tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post8279930311230612968..comments2024-03-18T07:35:21.596-04:00Comments on Sunday Women: If You Don't Have a Seminary SisterhoodMeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084741256488042140noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-45283140431174359472013-06-29T23:35:29.536-04:002013-06-29T23:35:29.536-04:00I was at GA as well last week. I was a single cou...I was at GA as well last week. I was a single counseling student in seminary and met my husband at RTS. After 10 years out of seminary, I finally had the joy of feeling more connected to a group of ladies, but the group looks different every year. I got close with ladies I barely knew at seminary this year and by the end of the week felt very full from the fellowship. <br /><br />I met ladies that had been in ministry for 20 years and encouraged me. I met them at the RTS brunch and chatted on facebook late one night and know I have some new friends. It seems like going to things like GA are to be encouraged, encourage, see old friends and make new ones. Every year if you just make one friend, it will bless you.<br /><br />I have felt lonely at GA and struggled seeing friends seem closer to one another, but it is amazing how close you feel to another pastor's wife even in one conversation. Go to GA or your own denomination's meeting if you can. Pray God will provide you with the fellowship you need. I hope to go next year as well and meet many of you!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831654063812215186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-88551934650328398182013-06-25T19:45:04.294-04:002013-06-25T19:45:04.294-04:00I, too, was at GA last week and felt as you did, s...I, too, was at GA last week and felt as you did, since my husband went to a non-PCA seminary. It was my first General Assembly. I did have a nice time; however, it would have been great to meet you. I appreciate your blog!Kim S. in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09584552884243184097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-88220709210592459872013-06-24T22:13:28.671-04:002013-06-24T22:13:28.671-04:00Thank you Megan! It was good to meet you and agai...Thank you Megan! It was good to meet you and again, I so appreciate you and your mother's blog! I'm always encouraged and challenged.Allegranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-55131913760006029972013-06-24T15:14:34.560-04:002013-06-24T15:14:34.560-04:00No, you didn't sound crabby! You're absolu...No, you didn't sound crabby! You're absolutely right that not everyone's experience of things is the same. And actually, for those of us at events (like GA) reuniting with friends, it's good for us to be reminded that we should be aware of others and not just stick to our comfortable circle of friends. There are probably MANY wives at events like that who aren't so connected. And really, any pastor's wife could use more connection..whether in a well populated area with many like-minded churches around, or out in the middle of nowhere. That's part of why I love your blog! It helps me feel a little more connected with other PW's! :) Not to mention the challenge and encouragement<br /><br />Glad you're already connecting with a seminary wife! thebradirickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05924717665028787251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-39046885633233395232013-06-24T14:23:16.512-04:002013-06-24T14:23:16.512-04:00Oh, I really hope this post didn't sound crabb...Oh, I really hope this post didn't sound crabby. I didn't mean it that way at all. Seminary is such a blessing to so many women; I just realize after several General Assemblies that not every woman comes in the same way with the same pre-existing support system. I want these women to know they aren't the only ones.<br /><br />And thanks for the encouragement--just yesterday I made plans for a weekly mentoring date with a newlywed seminary wife who will be (yep) working as a teacher.<br /><br />Looking forward to that heavenly reunion, for sure!Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084741256488042140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-68914118310662055792013-06-24T14:16:03.174-04:002013-06-24T14:16:03.174-04:00Being a part of the PCA and having the opportunity...Being a part of the PCA and having the opportunity to go to a General Assembly where there are classes, luncheons, childcare/activities for the kids, worship services to attend, etc. is a huge blessing! Not all denominations have something like that. You know me Megan, and you know we were there at RTS for 4 years. I recognize that the time we had there, and the opportunity I had to make such dear friends, is also a huge blessing!! I will always treasure the friendships developed during that time! But now that we are no longer in the PCA, since we switched to OPC, I no longer have the opportunity to attend GA (and it's especially difficult to feel connected with others in ministry in general...even though I only had a handful of friends there, it still felt great to see that we were a part of such a large group of people serving the Lord in ministry). That was actually the saddest thing to me when we made the switch! I had the opportunity to attend and experience one GA like you described above. I reconnected with some very dear friends, re-connected with acquaintances, attended classes where I was enriched spiritually and in my zeal for ministry. The whole experience was just fantastic! I'm sad I won't get to experience that again! I have names of friends in my head right now who I may not get to see again...until glory.<br /><br />I'm glad for the points you shared of the things you learned from your experience. It's true that seminary friendships are not the only ones that can be special. I'm so thankful for having met you during that time. It was during our first (and hardest) year there, and in just the little bit of time we spent together in the nursery I learned a lot from you. And I regret not calling you after seeing you at Chick-Fil-A. I would have loved for our friendship to develop further...even though we were about to move away to begin our post-seminary ministry.<br /><br />I especially like the point about "going back to seminary"! I would encourage you to see how the Lord would want you to get involved in some way in ministering/reaching out to the seminary wives there. I was able to regularly attend the Thur night meetings there, and the times we loved the most were when pastor's wives came to share with us, or when it was a pastor's wife who spoke at our retreats! One time a local pastor's wife, who had spoken to our group once, invited us over to her home for a time of Q&A about ministry. You would be a blessing to those women, in whatever way you chose to reach out to them!!<br /><br />thebradirickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05924717665028787251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-76323988366561590732013-06-24T13:04:44.584-04:002013-06-24T13:04:44.584-04:00I would love to meet you!I would love to meet you!Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084741256488042140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-86563068421173473182013-06-24T13:00:11.427-04:002013-06-24T13:00:11.427-04:00I was at General Assembly last week as well. My hu...I was at General Assembly last week as well. My husband was ordained in the PCUSA, so all of our seminary friends are still in that denomination or on the mission field or serving with Young Life. I made a few (2-3) friends at a Pastor's Wife Retreat through the EPC 2 years ago. At GA, I reconnected with them. I am also getting to know some other Pastor's Wives whose husbands are friends with my husband here in our presbytery. Slowly, but surely, my circle is growing. If you're going to GA in Knoxville next year, let's connect! We can count each other in our friend's list :-)pwrunnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09386403253267246222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-1130871067783385502013-06-24T11:44:57.066-04:002013-06-24T11:44:57.066-04:00This is applicable for all sisters who were not pa...This is applicable for all sisters who were not part of the "bonded group" wherever they are. As a later comer to our church, my kids did not "grow up" with the kids here--so they find it easier to seek out friends from other 'non-bonded' ones. This does bless new visitors, though, and God uses it.Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03210306478108513530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-68568675702331849542013-06-24T10:43:12.286-04:002013-06-24T10:43:12.286-04:00Amy, that's a fabulous idea. I can see the re...Amy, that's a fabulous idea. I can see the registration form now: "Non-seminarian wives are invited to a luncheon on Wednesday. Cost $10. Please do not bring a friend." :)Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084741256488042140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-39588779067725523122013-06-24T10:35:15.827-04:002013-06-24T10:35:15.827-04:00I completely know what you are talking about! My ...I completely know what you are talking about! My husband did seminary years ago in Charlotte, NC while we lived in Raleigh...he would either go for compressed week long classes or bring the professors to him to teach a class over weekends. I never set foot on the campus. The women I know are only through my husband's relationships. Maybe we could start a sisterhood of non-seminarian wives? Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182484808034691598noreply@blogger.com