One of the true joys of my time so far at PTS has been singing with our amazing choral program. PTS has three choirs and I am blessed to be part of all of them. Our largest ensemble is the Chapel Choir, a group of close to 50 seminarians that rehearses for an hour and a half each week. Chapel Choir helps lead worship at least once a week (usually on Thursdays) and sings at all of the main concerts during the year. We also have an audition-only group called the Seminary Singers. This smaller ensemble of about 25 practices for another hour each week and focuses on more challenging literature for worship and concert. From Seminary Singers is drawn the PTS Touring Choir. Over the course of the year the Touring Choir attends 8-10 events away from the seminary. Events range from singing during worship with area congregations to performances at workshops and prisons.
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Yesterday afternoon was delightful. My last class for the day wrapped up by 2pm, and I had until dinner to study and spend time with friends. I knew that I didn't want to spend such a beautiful afternoon sitting inside, so I walked to the quad and found a bench.
Read MoreToday marks an interesting, if somewhat non-intuitive, point in my journey here at Princeton. As we began class last Thursday, today marks my first complete week of my first academic year in seminary. I know I will feel more relief about this completion at the end of the work week Friday afternoon, but now seemed a good time to take stock and reflect on a few items.
Read MoreUntil a little over a month ago I had always lived within a two or three hour drive of my parent's house. I certainly was no stranger to moving; between scout camp, college, church camp, and two teaching jobs I have had my fair share of packing boxes and making new friends. Settling into a new town is always filled with challenges - where is the best place to buy groceries, what are the local parks like, where is the best place to go for a good lunch, and more importantly where should you NEVER go? Beyond that, there is the challenge of finding a church home. Where is that place where you will be fed, encouraged, and be part of a community?
Read MoreWhen I decided to begin my seminary education with summer language, I didn't quite know what to expect. There was a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and fear. Nothing prepared me for just how crazy this process has been.
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Sometimes it doesn't take much to turn a day from just ok into simply delightful. Today was one of those days.
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When I decided to begin my seminary journey by taking New Testament Greek the summer before my first academic year, I didn't quite know what to expect. I knew that it would be intense, after all we would be doing in eight weeks what is normally done over the course of a full school year, but I didn't really have a clue. Here is a look at what a "normal" day is like for those of us trying to master this crazy language.
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