UC Berkeley Graduation

The following weekend was graduation day for the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley. Ordinarily, I wouldn't care much, but it happens that my sister received her PhD that day! She studied Developmental Psychology and will continue to teach at UCB this year! Here's a picture of her after her graduation ceremony, which was at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. It was such a great day, not only to witness such a momentous occasion in the lives of so many people, but because I'm so proud of my little sis! (Yup, she's younger than I am . . . sigh.)

PLTS Graduation

Saturday May 12th was Graduation Day at PLTS! Here is a shot of some of the graduates and faculty. Among this years 48 graduates were PhD students, MDivs, MAs, TEEM students and others. It was, of course, a wonderful celebration of these students' accomplishments and of God's faithfulness in raising up new leaders for the church and for the sake of the world. (Included in this year's class was my wife, Gwen, an MDiv graduate!)

First Call Colleague Group

I've mentioned in previous posts my First Call Colleague Group. As we reached the end of our mandated period together, my colleagues and I gathered at Domaine Carneros between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys for our final meeting (over wine and hors d'ouvres). The regular meetings with this group has been an important reminder of how much people rely on each other in ministry. We shared joys, sorrows, puzzles, questions, doubts, discernment, struggles, and new beginnings with each other. From the left: Pastor Scott Guemmer, Christ the King in Orangevale; Pastor Katie Hines-Shah, Shepherd of the Hills in Berkeley; Pastor Sharron Lubkeman, Christ in El Cerrito (and our leader); Pastor Jeff Thiemann, St. Matthew in Walnut Creek; Pastor Gabrielle Schroeder, Our Saviour's in South San Francisco; and me.

Dorothy Day House, Berkeley

I was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Dorothy Day House in Berkeley. Check the internet for ways that you can be involved in social ministries in your area.