The Christmas Season...

The Christmas Season…

It is the second day of Christmas and I have read lots of posts about people having the after Christmas Day blues.  We still have 10 more days, no reason to have the blues! 

I had the honor of preaching at the Church were my father serves in Murfreesboro, TN yesterday morning.  I guess this is a little tradition that we have started, Christmas Day preaching and on the prologue to John.  I actually really like preaching, I am always up for the practice, and there is something about serving with Daddy that just makes me so excited.  He actually let me set the table yesterday.  In his calm manner, he talked me through the whole process and of course God was worshipped.  This was a really BIG deal to me.  It’s a big deal because I haven’t really done it by myself before but also because it is so significant to me.  Setting the table so that God’s children can come, receive, and be feed.  That’s really an honor to get to do, so I wanted to get it right.  Daddy was patient with me and together we successfully set the table. 

In my sermon, I preached about how the prologue of John gives us a different view on Jesus.  In the Nativity story in Luke we are told what happened.  But in John’s Gospel we are told what the incarnation means.  There aren’t many other characters, the focus is clear.  Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. 

So friends, don’t have the blues.  We have many more days to celebrate the birth of our Savior, not only the next 10 days but also the rest of our lives.  Guess what, even after that we get to celebrate in heaven.  Pretty cool gift Jesus even if it is your birthday- thank you!

Blessings as the ride continues…  Mary Balfour

Half Way Through...

Half Way Through…

As of today, I am half way through my seminary education.  It is a day that seems so long coming, but in other ways seems like it has gotten here so quickly.  I have very mixed emotions about this day.  The thought of being closer to my dream of serving God’s people as a priest is exciting.  The thought of leaving my seminary community in only a year and half seems scary!

I am so grateful for the past year and half of seminary.  I am different now than I was in August of 2011 and I suspect that I will be different than I am now in May 2014 when I leave here.  I think every seminarian says my school is the best and I am no different.  The Seminary of the Southwest is a wonderful place for so many reasons, but mostly because of this incredible community.  In my time here I have been sad, angry, happy, and every emotion in between.  But this amazing community always lifts you up when you need it, lets you be in your grief, and most importantly is ALWAYS, ALWAYS there. 

So this semester, I have become a better preacher, spent almost every Sunday at the altar, dug deep in to the text of the Gospels of John and Mark, learned a little bit about ethics, a little bit more about theology, a lot about reconciliation, and spent every Monday at 1:30 pm making a joyful noise.  It was a HARD semester, but a good one.  I am thankful and better for it.

It’s time to go home.  It is time to spend time with my friends and family.  It is time to rest.  It’s time to enjoy the waiting expectation of celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth.  I am so grateful for this time.

Blessings as the ride continues…  Mary Balfour