Back to School...
Well, I've now made it through most of a week of school this semester. I had a really enjoyable holidays, spending time with family and hanging out with close friends. But its good to be back in school now...we'll see how long that feeling lasts. This semester is shaping up to be even better than the first, as I am in some more interesting courses now that I've completed some of the first year prerequisites. However, it will be an extremely busy semester, as I have 5 courses, practicum, and a skiriffic band to throw together.
I began my practicum at the Mustard Seed today, and even though it will take up my entire Sunday afternoons for the next 12 weeks or so, I don't think that it will be something that I dread going to. Along with two other students from the school, we are working alongside the chaplain and assisting him with the worship services at the Seed. It does not appear that it will be terribly work intensive, which is good, as I have enough on the go this semester.
Today was our first day, and much of it was spent simply getting aquainted with the place and learning what goes on Sunday afternoons. We got there just in time to witness them serving lunch to the homeless. Our first task was simply to hang out with the people and talk to them. Following the meal, we then helped clean up and set up for the church service, which about 50 or so people attended. The service was fairly basic: it consisted of a guy leading worship with his acoustic guitar, followed by a sermon preached using simplistic language, which I found quite interesting, much more so than many sermons preached to a mature Christian congregation. After the service was another chance to talk to the people, as coffee and dessert was served. I think that I will really enjoy this practicum, as much of it consists simply of building relationships with the people at the shelter. It is exciting to be able to sit down and chat with these people without; despite the fact that we are physically better off than them, they in no way viewed us with any contempt or jealousy.
These are the people that society for the most part rejects and avoids at all costs. People come under the misconception that street people are somehow sub-human, and that we need not show kindness to them because their own actions are what led to their present circumstances. While it is obviously true that many of them do suffer with various addictions, they are also capable of showing love and acceptance, much more so than many of the 'normal' people you may encounter working their 9-5 jobs.
Recently, I purchased the bood 'A Ragamuffin Gospel' by Brennan Manning. So far, I have only had the time to read the first chapter, but his writing relates directly to this situation. He writes:
"Jesus comes for sinners, for those as outcast as tax collectors and for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams. He comes for corporate executives, street people, superstars, farmers, hookers, addicts, IRS agents, AIDS victims, and even used-car salesmen. Jesus not only talks with these people but dines with them - fully aware that His table fellowship with sinners will raise the eyebrows of religious bureaucrats who hold up the robes and insignia of their authority to justify their condemnation of the truth and their rejection of the gospel of grace."
And that, I believe, is the essence of my work at the Mustard Seed.
I began my practicum at the Mustard Seed today, and even though it will take up my entire Sunday afternoons for the next 12 weeks or so, I don't think that it will be something that I dread going to. Along with two other students from the school, we are working alongside the chaplain and assisting him with the worship services at the Seed. It does not appear that it will be terribly work intensive, which is good, as I have enough on the go this semester.
Today was our first day, and much of it was spent simply getting aquainted with the place and learning what goes on Sunday afternoons. We got there just in time to witness them serving lunch to the homeless. Our first task was simply to hang out with the people and talk to them. Following the meal, we then helped clean up and set up for the church service, which about 50 or so people attended. The service was fairly basic: it consisted of a guy leading worship with his acoustic guitar, followed by a sermon preached using simplistic language, which I found quite interesting, much more so than many sermons preached to a mature Christian congregation. After the service was another chance to talk to the people, as coffee and dessert was served. I think that I will really enjoy this practicum, as much of it consists simply of building relationships with the people at the shelter. It is exciting to be able to sit down and chat with these people without; despite the fact that we are physically better off than them, they in no way viewed us with any contempt or jealousy.
These are the people that society for the most part rejects and avoids at all costs. People come under the misconception that street people are somehow sub-human, and that we need not show kindness to them because their own actions are what led to their present circumstances. While it is obviously true that many of them do suffer with various addictions, they are also capable of showing love and acceptance, much more so than many of the 'normal' people you may encounter working their 9-5 jobs.
Recently, I purchased the bood 'A Ragamuffin Gospel' by Brennan Manning. So far, I have only had the time to read the first chapter, but his writing relates directly to this situation. He writes:
"Jesus comes for sinners, for those as outcast as tax collectors and for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams. He comes for corporate executives, street people, superstars, farmers, hookers, addicts, IRS agents, AIDS victims, and even used-car salesmen. Jesus not only talks with these people but dines with them - fully aware that His table fellowship with sinners will raise the eyebrows of religious bureaucrats who hold up the robes and insignia of their authority to justify their condemnation of the truth and their rejection of the gospel of grace."
And that, I believe, is the essence of my work at the Mustard Seed.
posted by Bassmaster Fehr @ 10:46 p.m.
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