T H E V O I C E O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y

kairoj
kairos
A Weekly Newspaper
Spirituality & Response to Invite Church Meet the Juniors After Seminary Weekly Reflections
Spiritual Disciplines to Write Introductions

As a part of seminary, Middlers Kelly Meet two churches Meet another set of The College of Pastoral Reflections from Paul
we try to develop Updegraff and Tracey which students from Juniors and get to know Leaders and the Dubois, Christian
spiritual disciplines Beadle share their our campus are them as vegetables. Christian Leadership Schmidt and Mary
that can be maintained reflections. involved. Education Department Elizabeth Prentice.
“out there.” Read Page 5 share the potentials for
more about what A Still Page 1-3 Page 4 life after seminary. Page 5
Small Voice does on
campus. Page 7

Page 2

What I learned about Jesus from
a nine-year old Buddhist
Kelly Updegraff is a Middler MDiv PC(U.S.A) student and in the
care of Presbytery of the Pines of Louisiana.
Let's set the scene. The year was 2008. The
place was First Presbyterian Church Shreveport,
Louisiana. The church was buzzing with those three
letters that send pastors into a frenzy during the
summer months. . . .V B S. It was finally here and
At VBS we went our separate ways and the
since I would be leaving for seminary in just one
month, I was determined to be the best drama leader
the church had ever seen. My sister Amy and I piled
into the car, ready to somehow connect faith and the
rainforest, as the curriculum suggested. On the way
we picked up my cousin Molly and her new step-
sister, Jamie.
Jamie was 9 years old and we thought of her
more as a novelty than a new cousin. She, her
mother and older brother had just recently arrived in
the United States from Laos, where she had lived her
entire life. Her English was minimal, and she wore a
fleece hoodie, because she found the sweltering
Louisiana heat to be unbearably cold. Her name
wasn't really Jamie either, it was a name she'd chosen
to sound more “American.” We enjoyed her exotic
looks, her accent, and her obvious wonder at her new
surroundings.
children arrived, ready to hear about our story of the
day, “Jesus and the Parable of the Mustard Seed.”
Jamie enjoyed activities immensely, but seemed at
times, a little confused. Then Molly decided to share
a crucial fact. Jamie was a Buddhist. Her family was
Buddhist and back in Laos everyone she knew was a
Buddhist. She'd never been to a church and
Christianity was an entirely new concept.
© 2009 Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

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Energizers suddenly felt inappropriate. But when
Jamie climbed into the car for the ride home she was
all smiles and talking excitedly about returning the
The answer you give a committee, or in a
next day.
“And when I'm home,” she announced
holding up her souvenir mustard seed, “I will plant
Jesus!”
WHAT? Oh No.
Somehow, “the kingdom of God is like a
mustard seed,” had become, “plant this in your back-
yard to enjoy the spiritual equivalent of sea
monkeys!” This kid had no idea who Jesus was. I
tried to explain.
“No Jamie, Jesus was a man... err...God... Jesus
was part of God. But he's God's son.” Amy slapped
her hand to her forehead in exasperation.
I tried again. “Jesus died. He was murdered.”
Did I really want to focus on death here? I thought. It
didn't seem like the right way to start.
“But he came back to life!” Amy chimed in.
“How'd he do that?” Jamie asked looking
bewildered. “Can we get sno-cones?”
I wanted to yell, “No, we cannot stop for treats
because you are failing to grasp the most important
concept in the world because I am a failure and
going to be the worst pastor ever! And the
admissions office at Austin Seminary is going to find
I bet if Jesus were invited to write for Kairos
out that I can't explain Christianity to a child and
revoke my acceptance letter!!!!” But I didn't.
“Can I still plant it?” She asked.
“Yes, you can plant it and grow a mustard
tree.” I humbly replied.
“Will Jesus make it grow?” She held up her
Unfortunately, I’m still becoming. (γίνομαι
All Things Grow in Christ sticker. I nodded. She
smiled. “Can He make people grow?”
“Yes,” Now we're getting somewhere.“ Jesus
makes us grow in lots of ways. We can grow up but
we can also grow to be better people.” But that was
the end of it, because we'd arrived at her home. She
Which leads me to the whole question of
ran up the driveway and my sister gave me a look.
“You are really bad at that,” Amy laughed.
“It's not my fault! Who doesn't know who Jesus
is?” Umm ...Apparently me.
So my fellow seminarians, what I learned from a 9
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year old Buddhist is that you have to figure out who
Jesus is because one day someone is going to ask.
statement of faith, full of colorful language and rich
metaphors, is not going to cut it for someone starting
at step one. In case you're curious, Jamie is now a 10
year old Presbyterian, and next time I have to
explain to someone who Jesus is, I'm starting with,
“Jesus is proof that God loves us, and this is why.....”
-Kelly Updegraff
The Existence of God:
Confirmed
Tracey Beadle is a Middler MDiv Student under care of the Southwest
Texas Conference (United Methodist).

 It’s times like these when I wish I knew what
it was to live fully into me…newly created in
Christ…who God created me to be. (You know what I
mean, right?) I’d probably have no problem with
dangling participles nor would double negatives
plague me. (Do grammatical errors separate me from
God’s love?)
he’d know exactly the right thing to say and exactly
how to say it. He’d submit an article full of insight
and wisdom, with (if he were particular to our
context) just the right amount of self-effacing humor
to qualify as humility.
for those of you who were in Greek camp.) I’m still
being formed and molded, and it’s yet unclear
whether or not a writer is emerging. Unclear to me,
at least.
discernment. How DOES one discern one’s calling?
As I enter into my second year of seminary I’m
stunned that this issue is not settled. Prior to moving
to Austin, it was enough to know that I was called to
seminary. The question of vocation could wait. It
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took only a glance at my first collection of syllabi to
wonder if I’d imagined the whole thing . . . the very
existence of God.
Fortunately, I was so overwhelmed by the
work load that I didn’t have time to worry about
things like my destiny. I didn’t have time to live in
the future. Unfortunately, this did not mean I’d
become an expert at the spiritual discipline of living
in the present either. I was too far behind for that.
Eventually, (sometime around final exams)
my despair about calling was so caught up in the
whirlwind that is seminary’s first semester, that I
began to wonder if my prayers had been answered
and I’d been blessed with faith. Or, on second
thought, maybe I’d been cursed with apathy. What’s
the difference anyway? Faith and apathy share a
sense of letting go. A sense of not worrying. That’s
what we’re supposed to do, right? Acknowledge the
sovereignty of God and trust? But, once we’ve done
Two weeks ago, like many of you, my sleep
that, what are we supposed to feel? Peace and
apathy do share a lack of anxiety, though apathy
implies a lack of regard that borders on contempt, in
my view. Whatever.
The truly amazing thing…the thing that did
re-establish my faith in, not only the existence of
God, but the nature of God as loving (besides the fact
that Christmas immediately follows finals) is this…I
survived. I made it! And, at this point, I’m not only
referring to the first semester. One whole year
down…AND…I even learned a few things…that I
still remember.
This is where I am so grateful to my Spiritual
God is definitely good! This may not be Direction group. Together we look at our lives and
actual CONFIRMED proof of a living and loving discover in our problems and joys those same small
God, but that’s what faith is all about, right?
-Tracey Beadle
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Some thoughts on Spirituality
and Spiritual Direction
Tina Broadway is the student leaders for A Still Small Voice, the
student group on campus intentional about exploring Spiritual
disciplines. She is a Senior MDiv student affiliated with the
PC(U.S.A).
When I think about Spirituality it has this
amorphous quality to it, a seeming inability to be
defined. Yet in the presence of a Spiritual moment
happening to others, my gut responds with a definite
“Yes, amen!” When it occurs for me, sometimes I can
grasp it and acknowledge God’s good grace in my
life for this moment. It may be a simple recognition
of peace, where a moment before there was only my
anxiety, or an “aha”, as I understand in my gut a
theological truth that previously was only in my
head.
was interrupted by excitement (or maybe anxiety!) at
the thought of a new term with all its challenges and
joys. As I lay there, more clarity came for me about
some of what Spirituality maybe is; challenges/
clarifications/affirmations at specific moments in my
life by the Holy Spirit about my relationship to God,
neighbor and self. These invitations to go deeper in
my walk with God seem to come constantly via all
types of situations and folks. Yet so often I do not
recognize the gentle nudges, or blow them off, as
“Just me” or “Small stuff”. In this I am not paying
due attention to God’s grace for me.
and sometimes big nudges of grace by our loving
God, and can acknowledge and see them for what
they are; encouragements, affirmations and
challenges in our continuing journey with our Lord.
In doing so we learn how to respond thoughtfully to
one another, and in the process establish good
friendships.
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So in this new term, I invite us all to consider three lives of ministers were in all time lows. If they were
things; not dying from obesity or stress related illnesses they
were leaving ministry within the first six years of
1. Maybe joining a Spiritual Direction group. ordination. If they stayed, they were fat, sick,
2. Coming to hear Professor David White speak depressed, and lonely. The needs were bigger than
about what Spirituality is on September 25th, noon- anything a workshop could fix.
1pm in the John Knox dinning room.
Numerous institutions and individuals
3. Paying attention to the “Small stuff.” investigated the changing situation of the church and
ministry. It was apparent that ministers in the
-Tina Broadway
twenty-first century face a new frontier of leadership
for which seminaries and divinity schools cannot
completely prepare them, but no one seemed to
know how to address the identified needs.
Catering to our lives after The Lilly Endowment, Inc. wanted to help the
seminary: church in the U.S. find ways to ameliorate the drastic
problems ministers face. To that end, they created
Christian Leadership Education at Austin the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program. The
Seminary, Part I invitation to participate in this program allowed
Janet Maykus is the Director of Christian Leadership Education and institutions, such as Austin Seminary, freedom to
Principal of the College of Pastoral Leaders. create bold programs that had not been tested. Since
no one had “the” answer to the situation, the
Endowment welcomed “failures” as well as
Christian Leadership Education, Continuing “successes”. No institution was punished if a
education, Life-Long Learning, Leadership program did not gel; it was encouraged to re-
Education, Non-Degree Education, Adult calibrate and make changes.
Education…these are terms used by seminaries and In this hit or miss manner, judicatories,
divinity schools that offer educational opportunities seminaries, divinity schools, retreat centers, and
that are not on a path toward a degree. counseling centers have been working to provide
For decades, these schools approached places of education, recreation, friendship,
continuing education with pedagogies mimicking accountability, spiritual renewal and solace to
traditional classes in degree programs. More likely ministers.
than not, the course offerings were “mini” versions
of semester-long courses taught by beloved SPE is one of the largest endeavors of its sort
professors or well-known experts from far-off places ever created for ministers. In the past seven years
who came to lead a short class, and whom were more than twelve thousand ministers have
certain to draw a crowd. participated in a Sustaining Pastoral Excellence
About ten years ago, the face of theological project. Austin Seminary has been involved in SPE
continuing education changed, abruptly. Across the since its beginning. An innovative proposal
nation, leaders of institutions wrung their hands submitted by Michael Jinkins, Tim Lincoln, and our
wondering where their constituencies went. Classes former Vice President for Institutional Advancement,
were arranged, marketing planned, and fewer and Tim Kubatzky, was accepted in the first round of SPE
fewer people registered. Simultaneously, studies grants the Lilly Endowment, Inc. offered. The most
revealed that the physical, emotional, and spiritual daring aspect of Austin’s proposal was that it gave

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ministers the opportunity to design their own two-
Make time with your peers a spiritual/
year collegial program with the caveat that each
program must address the whole person, not simply
the mind.
What does this have to do with you the M.Div
or MATS student? Everything. By nature of where
you are and what you are doing, you are engaging in
continuing education! During your time here, pay
attention to the ideas that come to mind while in
Numerous CPL members and CPL
conversation with others, while reading a compelling
text, or listening to your professors.
You will be inspired to imagine numerous
“what ifs”:
What if a congregation began a community garden?
What if we had an intergenerational Sunday School
and did not segregate according to age?
What if a youth group created a weekly podcast on a
Your congregations cannot know what you
subject of their choosing?
What if I had a group of people that practiced
Sabbath keeping with me?, etc.
Some of these things you will not be able to
The Christian Leadership Education
pursue while you are in this season of coursework.
But don’t loose those threads. Keep them tucked
away in your mind or in a journal. These threads of
inspiration will prove to be opportunities for creative
learning long after you leave this campus.
Pay attention to your friends. Note who
inspires, invigorates, challenges and amuses you.
These people are flint to your steel. Keep the
conversations alive after you graduate. Most of the
groups in the College of Pastoral Leaders are
comprised of people who live more than two hours
away from one another.
Technology has made distance a mute point.
Groups arrange regularly scheduled chats or Skype
discussions that supplement face to face gatherings.
Belonging to a group of clergy colleagues who hold
one another accountable, who are friends, and who
support each other seems to be an essential key to a
long and meaningful life as a minister. Begin your
intentional times now.
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educational/vocational practice. For those
graduating this year, commit to meet with your
group within a year. If you take a call, tell your
session, board of elders, bishop, etc. that you have
committed to life-long learning and growth and that
you have a scheduled conference once a year with
your clergy peer group, and that this is continuing
education, not vacation.
“graduates” report that they make such statements
when they take new calls. Each one reports a great
deal of fear and trepidation when they state their
commitment and no one has yet to have this
stipulation denied. I am reminded of Stanley
Hauerwas’ statement that today’s ministers are
“quivering masses of availability.”
need to be a vital minister. You must tell them, and
you must follow through.
department at Austin Seminary keeps abreast of the
various ways that today’s leaders of the church find
refreshment and inspiration. The methods are as
diverse as the church. Most of our work is done off
campus…from Maine to Hawaii, and some is
conducted here. Once a month, I will tell you more
about what we know and about what happens in our
department. If you have a compelling interest, or if
you want to talk to a minister in a particular
denomination or someone who lives in a certain area
of the U.S., let me know. Perhaps I can introduce
you to someone doing the work you wonder about
or might find inspiring.
Editors note: The most recent trip APTS supported for pastors was a
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Funded by the Cousins Foundation,
mid-career pastors applied for the trip and then were treated to a
journey of a lifetime. The most common thread among the pastors
was the need for rest. While traveling these pastors got rest,
education, and renewal. Tuck this nugget of knowledge away for your
impending ministry.
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Denver Dolman
Retired and commutes from Elgin.
First United Methodist Church,
Elgin, Texas.
He would be a habanero pepper if
he were a vegetable because they
are spicy. And if he could only eat
one food for the rest of his life it
would be milk.
Lauren Vernon
BA - Political Science, Auburn
University
Preston Hollow Presbyterian
Church, Dallas, TX.
If she could be a vegetable she
would be edamame, because it is
what is inside that counts. The
last book she read was Three Cups
of Tea by Greg Mortenson who is
coming to PHPC in December.
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Becca Weaver Cyrenthia Ellis
BA in Sociology, University of Great Mount Zion Baptist Church,
Colorado, Colorado Springs. Austin, TX.
Central Presbyterian Church, She went to the Inauguration in
Longmont, CO. DC and works at the City of
Austin as a Project Manager.
If she were a vegetable she would
be a tomato because she sunburns
easily. She is afraid of Precious
Moment Dolls, so don’t show her
your collection!
John Stanger Eric Gates
BA - Religion, Schreiner Manchaca United Methodist
University. Church, Manchaca, Tx.
Bethel Presbyterian Church, West He is excited about the growth
Columbia Texas. opportunities while here at
seminary and would take a dog,
If he were a vegetable he would be sunscreen and water to a deserted
brussels sprouts, because he does island. (smart man)
not want to be eaten. He just
returned from India serving as a
Young Adult Volunteer.
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Time isn’t on my side The voices in my head have definitely been talking,
but not just the ones that make me sound crazy. It’s
Christian Schmidt is a Junior MDiv student from Bryan/College been the voices of all those seminarians and
Station and under care of the Unitarian Universalist Church. ministers who had told me to get my stuff together
before I started seminary.
Was orientation really only two weeks ago?
Get your self-care and your support system in order,
Wow. I was pretty certain this semester started a few
they said. Seminary is tough for all of us, they said.
months ago. And my fellow juniors agree, if a brief
Make sure you aren’t left behind when things get
survey conducted very unscientifically a few nights
tough, they said.
ago is any indication. Brittany Harvey seemed to
think it was at least six months ago that school Man, were they right, as much as I hate to admit it.
began, and Bart Smith had his money on six years This is tough. Real tough.
ago.
But I feel like Austin Seminary is the kind of place
In any case, time definitely seems to be a relative where people will pick me up when I’m not feeling
thing when one is starting seminary. my best, where they might carry me when the spirit
or the flesh is lagging a bit on any given day. Abbey,
Of course, I’m preaching to the choir here, right? You
Bart, Brittany, Doug, Eric, Holly, Kaci, Katherine,
folks out there remember this, don’t you?
Sudie, etc., I’m talking to you here, and thanks be to
You remember reading 200 pages a night, writing a God for you and for all of the other people who have
paper on soteriology, talking a friend through a supported me in these first two weeks and who will
personal struggle, going to two club meetings, continue to support me for the next three years. (And
working four hours, cooking a gourmet dinner and especially thank Mom and Dad. I couldn’t have done
practicing guitar/cello/piano/singing in the this without you.)
evening, right?
So OK, these first couple weeks have been a blur, a
We’re all superheroes here, after all. blur in which I’ve fallen far short of the ideals I had
in mind. I’ll try to do better.
At least, that’s the assumption I was working under,
in the back of my mind, anyway. The idea that I May God grant me the strength me to do better, to be
might just be another lost soul making his way in more compassionate in community, to devote myself
this existence, well, that was slow to set in. more to my friends, to allow me time for both my
classes and my community, to give thanks for my
Well, friends, reality is coming fast now. A few days limits and rejoice that in the both the gifts I have and
ago, I told a friend that she was doing too much in those I don’t, that I may more clearly live as I should.
her life and not taking time to take care of herself. Amen.
Her time was occupied entirely in taking care of
other people, even to the exclusion of herself, I said. - Christian Schmidt

Hypocrisy, thy name is Christian Schmidt. It’s not as

if I’ve been doing some fantastic job taking care of
myself. My workout regimen – in theory, it’s three
times weekly, with my exercise partner spurring me
on -- has fallen by the wayside, as have some of my
daily spiritual disciplines.

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Church
Introductions
Grace Presbyterian Church • Small groups meeting Mon., Tues., Wed. and
Thurs. evenings or Fri. mornings (pick
Round Rock, Texas the day you want to come and join us!)
Grace Happens--Whether you are a student, staff, or • Emmaus reunion groups
faculty of APTS, if you have not yet found a church • Youth group activities after Sunday worship
to call home while you are in Austin, Kevin and I and on Wednesday evenings
would like to invite you to visit our church.  Grace • Praise Band practice Wed. evenings
Presbyterian in Round Rock is relatively young--we
were chartered in 1999. We follow a traditional Opportunities for service through
reformed order of worship, but a praise band leads • Stephens Ministry
us in (mostly) contemporary music.   Our pastors • Round Rock Serving Center
(both APTS graduates)--Nancy Reeves and Mark • Trinity Nursing Care
Tarrant--encourage and nurture lay leadership and • Angel House
lay participation in all areas of our congregational
life.   Dress comfortably and don't expect to blend
into the scenery or be a wallflower.   Even though Journey Imperfect Faith
we've grown to almost 300 members, there is still the Community
family feel about our congregation.   Although our
An open, inclusive, eclectic, artistic, and
church is in Round Rock, we participate in serving
experimental faith community that centers itself on
meals and distributing clothing and other essentials
the Great Commandment to love God and love
to homeless men through Angel House in east
others with our whole selves.
Austin.

Sunday Worship: 8:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.

Grace Presbyterian Church is only 25 minutes away
Bible Study/Discussion Sunday: 9:30 a.m.
(at 1705 Gattis School Road in Round Rock), and the
Located at: 3009 Industrial
Joneses will give you a ride if you'd like.
Terrace, Austin, TX.

Check out http://www.gracepresrr.org/ for more

Visit http://journeyifc.com/ or
info about our church.  Call 512-473-8553 to chat with
contact the church at (512)
Kevin and Mari Lyn Jones about Grace.
439-7410 or
sbaldwin@journeyifc.com for
Grace Presbyterian Activities:
more information (or talk to
Weekly
Mike Clawson or Laurel Dixon).
• Sunday worship services at 9 am & 11 am
• Sunday School for all ages  10:10 - 10:50

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What I Learned at My SPM
Today:
Free Food
Paul Dubois is a Senior MDiv student completing his SPM at
University United Methodist Church in Austin. He is under care of
the Southwest Texas Conference.
If there’s a sure way to get someone’s
attention, it’s to offer free food; the seminary
announcement of free barbeque following Manna on
Wednesday was graciously received. While walking
from the church where I work towards campus, I
began to ponder free food, and in the last few
months I’ve had some experience in offering free
On Friday, September 11, 2008, for the second
food.
So I got to campus just in time for the lunch,
and already the line stretched across half of the
dining hall. As with many things, the time of
preparation is to be enjoyed as much as the food.
The time in line was the appetizer, being present to
friends, chatting, smiling, and laughing. Spying new
faces. It’s about more than just the food. And at the
table I met three new friends, new students just
beginning an adventure that I am winding down.
The food was good, but it’s about more than just the
food.
Food so often seems to be a catalyst, an
As each Saturday morning unfolds, I thank
impetus for gathering, something that is shared and
enjoyed, and out of which community is born,
nurtured, and nourished. Of course, essential
nutrients are found in food (good food, at least), and
so food is necessary for the physical health—for life
—of the individual. And I suspect that it is because
of this nexus between the physical and communal
importance of food, that food is also a spiritual
necessity.
During Lent of 1991 or so, a Sunday School
class at University UMC began a project. I can’t
speak for why the project was undertaken, but
members of this class decided that on each of the six
Saturdays of Lent they would prepare sandwiches
for homeless persons. They fed about 35 people each
week. On first glance, one might think that the
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primary emphasis of the project was to serve people
in need by providing food. But another need was
discovered—the need for the class members to serve.
In the encounter between those who are hungry and
those who have the means to alleviate hunger, the
reality of our connectedness to one another in Christ
was realized. It was a physical reality, a spiritual
reality, and a communal reality. It was more than a
Lenten service project; it was a calling, a calling
centered on the sharing of food. Last Saturday, after
18 years, the heirs of this simple Lenten service
project served 441 meals and provided free clothing
to 121 people. It was a typical Saturday, albeit a little
on the light side.
time in three years, Central Texas Muslimaat (an
organization providing a collective voice for Muslim
women, dedicated to promoting the Islamic values of
community, charity, education, and peace http://
www.ctmaustin.org/) used our church’s fellowship
hall to serve an Iftar, the feast that breaks the
Ramadan fast, to more than 200 hungry people. The
sharing of food became an encounter not only
between those with and those without, but also
between people from different cultures and faiths.
It’s about more than just the food, especially on that
date.
God for the privilege I have been given to do this
work, to be present in this place, and to be humbled
by so many of God’s children. One of my favorite
things to do on Saturday morning is to stand by the
busing station at lunch time and receive the dirty
plates. It’s a position where I can serve yet also
observe. This whole work of Saturday morning
involves the coordination of a couple dozen ‘church’
volunteers, but also a dozen or so regular ‘guest’
volunteers (for it is their work, too). It involves the
purchasing of food. It requires that we remain
flexible and able to respond quickly to problems—
everything from personality conflicts (more often
than not among the volunteers!) to a botched batch
of food. Two meals, breakfast and lunch, are
prepared, and between the two there’s a big push to
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get the kitchen ready for the next meal. Saturday
“Oh, so are you a student?”
morning borders on chaos, usually in a good way,
I paused. This is always the moment I debate
but not always. From my busing station I am always
amazed at how easy it is to serve people, to feed
them, to see them as children of God, to see them as
my brothers and sisters, and to see myself as really
no different, just, perhaps (and this is debatable),
more fortunate. It really is easy. And it is about
more than just the food.
-Paul Dubois
Extensions of an Olive Branch
Reflections about Unity and Peace
“I am a student at Austin Presbyterian
Mary Elizabeth Prentice is a Senior MDiv student and Candidate for
Minister of Word and Sacrament under care of Grace Presbytery.
“You can’t have long days there can you?” he
This week I celebrated the one year
anniversary of my first shoulder surgery (on my
right side). Sadly enough I am still doing physical
We continued through our exercises and he
therapy; however, it is the left shoulder that is being
rehabilitated. I am a regular at Physical Therapy and
they joke about how large my chart is, but after a
year how could they not! So, I was at PT on Tuesday
and my regular crowd wasn’t there, partly because I
normally go at 7:15 a.m. Since school started I have
had to change to the afternoon, so I am getting use to
I walked away reflecting on my experience.
the Tuesday afternoon crowd. There were four of us
shoulder patients and each was doing the exercises
on the heels of one another. I was on the arm bike,
pushing away and “Doug” came up and started his
exercises on a machine nearby.
We compared surgery stories, laughed about
I realized once again it is the tension that we
how idiotic we look at drive-thru ATMs because our
left arms just can’t quite make it out the window to
the buttons. We empathized with each other about
the pain we had been through and then it was on to
how we injured our shoulders.
My time was done on the arm bike and I
moved over to the pulleys. Shortly he followed. My
therapist, Smokey (yes that is his name), asked why I
was being quiet and I told him it had been a long
day of classes. Doug pipes in “Are you a teacher?”
“No.” I replied. (I think he was trying to
assume I was older than a UT student).
W W W . A U S T I N S E M I N A R Y. T Y P E P A D . P O R T A L / K A I R O S . H T M L
internally every time I am asked by a stranger what I
“do.” Do I extend the olive branch and inform them
of my studies or do I cop out with an answer like
“I’m in ‘life’ insurance” or “I study ancient
languages?” You never know if you are going to be a
conversation killer or enter into confession time. (I
remember specifically being at a bachelorette party
and I was asked the same question. Suddenly the
party became confession about how often people did
not attend church and looked to me for forgiveness.
Talk about buzz kill!) But I decided to go for it again.
Theological Seminary.” I replied.
exclaimed. I laughed and said, “You can have long
days anywhere!”
became more jovial. Since our injuries are different
he can do things I cannot and I can do things he
cannot. He was jealous of my range, I was jealous of
his strength. I got the special shock treatment, he did
not. In the end he had help lift my mood and I am
sure next week will be another entertaining hour.
My extension of an olive branch made a “friend” of
sorts out of a stranger. We connected in sharing the
commonality of shoulder rehabilitation and will
meet each other again (Next Tuesday at 3:15 to be
exact). But I also questioned why I hesitated.
live in that made me pause. As ministers (or
ministers-to-be) we live public lives, but also need
privacy. As ministers we want to help others, but
also must maintain boundaries to take care of
ourselves. As ministers we enter into situations of
anxiety and are called to be a non-anxious presence.
This is the tension we are called to enter into. This is
the church.
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 ISSUE 186
News from the
community
Congratulations are in
order for:
Senior MDiv Student Dedurie Kirk will be
licensed to preach at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist
Church on Sunday, September 20, 2009 at
6:00pm.
Next time you see Dedurie tell her
congratulations!
2008 graduate Jonathan Murray (MDiv 2008)
accepted a call as designated pastor to St.
Paul Presbyterian Church in Needville, Texas
beginning October 1st.
Matt, Lauren and Lucas Falco would like to
announce that they are expected an addition
to their family in March. Baby Falco will be
arriving just in time for Spring Break!
Congratulations to the Falcos!
W W W . A U S T I N S E M I N A R Y. T Y P E P A D . P O R T A L / K A I R O S . H T M L
Kairos Guidelines
Editorial Guidelines
1. Kairos is the voice of students at Austin Seminary.
2.Kairos generally carries no advertisements for sale of goods
or services by individuals. An exception is the sale of a
student or professor’s library or other study aids.
3.It is not possible to make all program announcements which
are submitted by individual church. Kairos is more likely to
be able to run announcements which apply to ecumenical or
interfaith groups or groups of churches.
4.No letters which attack individuals or groups will be run in
Kairos. This is to be distinguished from letter which might
criticize the actions of individuals or groups.
5.Kairos will publish letter to the editor that contribute to
Christian conversation on the APTS campus. All letters must
be signed.
Submission Guidelines:
Email submissions to the editor, Mary Elizabeth Prentice, at
kairos@austinseminary.edu. Editorial decisions are based on
urgency, availability of space and editorial guidelines.
Deadline is Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Submissions made after
the deadline must be accompanied by a dunkel or a bribe.
APTS Choir
The APTS Choir is a group of students and faculty
who join together to proclaim God's love through
song. The group is open to all who love music and
would enjoy having a musical outlet for worship--
no previous choral experience is necessary, we
welcome all who love to sing! We practice once a
week in the chapel and prepare songs to share
during chapel worship. We seek to use our musical
gifts during special times of the liturgical year such
as the Service of Lessons and Carols and the Easter
Vigil.   We are looking forward to hopefully being
under new direction this year as Carol Tate takes
over as organist and choir director. Meeting times
are TBA. contact Caitlin Thomas if interested.
(caitlin.thomas@austinseminary.edu)
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ISSUE 186 W W W . A U S T I N S E M I N A R Y. T Y P E P A D . P O R T A L / K A I R O S . H T M L

Campus Happenings
Chapel Volunteer Flu Shots offered by
Opportunity Seminary
Schedule
The annual Alumni Phonathon is The seminary will be bringing in
Monday, September 21: coming and you can make it a people to vaccinate the
11 a.m. Daily Prayer success by volunteering a little bit community for the flu season.
of your time.   You’ll be calling Shots are $25 and all members of
Seminary graduates and the community, including family
Tuesday, September 22:
encouraging them to make their are welcome.
11 a.m. Rev. Dr. John Ahn annual gift to support the
Date: Friday, October 16, 2009
Seminary.  We offer free food and
The Lord s Supper & a
drink and fellowship for Time: 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
Reflection on the Psalms
Phonathon volunteers, too.

Wednesday, September 23: Student Body

Community Wide Manna
Tuesday, September 29 Meeting
5:30-8:30 p.m. A student body meeting will be
Thursday, September 24: held Wednesday, September 30,
Wednesday, September 30
11 a.m. Daily Prayer 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (during Manna)
5:30-8:30 p.m. Student Representatives to Faculty
Monday, October 5 Committees will make reports and
the Senate will report on its
5:30-8:30 p.m. activity.
Tuesday, October 6

During the day

Manna From
Wednesday, October 7 Heaven... or, Manna
5:30-8:30 p.m. from the community.
All calling takes place in Trull.
Senate asks for students, faculty
Friday, September 25: RSVP to Sandy Wilder at 404-4806 and staff to bring refreshments to
11 a.m. Chapel Open for or swilder@austinseminary.edu to Manna on Wednesdays. Sign up as
Prayer let us know which time(s) you can an individual or sign up as a
help. group.  Look for the large Post-It
Next week senior sermons Board in Stotts and choose a
begin! Watch here for the Wednesday.
schedule and come support
our seniors.

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