Seminary of the Southwest Christ Chapel

Seminary of the Southwest Christ Chapel
The view I get to experience everytime I attend Christ Chapel!!!!!!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Anxiousness is the word of the week.....

Anxiousness is the word of the week…

All week I have been anxious. As most of you know, I am a pretty anxious person, but this week has been especially anxious. I seem to be fixated on papers and reading and sad about the fact that I can’t be with family and friends at this present time in my life. I was reminded several times throughout the week to be calm and to feel God’s presence in my being. Even the collect for last Sunday spoke to this:

Grant us O Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

So my plan for this week is to be a non-anxious presence. To just enjoy my time here at the Seminary of the Southwest, and to quote one of my professors, “let what I am learning in class and chapel wash over me.”

I FINALLY went to Church in Austin today. I have spent so much time in Chapel that I didn’t really want to go to Church on Sunday mornings. It is hard for me to believe that because I love attending Church!!! I think some of my anxiousness was attributed to the fact that I hadn’t worshipped in a Church for a while. I spent the morning at St. Matthew’s Church. It is a lovely parish filled with the Holy Spirit and an excellent choir ☺. I was thankful to be able to worship with them today.

I also got to spend some time this weekend with my new seminary friends. It was great to just laugh and enjoy each other. I am particularly grateful for the guidance of my fellow Postulants from the Diocese of Alabama, Donna and Seth. They have taken such good care of me and continue to be lights in my life.

I continue to whisper your names in Chapel and think of you all daily.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…

Mary Balfour

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Life is like walking on jello....

Life is like walking on jello…

A classmate described our seminary life as like walking on jello. She is correct. It is a hard adjustment and it feels exactly like walking on jello. To be honest with you all, I am just working on getting steady feet. The amount of reading and writing of papers is overwhelming. It is difficult to keep up at times and I continue to pray for balance. I know God wants me to be here and I am honored to have the opportunity. I just need to figure out how to make it all flow and not feel like there is jello under my feet!

I want you all to know that I am happy. Truly happy. Chapel life, living in a fantastic community and talking about the Christian faith everyday makes me giddy! Thank you Lord for sending me to Austin and to the Seminary of the Southwest.

I did take a break this weekend and attend Austin City Limits. This is a music festival with tons of terrific bands. I got to spend time with friends from the Seminary and one of my oldest friends, Will and his lovely bride, Jen. It was a much-needed break. Getting to see Stevie Wonder live is something I will never forget!!!

It is difficult for me to communicate with everyone so I hope you think of this blog as my love note to you all. Your names are whispered in Chapel often and I continue to be thankful for so many supportive friends and family.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…

Mary Balfour

Sunday, September 11, 2011

It's Official......

It’s Official….

I am official student at Seminary of the Southwest after the matriculation service that was held on Thursday, September 8th. Daddy was here for the celebration service followed by a festive meal. It was a joy to be able to share the experience with him. I think we have a new fan of the Seminary of the Southwest in Daddy. He seemed very pleased with the school, my classmates and my professors. He even went to class with me, which was a lot of fun. On Friday night we went to see the bats in downtown Austin with my dear friends from Alabama, Donna and Seth. Every night, right at dusk, one and a half million bats come out from under the bridge. There were several hundred people on the bridge and dozens more in all different sorts of watercraft on the river watching the spectacle. It is so cool and a great “free” event for the people of Austin. Afterwards we went to a food trailer park and enjoyed Torchy’s Tacos famous fried avocado, followed by Amy’s ice cream. Two wonderful local Austin favorites!!! It was a great weekend with Daddy and I am honored he came to visit me.

This weekend was also Mama’s 60th Birthday! She spent the weekend at the beach with some of her best buddies. I made a DVD of her life and sent it down with one of her friends. I had a ball putting it together and I could tell she really enjoyed it. She told me she wouldn’t have rewritten the actually birthday celebration in any way. Happy Birthday Mama!!! You are the best in every way and we are blessed to have you in our lives!!!

Life as a seminarian is becoming very real to me. I spend a lot of time reading, a requirement since I have 4 papers due before the end of September! It is going to be a real challenge, but one that I am up for. I ask for your prayers in the coming weeks as I settle into a routine and learn to write strong and intelligent papers.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues……

Mary Balfour

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

And So It Begins....

And So It Begins….

Today, September 6, 2011, I completed my very first day of seminary classes. I was excited, nervous, anxious, and overwhelmed, but most importantly I am just honored to be here! The first class of the day started with prayer. In that moment, I felt God’s presence so clearly. I couldn’t help but thank Him for giving me this opportunity. I worshipped several more times throughout the day in addition to attending classes and enjoying a community lunch.

My class is gathering tonight to debrief the day and just enjoy each other’s company -- and Daddy comes to visit me tomorrow! I am so excited to show him my new home and of course enjoy all that Austin has to offer. On Thursday night we will have a Matriculation Service, a service to welcome all of the new students to campus, followed by a festive dinner. I am thrilled to be able to share that experience with Daddy.

My class elected me as one of our student representatives to Student Council. I am honored to serve and I am very excited to add this to my list of activities. I start my work-studies tomorrow as well. Guess where I will be 7 hours of each week - the Development Office! ☺ I am really excited to be a part of the development team at the Seminary of the Southwest. I am also one the library maids (the official library duster for 6 hours a week). Margaret would be so proud! I am just glad to earn my keep….

I can’t tell you how thankful I am for the many calls, emails, Facebook messages, and most importantly prayers that I have received over the past few weeks. The support that so many have given me is truly humbling.

Thanks for continuing to be a part of the ride….

Mary Balfour

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Margaret.....

For the past two days I have been on a retreat with my classmates. We had a great time sharing our stories and just getting to know each other. It is interesting to spend time with people that have the same desire in their hearts as you do, to serve God's people as a priest. I believe that this is a group of people that will support me and love me through the next three years and hopefully for many years after seminary. In fact, they have already proved how much they care.

Daddy called me on Wednesday morning. I thought something might be wrong because he knew I was at the retreat. He told me that Margaret had died. Margaret was a very special person who has ALWAYS been a part of my life. She helped raise me and my brothers and in fact she did the same for Daddy. Margaret came to work for my great grandmother when she was 13 years old. She lived outside of our house in the Mississippi Delta for the first 15 years of my life. I don't remember a time when she wasn't there. Margaret took care of many generations of Van Zandt's and loved us as if we where her own. She was a Van Zandt even if that wasn't her last name. She had a very special bond with my youngest brother Thomas. She would never admit it but he was always her favorite. The image of a black woman in her 60's and a little white boy who were the best of friends is a powerful image for me. This image seemed so natural to me and probably made no sense to my classmates. They supported me anyway. They let me cry and tell a few stories about Margaret. I have discovered over the last few days that the world will be a better when it has my classmates as priests. They know how to love, they know how to do what Jesus asked us to do.

Mama said to me today that she believes that Margaret is sitting at a table with my great grandmother and my grandmother and all those that she so graciously served for many years and finally breaking bread with them. Thank you Margaret for taking such good care of us for so many years and allowing us to be a part of your life.

Thank you Lord for the life of your good and faithful servant, Margaret Davis.

Thanks for coming along on the ride.

Mary Balfour