Omaha, Nebraska
Two weeks after graduating from LSU, I set off on a whole new journey of discovery -
discerning ministry, self, and service in the unique community of Resurrection House.
Or at least that's the theory - but really? It's The Real World gone to church!
With company like this it's not bad at all though *wink* ...and the place isn't half bad either.
The crowd - back row: Fr. Mark (our spiritual director), Mother Judi (rector of our host Church of the Resurrection), Michael (intern from Virginia)
front row: well the one on the left should be obvious! - Deacon Robin (program administrator and answer-lady), Sahra (intern from California)
My parish assignment is at Saint Augustine of Canterbury Church in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Elkhorn is still semi-rural but in the process of becoming very built-up.
At last report, over 500 new houses were under construction in the area! The church itself is in - this is sooooo cool - a planned equestrian neighborhood.
As in, all the houses have fairly substantial acreage, and many people keep horses (mostly Quarter Horses for pleasure, showing, and/or breeding) on their property. The part to the left looks like a barn for good reason, it is a former carriage-and-horse barn
which was converted to serve as the first sanctuary and nave twenty years ago. The bishop who was serving at the time
literally had to vest with the horses on his first visit!
This is pretty much the view I get from my office (my very own office, whoa man!) - since it's the former cry room!
Our pews are inherited from an Episcopal church in another rural town which had closed
and from a Catholic church (how they were gotten to match I have no idea) ... the altar, rails, reredos (that painted screen of icons on the wall) etc.
were inherited from the chapel on the original campus of an Episcopal-sponsored elementary and high school in Omaha
and date from the 1870s. The stained glass windows on either side, as well as stained glass roundels in each window along the sides,
are the work of a couple who helped start the church 24 years ago, so beautiful yet simple.
"Benedicimus te!" After a whirlwind of activity, our first chance to settle down was at a wonderful retreat house and monastery of some Olivetan Benedictines in Schuyler, Nebraska. This view of Benedict rejoicing greeted me every morning as I caught myself in the all-too-rare act of waking with the dawn.
Real Nebraskans I'm sure will giggle at me, but for Louisianians (at least city ones) finding a bunny rabbit hanging around your garden is a rarity! This little guy was right by our doorstep when I came outside to plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs for the spring, but hopped off a little ways to hide in the underbrush when I appeared.
At least he stayed put long enough for me to catch this picture though!
This is at Trinity Church Cathedral in downtown Omaha. The woodwork, the painting and goldleaf, and the stained glass would each be gorgeous by themselves, so the combination of all at once is just amazing. It becomes even more amazing when one hears about how recently it was nearly all lost to carpenter bees, termites, you-name-'em insects! My second time ever serving as acolyte, by dumb luck, wound up being behind this altar serving for a wedding. Wow.
Sometimes acolytes get the really interesting work to do, finishing off the communion wine!
Sahra and I demonstrate the ... er, spirit ... of the evening at St. Aug's Muenster Mash!
Here you will find my first ever sermon (more to come in the future) as an mp3 audio for your enjoyment!
I recently had an extra special inspiration to go track down an old road called the Lincoln Highway -
please take a look at my pictures from that little drive on The Old Road, it's really cool.
On the way to the Diocese of Nebraska's Annual Council in Gering, Nebraska, we took the scenic route (by bus!) and passed Chimney Rock, one of the landmarks on the pioneer trails and the Mormon Trail. Who says Nebraska is flat?!?
While we were still on the I-80 part of the drive to Gering we passed Gothenburg, Nebraska, one of the stops on the Pony Express - way cool.
At the Annual Council we had the opportunity to visit with the Bishop of Nebraska, Joe Burnett, as well as hear him preach and address the Council.
Before the first snow, we got to participate in the morning half of Omaha Habitat for Humanity's annual Clergy Build. So lo and behold, I found myself up on the roof putting on shingles and engaging in a little theology of the hammer!
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