Beginning of Autumn

Picture taken on campus

It is that time of the year when the leaves start to change colors, the nights get cool, and the sun feels good in the morning when it comes up. Pumpkin spice everything is available! 

Our dining room has been overrun!

Seminary Life:

Bryan and I are in our third week of classes now at Concordia Theological Seminary. I am taking two courses this quarter. Gospels I, where we focus on the book of Matthew. I am also taking History of the Deaconess where we have been looking deeper into the book of Genesis and reading Martimort on Deaconesses an Historical Study to learn more on the history of Deaconesses. I am loving the class lectures, I feel like I learn so much every class! I really enjoy looking at the Biblical text in Greek and comparing to my ESV Bible. Bryan gave me his Greek-English Interlinear New Testament which has allowed me to somewhat follow along when the class goes off on a Greek translation topic. I turned in my first exegetical study paper today and feel pretty good about it for being my first paper in Seminary so far.

From Bryan:

Our first full quarter is really in full swing now! I have some very interesting classes. I have Gospels I, with Keah, where we delve deep into Matthew and learn to appreciate this Gospel as well as the central teachings in the Gospel. Dogmatics I, taught by David Scaer, is an explanation of Lutheran Dogmatics centered on the Triune God and the nature of theology. Liturgics I, which is an introduction to the history, practice, and theology of Lutheran Liturgy with practice labs included. We get to learn to chant and sing as well as read the Scripture from the lectern. Greek Readings is a small group class where we study the Greek text of the Gospel reading for the coming week, and we discuss how to use our textual studies to prepare sermons. Introduction to the New Testament is an online discussion based course that gives an overview of the New Testament. Catechism Recitation is a non-credit course with no actual class periods, but we must learn the Ten Commandments and Luther's explanations by the middle of the quarter. Field Education is focused on learning things we'll need to make our Field Work a success.

Fieldwork Church:

While attending Seminary we are assigned a fieldwork church. We have been assigned to Trinity Lutheran church. Last Sunday was our first visit. The church just remodeled their sanctuary and it is beautiful! We look forward to getting to know the church and its members and worshiping with them these next two years. Here is their web address if you would like to check them out. https://www.trinityevangelicallcms.com/

At Work:

Having the privilege of working at the school Rory attends is so much fun. I get to see her throughout the day and know her teacher so well. The staff at the school is amazing and you can tell they really put the children first. I am also grateful that the school is being flexible with my seminary class schedule so that I can take the two courses I am taking this quarter. 

Last weekend was the annual Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne held at Johnny Appleseed Park. The school had two booths that it was running so we got some volunteer hours at the Festival! We got to dress up in period clothing and work hard. Bryan helped the men popping the popcorn. The Festival rules say no running water or electricity so everything is carried and and fire pits or such for the fires. 

On the Home Front:

We are settling into our new home and really enjoying it. We have made some improvements too. We took up carpet in the dining and living room. We replaced the living room with new carpet and the dining room with a vinyl wood look. We also painted the two rooms. Check out this before and after pictures.

We have worked in the front gardens taking down shrubbery that blocked the view of and from our front porch. Here is a before and after. Our to do list is growing, but I think it will have to wait till the break between quarters at the Seminary.

The kids are doing great! We are starting to get into a routine which is helping us settle here in Fort Wayne. We hope this post finds all of our family and friends well. We love you all.