Seminarian Seedlings
Back Home Update
In this newsletter
In this newsletter:
Transitioning Back Home
Senior Year at Luther Seminary
The Timeline to Ordination
Rev. Seminarian at St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
J-Term Plans at Saint Luke Ministries, Chicago
My last travels in Europe
Grandpa and sister, Holly with Aunt Sherri
Good memories of Grandma and Grandpa
With Little Sister, Isabelle
Transitioning Back Home
My family greeted me at the Minneapolis airport and we were all full of joy! I had not seen my two sisters or dad for the whole year. It was a joyous reunion as we spent the next two weeks at home in Luck, Wisconsin. It was great to be with my puppies and worship at my home congregation in Milltown! Sadly, my dear grandfather, Ronald J. Shimek, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. It has been good to see him and spend time with him as he transitions from this life to the next. He is in great spirits and his faith is unwavering. This man has been a constant source of love and encouragement throughout my life. Please pray for him.
My students!
Picking apples with mom and pup
Copenhagen travels with Kierkegaard
Senior Year at Luther Seminary
This year I am focusing on:
-Lutheran Mariology---what is the relationship Lutherans have with Mary? Why isn't Mary used as a pillar of support for women ordination? This has been a great independent study with Dr. Amy Marga.
-Lutheran spirituality-- Dr. Dirk Lange and I will study what daily spiritual practices can be implemented in the traditions that claim "Lutheranism". I will be focusing mostly on Confession and Absolution.
-The ELCA's relationship with parochial education. How do we compare with the LCMS and other religious traditions when it comes to education? How can we be creative with our educating?
-Luther and Augustine--an independent study with Dr. Mark Granquist on the influence Augustine has on Luther.
-Heidelberg Disputation--what is the significance of this landmark piece 500 years later?
What's Next?
One more semester left. Save the date: May 19 is commencement!
I have been approved by the faculty at Luther Seminary and the ELCA candidacy committee. This means the ELCA has given me the stamp of approval to be an ordained pastor! The next steps will be:
1. My profile and other materials go to the conference of bishops. The 65 bishops gather in Chicago and they look over all the first call pastors and they decide where all the first calls will be placed.
2. By February I will know which of the nine regions I will be placed in.
3. Shortly after that I will find out which of the 65 synods I will be placed in.
4. After being assigned a synod, I enter the interview process with individual congregations and once a congregation wishes to call me as their pastor I will be ordained. I can be sent anywhere in the United States!
Please pray for me!
Featured in The Story, Luther's Magazine
Preaching
https://vimeo.com/mojosolo/review/306719561/65bc2a58f1
Fellow Lutheran pastors from around the globe
Friends!
Saint Nicholas Day at St. Paul-Ref
Rev. Dr. Patrick Shebeck, mentor
St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
Heading to Chicago for January
Learning how this parish runs will help me understand how an American church and school in an urban setting works. I am looking forward to this adventure!
Last Travels
I was invited to speak at the Ecumenical Research Institute in Strasbourg regarding my internship project which explored the plurality of faith traditions present at Bratislava International Church. The two keynote speakers were R. Scott Appleby, Professor of History at Notre Dame and Mark Granquist (personally, my favorite professor at Luther Seminary), Professor of History at Luther Seminary. Both of these exquisite scholars were students of Martin Marty at Chicago Divinity School!
Reformer's Wall in Geneva
Rev. Dr. Mark Granquist, myself, and Dr. R. Scott Appleby
Strasbourg Cathedral between Alsatian architecture
United Nations
Slovak Lutheran Church (c. 1688) in Leštiny
Budapest from the Buda side
Taylor Lightman and I ran into this guy from Northfield, MN in Copenhagen!
Polish Woman I met with in Kraków
Slovak Lutheran Church sanctuary (no nails!) Pastor on left
Information
Email: estelling001@luthersem.edu
Location: 1575 Midway Parkway, St Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 715-417-4370