DMin Coursework Year Uno

I just returned from California where I began my Doctor of Ministry course work at Fuller Theological seminary. I will go to CA once a year for 3 years where I will have class with the same cohort. It was a gift to be in the classroom again, and to be surrounded by people who are serious about youth and family people (the DMin I am working on is in Youth, Family, and Culture). I have a few (not many considering how many pictures I normally take) pictures to show you from the last two weeks.

The first picture is of the cohort. This was taken on our very last day of class. As you can see I was one of only two women in the cohort...

Since I finished my Masters of Divinity, Fuller has done as massive renovation to their library. It will definitely make spending time in the library more enjoyable. I did find it ironic though that they didn't update the copy machines...I guess that wasn't in the budget?

The majority of the students in the cohort stayed in the Fuller Guest Center. I had the privilege though of staying with some good friends who live just outside Pasadena. That meant that every day after class I was greeted by this smiling face.

Over the weekend I found a run to do in order to get out some energy - the Coto de Caza Endurance Runs. While it was supposed to be rainy all weekend, it actually ended up being a beautiful day for a run!

It was an incredibly hilly, challenging course, but it was fun just the same.

And it's always fun to get a medal for completing a challenging course!

Later that day I had free time (since it was the weekend) so I went off to explore the Saddleback Church campus with my friends Mike and Becca. It really was a campus. and they had everything! There was a reserved parking space not just for Rick Warren but for his wife as well.

And what's a weekend pastor?

One of their newest additions (within the last two weeks) is their "fitness course." I guess they are on a new fitness kick. A diet has been designed just for members of their church and Rick Warren has pledged to lose 90 pounds. When we were there he had already lost 21. So as a part of their fitness challenge they installed this new fitness course.

I'm curious how many people actually use it...

Though I know we had fun playing on it.

After we played on it for a bit, we went off to find their main worship sanctuary...

equipped with stadium seating and

outdoor overflow seating.

This was the first of two baptismal pools we discovered.

We had a great time exploring the children's play area.

I thought the stair way fountains were pretty (though I was pretty sure if we stayed there too long we would have been kicked off)

Sunday morning I had the chance to worship at Calvary Presbyterian Church. It happened to be Confirmation Sunday, which was really cool for a couple of reasons. It was the first time Rev. Becca Bateman had done a baptism, so I loved being there for that.

And one of the former SMCC youth was there being confirmed, so I got to see him and his siblings (though I felt very short seeing them...).

One added bonus of being in CA during those two weeks was that Hillsong United happened to be there and doing a concert at the Staples Center.

It was an amazing concert and just a wonderful time of worship.

Wonderful two weeks!