A LETTER FROM OUR OWN

TOM EKLO

Greetings to all from New York.  As I write, the temperatures are dropping and the wind is blowing strongly from the north.  It is beginning to remind me of winter in Minnesota, which is a good thing.  When you receive this, I will be back in school for my last semester in Seminary.  God willing, I graduate in May.  It is hard for me to fathom where this time has gone.  So many things have happened in these ensuing years, and yet in some respects, it seems like yesterday that Steve and I were sent off with your blessings.

Following a quiet holiday season, January has proved to be a very busy time.  I took my General Ordination Exams in early January.  It is four days of exams that cover seven different subjects of concern (theology, ethics, scripture, liturgy, etc.).  All seniors at all of the Episcopal seminaries take them at the same time, and the exams are then sent off to a central location where a national board of examining chaplains evaluates the exams.  The idea behind the exams is to determine a sense of competency and the ability to integrate information in both academic and practical ways.  Even though grueling in many respects, I found the exercise to be an interesting one, and even profitable in some ways.  I’m just not sure I would want to do it all over again.  It is nice to have that behind me. 

I am also involved in some specialized fieldwork right now.  Since the middle of December I have been involved with a parish in Spanish Harlem.  It is a small congregation with a predominance of African American and Hispanic parishioners.  The services of the church are a combination of English and Spanish, which has been an interesting experience for me.  My “rusty” Spanish has surprised me, for I am actually able to understand more than I thought I would.  I am involved full time at the parish through the month of January, and I am learning a great deal about the workings of a small, culturally diverse parish.  In February I return to my regular fieldwork parish.  But I am very thankful for this unique ministry experience.

Toward the end of February, Steve and I have plans to travel to Israel for about eight days.  It has been a lifelong dream of mine to go.  I entered an essay contest here at the seminary and was awarded the trip, but as you may guess, so much depends on the conditions in Israel and concerns for people’s safety.  If there are not sufficient people signed up for the tour, it gets canceled.  So we wait in hopefulness to hear what happens to those plans.

Steve continues to do well, juggling that life of work and the desire to immerse himself in the life of the seminary as often as he can.  He sends his greetings to all of you as well.  You remain in my prayers always.  I give thanks for your ministry, for Father Mark’s ministry in your presence, and for the love of Christ that each of you bring to each other and to the world.  I hope to see you soon.  Blessings!

Tom Eklo