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 <><