My last week(s) of the semester

Well I made it home for Thanksgiving, way back in November, and made it back down to Kentucky, for my last few weeks of classes. I want to know where the last three and a half months have gone. It seems like just yesterday, Michelle and I were coming down to visit ATS for a weekend, and now I'm almost done with my first semester of classes.

Today was officially my last day of classes. It is kind of bittersweet, I love my classes (for the most part) and my professors have been wonderful. These men have taught me so much both in and out of the classroom. The saddest part of today was leaving Dr. Mulholland's class for the last time. I will only get to see him one more time when I turn in my last paper on Monday, for he is retiring after this semester. I think I have learned more from him about how to apply what we learned in class, more than my other classes combined. I am also sad that I will not get to see my Greek teacher, Brad again, until February. He has helped me through so much this semester, and I cannot wait to have him again next semester for Greek 2.

Next week will mark my last week at ATS for a month. I can't believe that finals week is here already and Graduation is tomorrow. Next week I have my final NT paper due Monday, my final IBS interpretation due Tuesday, my KCW final due Thursday, and my Greek final due by Friday (though I hope to have it done before then). This coming weekend is going to be so crazy and busy, trying to write 3 papers and study for Greek. Tuesday I get a break tough, to go play some games at my friend Abbie's house, before our IBS assignment is due. This will be fun, but again bittersweet, because I don't know how often I will see Abbie next semester, because she will not be taking classes.

Again I must ask, where has this semester gone? I can't believe I only have one more week before I'm home for over a month. But not to worry I will have plenty to work on during that month at home. I have questions for DCOM to answer, Greek to study, and possibly some reading to get a head start on, if I can get my books early, plus teaching when I can on top of all that, and of course church stuff. Well I must get working on my papers. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. (And it is not the train coming down the tracks, like Krissi would say.)

So long all, I may write again after the semester is over, but if not, I'll be back on come February.

Working for Him,
Erica <><

Update and More Pics (Thanks Krissi)

I realized that I haven't updated in several weeks, so here we go. I got to go home a few weekends ago and had a great time. My friend Susie went with me. We left early Friday morning and arrived in PA around 3pm. Our first stop at my house to drop off a few things, then we stopped to see the KHS Marching Band. (They sounded great!) We decided not to go to the game because it was too cold, so we headed to Cabot UMC instead. At CUMC we hung out with the kids of Friday Night Light and Kids Night Out. Susie jumped right in with the kids, while I took the time to talk with Lynn and P. Matt. It was very good to get to sit down with both of them, even if for only a little while. Saturday we went to the Cokesbury in Cranberry and the Pittsburgh Mills (a large indoor shopping mall). We found so great deals at Cokesbury 80% off tent sale, and I got a Pink Terrible Towel at the Mills. Sunday we went to church then came back for the Concert of Prayer that evening. As always the Concert was wonderful, and I got to help by anointing and praying for people. That evening when we got home, Susie gave me some money that people from the church had given her to give me. It was so sweet, I began to get teary eyed. (Thank you if you were one of those people and are now reading this.) We left Monday morning and arrived safe and sound in Wilmore around 4pm. Since coming back things have gotten back to normal, and I am back to my regular routine. It's mid-term time at Seminary, so everyone is very busy. I only have 2 this semester, one was a paper for KCW which I got an 'A' on, and my Greek mid-term is due next Tuesday (it's online). I am glad to say that I am finally in a routine and I am mapping out my weeks so I know what I need to do and when I'll have time to do it. The longer I spend here the more I enjoy it and can't wait for next semester and more classes, with more opportunities to learn. I am trying to work on my schedule for next semester. I am taking 4 classes again and I know of 2 definites right now, which are Greek 2 and Method and Praxis in Theology. I still need to figure out what else will fit into my schedule but I have some time. Fall has been beautiful here in Wilmore, I love how warm it still is (even though some of my southern friends think it's cold). Last night I was walking back to the dorm from a healing service with a 3/4 sleeve shirt, a skirt, high boots and my trench coat and was warm. I wanted to walk around town for an hour, but I thought that a single woman walking around in a black trench at 9pm was not a smart idea, though I did later got to get milk at Cluckers (the local gas station). The Sems (Singing Seminarians) sang in Chapel today. It was a great time, we celebrated all Saints Day. My friend Krissi took some pictures of the Sems for me, so I can show them to you. She also took so pictures of the fall foliage for me. (Thanks Krissi.) So I will leave you with these pictures. Until next time. . . In His Service,Erica <>< P.S. Feel free to call, send me an email or a card. I love to hear from people back home, or family from all over.

The View from Main Campus

Toward our Dorm (center)

Me in Sems and Dr. Goold our Director

Singing Seminarians

Pictures Finally . . . And Other News

Hey everyone. We'll I've made it through another week of seminary. This week was kinda non-eventful, until tonight. Classes are still going great. I amazed at all the things I'm learning and that my professors know, so well. It is fascinating when someone asks a question, whether related or not related to the topic we are discussing and how the professor can explain it with out any notes, or at times (mostly in my IBS - Matthew class) the Bible open. These men are really amazing and I'm sad that my New Testament prof will be retiring so I will not get to have him again, but so glad I did this semester. (P-Matt you were write Mulholland is amazing.)

Anyways, I've been doing very well in my classes. Greek is probably my favorite because of my professor, and that I now understand it and am getting all 'A's on my quizzes. Midterm in a few weeks, we'll see how I do. I am starting to like my Inductive Bible Study class on Matthew too. My professor is a little quirky but fun. A friend and I have nick-named it the "Bauer Power Hour." Again I am getting all 'A's in that class to. New Testament if fascinating. I have learned so much that I never new before. Kingdom, Church, World is okay, but I love my small group. We will be doing a service project together soon, I don't know what or when though. (I don't have that class this week, so it will be nice to have Wednesday off.)

We had a really great week of chapel 2 weeks ago. Each day Dr. Oswalt (a distinguished visiting professor of Old Testament studies) spoke on holiness all week. I got to meet him, officially, today at church and tell him how much I enjoy his messages. This past week in Chapel we had the Theta Phi lectures on Open Theism. I went on Tuesday, but did not go Thursday (to boring, because it was a lecture, so it was like sitting in class for 4 hours straight instead of 3). I also attended the Wednesday chapel, where we had a UM Bishop for Nigeria speak. (He is a Beason student.) He had a very good message also.

I am still going to Nicholasville UMC and enjoying it more each week. I went to the late/traditional service today, and really enjoyed it. The choir sang "Rise Up in the Morning" and I sang along quietly, since CUMC's choir has done that song before. NUMC is really a moving church, each week I go it reminds me of Cabot. They are so involved in their community and are always looking for more ways to become involved in the community. But this weekend I will be enjoying worship at CUMC.

Yes I'm coming home for the weekend. I cannot wait to see everyone again. Also I will be bringing home a friend with me (so the drive won't be so lonely). We should arrive home between 3 and 4 Friday afternoon. We may go to the KHS v. Indiana game @Indiana, and will definitely be in worship for the 10:30 service (6pm too if we can.) Again I'm excited to come home, not only to see everyone, but I also need warmer clothes.

It has been rather cold here in Wilmore. Though I know I have nothing to complain about, for you who are back in PA. We are still about 5-10 degrees warmer than you and maybe even more this week. The leaves are finally changing colors down here and the campus is very beautiful. If I have time tomorrow or if I just need a break I hope to get some pictures of campus so y'all can see them. But for now you will just have to live with pictures of my room and a pictures of the fire we had tonight at the Wilmore campgrounds. (One of the girls from my floor worked there this summer and so invited us out for a fire and s'mores, umm so good.) So here are the pictures:

Sarah's Bed My Bed (notice the Pittsburgh Rug)

My desk and our bookshelves Our sink area



Sarah's Cow (closet) door hanger

Our door (Yes that's my puppy!)
The fire from tonight (fire + s'mores = good night)

Like I said I hope to have more pictures up soon. Maybe even some day a picture of Sarah, my roommate. We'll see. Well until next time (or for most of you next weekend when I'm home) God Bless.

In His Service,

Erica <><

I'm Still Here

Well I have survived my first 3 weeks of seminary. I am still very much loving it here in Kentucky, though if the rain would stop for a few days, that would make things even better. I had my first quiz in Greek last week and I got an 'A' so I was very excited. It was an easy test though. This last week and the week coming up have and will be crazy because I have a lot of reading and assignments coming up. Life has been kinda stressful with all the work but thanks to my great friends, I know that I will make it and all will be good in the end. As always God is in control.

As I wrote in my last post I did attend Nicholasville UMC 2 weekends ago and this past weekend. I believe that this will be my home church. I meet with the pastor, Mike, about a week and a half ago to talk about the church and my calling. It was a great meeting. The first week I attended I went to the 9:30 contemporary service and the 11:00 traditional service. In between services and after the 11:00 they had a ministry fair of all that is going on at the church. I visted with several ministries and that is what excited me so much about the church. It felt very much like Cabot, back home. (We even had to tear down chairs after the 9:30 service to make room for the ministry fair.) I have not gotten involved with any ministries of the church yet, because this is just a time for me to sit back and enjoy, rather than work (outside of my studies). This past weekend I attended only the 9:30 service and went to the young adult Sunday school class. I was the only single person there, which was kinda odd, but no one made a deal out of it. I plan to keep attending NUMC as I said, I feel this is my new church home (though nothing will ever compare to/replace Cabot). In a few weeks they are having their Vision team report on what they feel God is calling the church to. Again a reminder of Cabot.

We have had some really great speakers at Chapel these last two weeks, including again Dr. Tennent, our president and this week Canon Mark Pearson, who spoke on healing and led a healing conference Thursday evening and all day Friday. This conference was great, I learned a great deal about healing, and Canon Mark was very funny. I am looking foward to more healing services and teachings durning Chapel and as other special events through out the semester.

Well I should get back to my reading and numerous assigments this week. I will try to update weekely, but as you can see seminary is a very busy place, so I can make no guarentees. I am looking foward to coming home in a few weeks, foreseeing, any major assigments/weather problems. Until then, God bless.

In His Service,
Erica <><

P.S. I hope to start putting up some pictues of Asbury in the next few weeks. Especially of the John Wesley statue when he is "dressed up." You'll see what I mean when I get some pictures.

Week 1 @ ATS

Well I have made it through my first week of classes at Asbury! Again everything has beat me expectations by leaps and bounds. I know that my classes are going to be hard and will challenge me at times, but I'm looking forward learning about my God. I believe that I have read more pages this week/weekend then I did all summer, and there is so much more where that comes from. I have 3 papers due in the next 3 weeks along with a Greek quiz each week. It will all be worth it in the long run.

This week also started the regular chapel services for the semester. JD Walt, our Dean of Chapel, spoke at Tuesday's chapel. It was an amazing message. He challenged us not to be here to earn a Maters of Divinity, but to be Mastered by Divinity. What an awesome message. Thursday was the Opening Convocation Chapel. We sang two of my favorite hymns, "And Can it Be" (Asbury's "fight song," for lack of a better term) was the opening song, after the Procession of all the faculty and staff in full academic regalia. After the Invocation, Words of Welcome by Dr. Tennent (the president) and Matt Pennington (student), and Scripture reading, Dr. Tennent gave an amazing and inspiring speech on "The Translatability of the Christian Gospel." Everyone that was present was greatly inspired and we have been talking about it ever since. You can hear Dr. Tennent's message at http://www.asburyseminary.edu/chapel/kentucky-chapel/. We ended Chapel with my other favorite hymn: "Here I am Lord." Let me say that I hope the rest of the Chapels this year are as inspiring.

This week I also joined Singing Seminarians. This is the Seminary's choir. I really like Dr. Goold, our professor and can't wait to sing at Dr. Tennent's inauguration later in the semester. I also stopped by AHOP last night. AHOP is the Asbury House of Prayer and a collaborative effort between the college and seminary. It was a great night of prayer and worship and I am looking forward to going more often and some of the upcoming events they have planned during the semester.

I attended the "Offerings" service at First UMC in Lexington last Sunday with my roommate and a friend. Offerings is a contemporary service at First UMC. This weekend I am going to check out Nicholasville UMC (this is where Matt and Allison attended while they were here, if you are interested). I hope to find a church home soon, so I am not jumping around week to week, but this is only my second weekend here, so I'm giving myself some more time.

Well I should get back to my studies, I have about 570 pages of reading left, a quiz to study for, and a paper to write. Until next time. . .

In His Service,
Erica <><

As always keep in touch.

The Real Adventure Begins

Well NSO (new student orientation) is now over, and all of us are officially part of the Asbury community. NSO was great, I got to meet a lot of Asbury students, new and old, and several members of the faculty and staff. Chapel was awesome during those two days with sermons from the President, the Dean of Chapel: JD Walt, and Marilyn Elliott, a Professor. NSO gave me a lot to think about, not only about Asbury but also, seminary in general, and God and my relationship with him. I can't wait to begin my first year as a seminary student. I have made many new friends during this experience and have been involved in several fellowship times, including lunch at the President's house (which is beautiful by the way.)

Now after a 3 day weekend, I am almost to the "real beginning of my adventure." Classes begin bright and early tomorrow morning at 8am. I have already gotten a head start on some of my readings, so as to be prepared for this week. It is intimidating to begin school again after being our for, 4 years, but I know that God has called me to this point in my life and he will help me through it, along with the support of my new friends and the faculty and staff here at Asbury, and of course the support of all my friends and family back home.

As I said before, I will try to keep this as up-to-date as possible, but I make no promises as to how often that will be. If you wish to contact me, you can always email, snail-mail, or call (if you need my number email me, and I'll send it to you).

God Bless
Erica <><

My Seminary Address

I said once I got my address I would pass it so here it is:
Erica Wellner
ATS-SPO #1278
204 Lexington Ave.
Wilmore, KY 40390-1199.

So now you all can send me stuff. Care packages would be great! J/K.

Erica <><

My New Home

Well after a long day of travel and many hours of unpacking, I have made it Asbury Theological Seminary. God has been so good to me the past few days! I have not been anxious about the drive, or my move. He has given me his peace that passes all understanding. This weekend I was very nervous about coming down here and starting classes, but now I am not. I know that I am completely in God's will and hope to bring Him the honor and glory He deserves.
I am not completely settled in yet, I still have a great deal of unpacking to do, but that is why I came down early. I had the joy of sharing dinner with Abbie and Garret tonight. Abbie is a Biblical Studies Major here at ATS and this is also her first year. We will have two classes together. She invited Michelle and I to dinner, for a break from unpacking, and a time to fellowship. It was wonderful, I so love the community here and how those who are also new to the community are so welcoming. I know that God has great plans for me here at ATS and I can't wait to dig into seminary life. I feel very much at home all ready and, will probably feel more at home once I get all unpacked and organized tomorrow. Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. They are truly being felt. Until next time.

In His Service,
Erica <><

Goodbyes and Hellos

This weekend at Cabot UMC we had a Beth Moore simulcast for the women in and around the area. It was such a blessing, not only to hear Beth speak but to serve at one last big event at CUMC during my last weekend of regular attendance there. I will always be a member of CUMC but this was my last time to worship with them for a regular basis (until summer at least). I attended both services (Saturday evening and Sunday morning) to say goodbye to life long friends before I leave for ATS on Tuesday morning. I love my CUMC family and will miss them dearly while I am at ATS.
Now I am packing and trying to organize everything so that it will fit mostly into my car on Tuesday. I can't believe that after so many months of waiting and anticipation, that I'm here. I leave Tuesday! I know that ATS is going to be a great adventure, full of new friends, new places, loads of learning and all new challenges that I could have never imagined before. I can't wait for this new adventure to begin, but I'm still sad to leave behind friends that I have known for so long. :( I know I will see you again and we will keep in touch. I want to you know that you will all be in my prayers, as I hope that I am in yours. I still do not know my mailing address for ATS but I want to give you all my emails: shalomalwys@hotmail.com and erica.wellner@asburyseminary. If you want a phone number that you can contact me at, email me and I'll send you my cell and dorm number. Once I have my mailing address I will post it here for all to see. Please feel free to contact me at anytime and keep me updated with what is going on back home. I love you all and will see you soon.

Erica <><

The Last Year

It is so hard to believe that one year ago I was in Paraguay, oh how the time flies. I was looking back at my journal from that trip and realized that it has been, just over a year since I decided to follow God's plan for my life. This has been a process that has actually taken three years and three different mission trips to finally come to. If you know me you've heard the story so I apologize if this is repetitive. I just can't believe how far I have come in the last year.

So let's go back to Paraguay. This was my first out-of-the-country mission trip. I had been trying to figure out over the past three years where God was calling me in my life, because I knew after my first year out of college that it wasn't teaching. I had gone through choices of youth ministry and missions. And going into this trip I was greatly leaning toward mission work, full-time, but also considering full-time ministry as a pastor. The group I went with included 4 pastors (at least 3 in which ministry was a second career, I don't know about David.) On the trip and in meetings before the trip, I got to know these men very well and heard about their calling into ministry. Well to make a long story short through the work of the Holy Spirit and these men, I realized that God was calling me into full-time pastoral ministry. I will never forget the night that I gather these 4 men of God together after a team meeting in Paraguay and told them of my decision. They were all so very supportive of me and prayed for me and my ministry that night. (I'm tearing up thinking about it.) That was one year ago Tuesday, the 18th.

After I came home I spoke with my pastor, who had been guiding me through this decision for the past 3 years, and together with Matt, I began the process to become an elder in the United Methodist Church. I also applied and was accepted to Asbury Theological Seminary, in Wilmore KY (the best seminary ever, Keith)! I was assigned a mentor earlier this year who has been wonderful. Alyce has brought me through so much and has encouraged me to further my exploration of my call and how God is moving in my life. I could not ask for a better mentor (though her husband is a different story . . . j/k I love Keith too).

This last year has been quite a journey and I could not have made it through without God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and all my wonder friends and family. In just over a week I will be making the move down to ATS to begin my MDiv education and I cannot wait. I will miss my friends and family back home dearly, but I know that God has amazing things planned for me in my time at ATS.

I will try to keep this blog updated as to what I am doing while at ATS, and while I am back home during breaks. I want to thank all of you who have supported me and have prayed for me along this journey and I ask for your continued prayers. God is so good and I can't wait to see how He is going to shape me into the minister that He wants me to be.

Until next time
God Bless,
Erica <><