Discerning God's Delight, Rev. Dr. Mark McIntosh at VTS

I was at VTS the last couple of days and heard two wonderful lectures and two wonderful discussions on the topic of "Discerning God's Delight," given by the Rev. Dr. Mark McIntosh, professor at Loyola University, Chicago and former chaplain to the House of Bishops. His lectures laid out some of his project which includes delving deeply into the patristic and medieval traditions in order to glean a way or a process by which we might discern God's will, and discern God's delight. It was an extremely rich discussion, and I am taking some time to read my notes, and reflect upon it. I am thankful for the opportunity to hear his lecture, to have my imagination and mind stretched by it, as well as by the responses by the Rev. Dr. Kate Sonderegger and Dr. Kathy Staudt, two of my favorite teachers and mentors. I will write more, soon, on this wonderful topic, "Discerning God's Delight," but in the meanwhile, I am so grateful for the time at VTS, and for these great teachers of theology.

What would our days look like if we spent time each day just reflecting on what it is that God's will might be for us each day? What might our days look like if we could embrace the sense that God delights in us!?


~ The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Citizens of two countriies, ... reflections on Ian Markham's sermon

From the Dean's Commentary today, read it HERE.

7/7/2008
Dr. Timothy F. Sedgwick

Friday we celebrated the 4th of July, beginning with a morning Eucharist. To the musical setting “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius, we sang “This Is My Song” with the words, “This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine; but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.”

The Dean, the Very Rev. Ian Marham, reminded us in the sermon that we have dual loyalties. Just as we have special obligations to members of our family while also being brothers and sisters in Christ, so we are citizens of particular countries while called to serve all people. The particular and the universal: it’s a matter of “both-and”.

The relationship between the human city and the city of God is complex. The nation is a school of virtue and yet also but a shadow of our heavenly calling, sometimes a Jerusalem, sometimes Babylon. As a daily worshiping community—now in full session with students in our D.Min. programs and MACE program—we cannot escape the particularity of lives. Our worship itself is particular, even as it both signs and is juxtaposed to the mission of God. It was just right to begin the 4th of July with a Eucharist to celebrate the nation’s birthday under the sign of the cross and in the breaking of the bread.

Dr. Timothy F. Sedgwick

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Virginia Theological Seminary