It is hard to believe that it has already been two years since you sent me off to seminary with a copy of The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. John and Jennifer were right – it has come in very handy, and your signatures have provided me with a very tangible link to home when needed most.

I had a busy but largely restful summer. I attended the Preaching Excellence Conference at Villanova in June. I worked at various times in the Admissions Office, the Center for Christian-Jewish Studies and Relations and in the library here at school, sat on the lawn and read books and engaged in my latest diversion, “Suduko” puzzles, and played tourist in New York City.

Of course, one of the highlights of my summer was coming back to Rhode Island in July and preaching at the Old Narragansett Church. It was wonderful to worship with you once again, to touch base with old friends, and to see new faces.

Now I am geared up for my senior year at the General Theological Seminary. I have been busy buying books and other school supplies and getting my cassock and surplice cleaned and pressed in anticipation of leading Morning and Evening Prayer in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

Thank you for your contributions to my “book fund.” And thank you for your continued thoughts, good wishes, emails, and most importantly, your prayers. Please know that you are daily in mine.