Chapel Worship

That hallmark of senioritis: I preached in chapel today -- climbed the 6 steps into the pulpit (I thought there were more!) and preached from 1 Cor. 1:3-10. Trying to encourage the insular community to be loving and forgiving to one another. Got good feedback. Not really nervous while I was doing it, but aware of a little stuttering or skipping over words. Felt I was good with eye contact, and had them laughing a few times. Was intentional about having diversity share the worship experience with me -- age, gender, race. Beautiful music, clear and emotive scripture reading by Beth, youthful and exuberant and self-conscious prayer by Marcus. God was in that place -- worship felt really worshipful.

Chapel kind of sparsely attended, maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full -- but that's OK -- saw some smiling faces and was generally in good voice. It's the week after mid-term break so people are still studying and writing papers. Special thanks to Michael and Kathryn and Chi Yi for great music! And it was fun to see who came up to greet me and say kind words after: Jen, Christine, Larissa, Nkansah, Nolan, Katie, Erin, Marianne, Buri, I can't remember them all -- got some supportive emails and comments in classes after, too.

Felt nervous before -- counting the hours, thinking what I would wear, looking forward to it being over.... Felt pumped afterward, but did not spend as much time "replaying" the event as I thought I might -- good I was settled enough after to get some reading done before my next class. Now need to go work on my Bonhoeffer paper due Weds. Yet another hurdle of my seminary career jumped through!