New England School of Lay Ministry
 

By Lynn Geraci

As a recent graduate of the New England Synod School of Lay Ministry, I was asked to write a reflection on my experience. As I was preparing this, at the last minute I came across a reflection and prayer written by Joyce Rupp, a Christian author and retreat director that really resonated with my heart’s prayer, but of course, she put it much more eloquently.

“Source of my life, Home of my spiritual heritage, pick me up from the path of my fruitless wanderings.  Carry me back to you, the birthplace of loving kindness.

Be tender with my fears.  Draw me out if I tend to pull back.  When I get buried in the darkened corridors of uncertainty, help me emerge from my mud-laden shell of confusion.

Reorient me in the right direction that leads toward you.  Show me time and again how to arrive where I belong.  Encourage me to eagerly seek your presence.

Remind me often that you are my Source and true Home.”

As I read this, it really seemed to express my prayer and my journey through the Lay Ministry program.  In a very life-giving way, it helped pick me up and lead me to a deeper and clearer understanding of the direction I was supposed to be going on in my faith journey.  I found myself feeling that Rupp’s prayer had been mine for a long time.

About two years ago, I felt like that lost turtle, trying to peak my head out to find which direction to go and hoping the path would be shown to me.  Then, I saw the blurb in our Sunday bulletin about the program.  I was struck with the theme of that year being on the way Lutherans interpret the Bible. After some prayer and searching for more information on their website, I talked to Pastor Ross and began that September.  And WOW, what a journey it was.  

This program helped me to become stronger and more confident in my own faith journey.  It helped to guide me in God’s call to an ever-growing faith that has not felt this strong in a very long time, if ever.  It was not only through the curriculum of the program, but also the sharing, the relationships built and the commitment experienced in so many different ways that my faith deepened. Being able to be with others who were searching and yearning for more in their faith life was so inspirational and such a learning process that I cannot imagine it being done in any other way.

This post was written by Marion Victoria Jene at Synod Assembly 2014 after she graduated from the School of Lay Ministry.

Thank you for this great opportunity. My two year study of God in the School of Lay Ministry has enriched and has reconnected me to the Lutheran Heritage my parents held dear, expanded and matured growth in my faith, knowledge and service  to God, renewed my strength to use my gifts He has given me for service in the church, in my community and my family and fellow sisters and brothers along this journey.  God is so evident along on it also, right beside me holding me in His loving arms.  He is with me with my health, council challenges, WELCA pleasures, in worship and song and places I've yet to become aware of.  This journey with my God continues...........Alleluia!!!!!  Marion Victoria Jene

The following testimony was written as part of a letter Doris Dimpel wrote for her congregation newsletter called "Blueprints".  Doris is a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brookfield, CT.

            According to the website (www.nesynodslm.com) the School of Lay Ministry (SLM) is “an opportunity for spiritual growth, fellowship and learning together.”  However, these words are quite simply not enough to adequately describe what this experience has meant to me.

            I entered the SLM program because I felt I had reached a point in my spiritual journey where God was challenging me to deeper understanding of what it means to be His child and how, at this time in my life, I can better use the gifts and talents he has given me to serve him both in and out of the church.  The SLM program is helping me find the answers to just such questions.  As the SLM community is made up of people from all walks of life, each of us at a different point in our spiritual journey, part of what makes this opportunity so exciting, is the freedom to grow and learn together, each of us bringing our own life experiences to help color the bigger picture of interpretation and understanding. 

            As some of you may know, in my former life, I was a divinity student at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, in the Candidacy Process of the ELCA.  When that door closed, I was at a point perhaps best described by Robert Frost's beloved poem, The Road Not Taken.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth.

                        I had no idea where God might be calling me next.  It was an unsettling time in my life as I worked through trying to regain my footing.  Then along came the opportunity to attend the School of Lay Ministry.  A little head-shy, I ventured forward, only to discover the grace of God through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. 

                        SLM has been such a wonderful gift.  The lessons I am learning and the friendships I am forging, will no doubt stay with me long beyond the end of my second year.  I am finding that God is giving me opportunities to share these gifts with others and to fulfill my baptismal call to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”  I therefore close, but do not end, with the words of Mr. Frost:

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Your sister in Christ,

Doris

This post was written by Sue Chin to her congregation to share her experience at the 2013 Fall Retreat at Camp Calumet.  The presenter was her pastor, Pr. Doug Ryniewicz.


Dear Friends:

   I am writing to tell you about my experience this past weekend at my first retreat with the School of Lay Ministry. I only recently found out about this program, run by the New England Synod. I was not all that clear on what it was or why I was interested, but I felt compelled to go nonetheless and I answered the call.

   Describing this weekend is a little like trying to describe a flavor; in many ways you can only understand if you experience it yourself. There were approximately 50 people there; some like me, in their first year, others in their second. All were there because they felt and feel called to service by God, though not necessarily as clergy. We came from all walks of life to learn more about God and discern His will for our varied lives. Just being in the presence of these open-hearted, God-loving people was uplifting. They quickly felt like family, and we had myriad discussions on issues great and small, all spoken with honesty and great love.

  As if that were not enough, we had Pastor Doug as our leader for Saturday's workshop. If any of you are still questioning his call, let me tell you that we are now the envy of our synod! Several students asked me how I came to be so fortunate as to be in his congregation. Thanks be to God for bringing him here! He gave a presentation on the Zen of Lutheran Theology that was just amazing. He gave us all so much to think about. His depth of knowledge, open heart, and stamina fed us deeply and left us wanting more, even after he had been speaking for over 5 hours! This man is truly a treasure. Please help me take good care of him.

  On Sunday we participated in the most amazing and moving worship experience that I have ever been privileged to attend. The Spirit was so strong and powerful among that gathering of believers! We found ourselves hugging each other during the exchange of peace because a handshake just would not do. All of our faces were lit up with pure joy, peace, and contentment. I wish I could better describe what it felt like in that room, but it will have to suffice to say that it was a very holy time and my heart was bursting.

  I am now part of a study group that will be meeting every other Sunday until spring. I cannot wait to meet with these new friends again, and I am sure some of these friendships will be lifelong. During the weekend I managed to meet almost all of the students. They were all such beautiful, special people; I have great affinity for all of them.

  I mentioned my experience on Facebook, and an old friend asked me what took me so long to do this. The truth is I never knew about it. I want you to know about it.  This is one of the greatest things God has ever led me to. I still do not know why I have been led here, but I trust now more than ever that God is leading me, and so I follow. If He calls you, too, say "yes" - you will not regret it.

  I will try to update you as I progress through the next two years of this program. Please do not hesitate to ask me about it. I would love to share this experience with you!

 Yours in Christ,

 Susan Chin

New Testimony Blog

Welcome to the new addition to the SLM website.  Here you will find the inspiring stories from students who are participating in the New England Synod School of Lay Ministry.