One of the best experiences I've had in these last three weeks was my trip to Bexley Hall. I am going to copy out what I wrote in my paper journal on the second morning...
"I gave up my keys to Trevor/Eaton Hall, and put my carry0on in the car; then I discovered it is only 6:30 a.m.! So I'm in the lovely refectory in Strong Hall, looking out over the southern tier mountains across the valley. The seminary sits on the highest hill in the area, and the view is spectacular.
"It's a beautiful, soft spring day. The budding trees give a delicate pastel wash to the surroundings. Spring colors are so fragile, they take your braeath away. It was an easy drive up here. I wonder how long b efore I tire of it?! Probably definitely in the snow, especially if next winter is anything like last winter.
"B.P. was her usual gracious self yesterday. We talked for a bit, then she gave me a tour of Strong Hall. This is the building that houses classes, the Chapel, and a magnificent library. CRDS combined Colgate, Rochester, Crozer (Martin Luther King's Seminary), Bexley Hall, and St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Institute--the schools and their respective libraries. They also have access to all of U of R's library, as the catalogs are combined.
"I attended chapel with B. and Lorna Williams, who was to be the speaker for the Anglican Formation class later that evening. I had met her when was she Canon at the Cathedral and Chaplain for the Campus Ministries.
"The music was incredible and we sang Evensong. After Chapel, I attended the class, and enjoyed Lorna's description of her experiences in a large church on a huge college campus. I was reminded by B. that Lorna has several prayers in "Women's Uncommon Prayers."
"At the end of the class, Compline was sung around the huge table. Afterwards there was a "sing-along" in the auditorium of all the music from "Sound of Music", for the whole school. Several people came in costume and "competed" for some light-hearted prizes (a strudel and some Swiss chocolate). The highlight was to see the rather stiff Dean of Bexley show up with two other staff in nuns' habits. He sang all the "Mother Superior" parts...very well, I might add. It was a fun evening and I met a lot of very friendly people. B. hastened to tell me that this was an unusual evening. Too bad!
"I am such an early riser, I may find myself at this refectory table often when I'm enrolled here. The thought of going to school again is exciting to me. And I'm looking forward to having a couple nights a week here. I have never stayed in a dorm before, but I guess it's never too late for new experiences."
Rereading the above, I am excited all over again. One of the highpoints for me is the community worship opportunities. From 5:30 p.m. on Monday night to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, I attended 5 worship services! Four of them were Episcopalian and one, an all-school worship, was Presbyterian. I also really like the fact that our classes have Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and us "pesky-pale ones" in them. It is a very ecumenical campus, with a strong track of Black Studies, and Women's Studies. And all the classes are very small.
Life will be good, and intellectually and spiritually challenging, in that small, "commuter " seminary! Thanks be to God. Amen
7:20 PM
Home from the trip to M's First Communion, tired, but happy. I finished rereading "The Screwtape Letters", by C.S. Lewis, read Henri Nouwen's "The Genesee Diary", and nearly finished "Thomas Merton, Essential Writings," by Christine Bochen, on the trip.
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