American expressionist who lived in Paris) exhibition at the Musée Jacquemart-André. The last time I saw here work was in Washington, DC when I was in seminary.

I must say that I found  the trip to be a great relief. I was able to travel without trouble. I can travel as a dialysis patient! I am thankful to God for letting me see that life continues even in illness. Now, I can plan my next trip across the Atlantic pond.

Memories of Corsica

This evening I am jumping between the Olympics and a program on TV5Monde's Echappes belles on Corsica. The program brings back memories of my student days when I studied in Corsica, the summer of 1968 (The 20th century Novel and French Theatre of the 20th Century).After classes which were held in the morning, we would spend the afternoon on the beach. We would hitch-hike and to into the very blue and comfortable water. In the evening we'd climb over the walls of the school (that was the short cut) to buy crèpes from the vendor in front of the school. I am in contact with only one other American student who was studying there that summer, Camille. She has fond memories of Corsica as well. If you see the French film "Joueuse" (Queen to Play) set in Corsica, you will find some views of Ajaccio the city in which we studied at Ecole Normale.

Requiescat in pace

My sister called me this afternoon. My Uncle Winston died at 11:30 AM. Just a week before Christmas, his wife, my Aunt Catherine died. They were living in the same room at the nursing home. They had been married for 50 years. As I sit in the Wentz library at Gettysburg Seminary (now United Lutheran Seminary), I remember that he and my aunt dropped me off on campus when I began my theological studies in September 1969. The next time they were in Gettysburg in the late 90s, I was on the  faculty. 

Rest in Peace!

Christmastide

St. Stephen's Day 2017

Christmas in New York is always a unique occasion. The Christmas lights in the neighborhoods, the congested corridors in the department stores, and the increase in traffic on the streets and highways. In the frenzy of the season there is the leitmotif of hope and joy in the midst of the troubling circumstances of the world.

Christmas Eve I was the celebrant at Epiphany Lutheran. There wasn't a large congregation. The fact that Advent 4 and Christmas Eve were the same day limited the number or worshipers for the evening. After the liturgy, some members of the congregation went and sang Christmas carols to my aunt who continues to have problems with walking. She also received the Eucharist. Afterward, we ventured down the block to visit another shut-in who can no longer walk due to her lost of her lower limbs. The Christmas season makes one aware of the God of promise and hope given to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

On Christmas day we had brunch at home and then we (my sister and brother-in-law) went to make the family rounds: Aunt Dot, Ricky and Terry (cousin) and Mrs. Payne (Robert's mother). There was no rushing. After the visits we returned home to eat Christmas dinner.

This morning, the reality of city life was very apparent as I had to move my car (double part) due to alternate side of the street parking....I moved the car by 8:20 and re-parked it 9:25. Now, I can relax the rest of the day. I'll probably watch a French movie on DVD.