Book of Thanks

We Give Thanks Lombard College at Meadville Theological School Class of 2013 Thank you From Meadville Lombard Graduating Class of 2013 “It’s not happy people who are grateful, but grateful people who are happy.”

Thank You From the Graduating Class of 2013: Lynn Acquafondata, Debbie Cole, Jorge Espinel, David Etherington, Shawna Foster, Jim Foti, Roger Grugel, Leddy Hammock, Nathan Alan Hollister, Jim Magaw, Diggit McLaughlin, Pat McLaughlin, James Moir, Tisha Moore, Sarah Richards, Ja Rickard, Amy Shaw, Kevin Tarsa, Linda Thomson, Doug Traversa, Lynnda White, Gretchen Weis, and Judy Zimmerman.

To the Faculty and Staff: Margo Adler, Lee Barker, Debbie Bieber, Eric Biddy, Eliza Bivins-Fink, Kaitlin Butler, Kimberley Cooke, Denise Davidoff, Neil Gerdes, Mark Hicks, Mike Hogue, Darrick Jackson, Nicole Kirk, Celina Maggi, Susi Pangerl, Tina Porter, Qiyamah Rahman, Myriam Renaud, Madeleine Robins, Leslie TakahashiMorris, John Tolley, William Schulz, Bradley Sterrenberg, Sharon Welch, and Justine Urbikas.

When we started we were asked who loved us into being where we are today.

One of the answers is: You did. Thank you.

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No thank you, I said to myself. I just want the credential. I do not want that gift of self-awareness, even though it comes free with tuition.

No, really, I said to myself. I’m just here to fulfill the requirement. I never expected this gift of humility as a CPE bonus.

No, thank you, I said to myself. I just want the credit hours. I do not want this gift of intimate community that comes with every class, elevator ride, conversation,dinner, song.

These are complicated, confusing, stretching, painful, unwanted, unexpected, unasked for gifts of ministerial formation that I do not open—they open me, over and over.

Yes, thank you, I say to all of you.

I am so grateful there is no gift return policy at Meadville Lombard.

Sarah C . Richards, 1/16/13

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"Peace, Baked Daily" We winnow ourselves of husks That we may grind ourselves to flour To make dough Leavened by imagination Flavored by the salt of our sweat--and blood and tears-Rising (some things cannot be hurried much) Baked hot (Surely this will burn us, let us out!)

Emerging crusty Glorious to the eye Breaking bread Ourselves, each other Fed

My deepest thanks to all the faculty and staff at Meadville Lombard. Â I thoroughly enjoyed my trips to Chicago, both academically and socially. I take away many happy memories and a great deal of useful and even critical information. I feel much better equipped for my ministry, and I thank all of you who were involved. My best wishes for each of you in future years. Â Thanks for all your efforts training all of us over the last few years.

- Doug Traversa

- Pat McLaughlin

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Banks Minneapolis

Omaha

St Paul

Maple City Burlington

Wilmot Chicago

Ann Arbor

Somerville

West Peoria

Pittsburgh

Blanchester

Severn

Carrboro Tullahoma Vista Houston

Micanopy Clearwater Naples

Where do we come from?

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On The Saturday Conference Call You May...

Not wear pants. Play frisbee golf. Vacuum. Do a load of laundry.

Master a video game. Do a crossword, Sudoku, a jigsaw puzzle. Facebook.

Garden. Remember where you left your keys. Bake cookies. Calculate.

Eat breakfast. Wait 90 minutes. Start cooking lunch. Eat lunch.

Tell your kids “Stop it! I’m on a conference call!” Put the call on mute and hope no one notices while you settle things.

Take notes. Sit with your elderly parent. Spy on your neighbors.

Learn something. Draw something. Pet your pet. Make circles in the sand.

BUT DON’T FORGET TO MUTE!

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At some point in this journey, I was asked to describe, through metaphor, my sense of calling. My response was: “Snowfall. Snowflakes have no power as individuals, but as they gather softly, they transform the landscape. Not a bolt of lightning, but a powerful presence, nonetheless.”

Dear Meadville Staff , Professors, and Colleagues: Without you, I would be in limbo trying to sort through all the adjustments it has taken to get through the last eighteen months at Meadville. You have literally nursed me back to health when I was helpless and encircled me in your protective bubble. I will be forever grateful to all who have ‘loved me in to being’. I am graduating, but it is our Master of Divinity degree.

Peace and All Blessings, - Lynnda White

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Our ministerial formation is influenced profoundly by the people in our lives.

Underneath the deep knowledge, insight, skill, and talent of Meadville Lombard’s faculty and staff, lies extraordinary heart and care for the students, the school and the liberal religious tradition in which we journey.

I am grateful not only for the personal care and attention I’ve received during my years at Meadville Lombard, but also for this love of and hope for what lies beyond any one of our individual lives and roles. These are gifts that will reach outward through our hands, hearts and ministries, and beyond, through those we serve. For all of this, and more, I am ever and deeply grateful. Thank you...

- Kevin Tarsa

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Has it only been three years?

Three years since we gathered in the August heat of Hull Chapel, the largest class Meadville Lombard had ever seen?

We came from all over --throughout the U.S. and Canada, and, yes, even from Norway.

A professor asked the question:

How Facebook and phone calls would sustain community. How essential we would become to one another, like oxygen.

And how precious we will be to one another throughout the rest of our ministries.

Here we are, three years later, about to gather yet again in Hull Chapel at the end of the seminary journey. I will remember the question: Who loved you into being here today?

Who loved you into being here today?

We were asked to think about the people who loved, nourished and encouraged us on this path towards ministry.

Little did we know how this journey, which was just beginning, would challenge us and change us to our very core of being.

Little did we know on that hot August day, how we would come to bond with one another in the love, laughter, intellectual rigor and tears in the intense, but precious moments we would come to share in Januarys, Marches and Julys.

And I will remember, with deep, deep gratitude the many people at Meadville Lombard -the beloved teachers, my advisor, the administrative leaders, the student services and administrative teams, and my fellow students -who loved, nourished and encouraged me along the journey.

May my ministry come to reflect the faith, the patience, and the love that so many have provided me.

Amen, and may it be so.

- Gretchen Weis

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