Our own Dennis Ureche is attending seminary at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
Keep looking here for updates on his journey through school.
To send Dennis your comments, thoughts, and prayers, email him at dureche@eden.edu
11/14/08
As I write this there are only three very short weeks (time moves quicker the closer you get to the end of the semester) left in this my third semester here at Eden. So far, it has been a good semester, more reading than the first two semesters and a good deal more writing of small papers.
Eden is trying to move into the 21st century by putting more of our extra reading on what we call electronic reserve. We download the reading assignment to our computers to read. While this in theory this sounds great for me, it means a drag on additional resources. I have a difficult time reading long articles on a computer, so I need to print the readings. I am changing ink cartridges on my printer about every 10 days and I have lost track of how many reams of paper I have gone through. I use 3”, 3-ring binders for readings and notes for each class; I have one class where I have emptied the binder 3 times already.
I registered for spring semester last week. I will be taking Biblical Studies IV, Preaching (I will find out what I have been doing wrong in the preaching I have been doing over the past few years), Constructive Theology and Seminar in Old Testament Theology. My church placement at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo, IL has been going well. I have had the opportunity to do pulpit supply in two small churches (Hecker and Valmeyer, IL). They both told me I could come back, that made me feel good. However, when I told the associate pastor at St. Paul that she said that they say that to all the students.
That is about all from here for now. I hope to get a chance to see everyone over Christmas break. I will be back for about three weeks. I am planning to visit family in Michigan sometime in there, just not sure when yet. And I do plan to spend a little time spoiling Olivia.
Blessings and peace to you all.
Dennis Ureche
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8/11/08
My initial expectation of CPE was that it would be a continuation of my contextual education placement at Bethesda Hospice Care. I was a chaplain intern with hospice for 8 months and I saw my summer at Christian Hospital as just being a continuation of that, having everyone willing to have you sit down and just talk. It has been anything but that.
I guess that is what I get for assuming that being a chaplain is being a chaplain is being a chaplain. The difference for me between here and hospice is the level at which relationships can be built. Hospital stays are very short in comparison with most hospice stays. While working in hospice I was able to see patients many times and develop a relationship, get to know them better. Here at the hospital with the stays being so short, most times, I only see a patient once and then they go home.
Overall, I feel that I settled into the day-to-day routine of CPE just fine. Some days were a little much but most of the jobs that I have had in my life have had their days as well. I did not see this as a job, which I think, is the first time I can say that about anything that I have done for a living. I see being a chaplain or even maybe a pastor as a labor of love. While looking upon this work as a labor of love I need to remember that even in love there will be times when I will feel let down or hurt. Good love is not void of pain from time-to-time. Despite the fact that most patient stays are short (and according to the hospital president, they will be getting even shorter), I enjoyed the interactions that I had with patients and feel that I have made a difference in their day.
The one thing that I think I have learned this summer about is that I fully believe that I have the skills to be a chaplain and would enjoy being a chaplain. One of my goals for participating in CPE was to discern whether chaplaincy was something that I could do and would enjoy doing. I believe that I have found that answer and it is yes.
I enjoyed my time at Christian Hospital. Again the major thing that I have learned this summer was that I enjoy being a chaplain and believe I have the skills to be a chaplain. However, I do not feel that my call is to hospital chaplaincy. The patient stays are to short and do not allow time to get to really know the patients and for relationships to be built. I am a person that likes to get to know someone over time rather than a quick how do-you-do, nice to meet you. I hope to be able to obtain a residency at a senior housing facility, nursing home or hospice agency between year 2 and 3 of seminary. This would give me the four CPE credits that are required for most chaplain positions.
I am still in the discernment process as to whether I am called to parish ministry or chaplaincy. While I have not totally ruled out parish ministry, my experiences this summer have shown me that I would make a good chaplain. As I begin to look forward in my ministry, I think an ideal situation for me would be to be a chaplain and still serve a small rural church where I could serve as a part-time pastor or maybe do just do pulpit supply so that I could still preach occasionally.
School starts again September 2. I am again carrying a full load (4 classes); Biblical Studies 3, Church History 2, Intro to Christian Education and Religion and Healing. Thank you all again for your financial support and prayers for my time here at Eden, there will never be a way to tell you in words how much your support has meant to me. I love you all.
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6/21/08
I received my grades for my second semester. Here they are:
Biblical Studies II: Latter Prophets and Writings: A
Hebrew Exegesis: A-
Context and Call II: Not For Credit
Church History and Doctrine I: Developments and Consequences: B+
Philosophy for Theologians: A
Semester GPA: 3.75
Overall GPA: 3.44
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5/15/08
Wow, I did not realize I had not updated things since late January. Time just got away from me. I just turned in my last paper for this semester. Therefore, if this post rambles it is because I have written 23 papers of varying lengths this semester, four in the last week alone. I might add up how many words that is, but then again that might be too depressing.
My first year here at Eden is done. It has gone all too quickly. It has been an awesome experience. I have learned so much about theology, the church, and especially myself. My 9-month internship at Bethesda Hospice Care was good as well. It was a new experience for me, being a chaplain. It gave me another view of a place where I can use my skills.
I will be back in Wisconsin for a couple of weeks (May 17-31) I hope to see many of you. Then it will be back here to St. Louis to do an eleven-week internship at Christian Hospital as a chaplain. This will be a different look at chaplaincy and one I am looking forward too. I have not yet discerned whether I will seek placement in a church or elsewhere upon graduation in 2010. Although I have had offers from many friends wanting me to take their open pastors position at their church. Patience friends, patience, God is not done speaking to me yet.
Thank you for all your support this past year, monetarily, e-mails, phone calls, and CARDS. My door is almost covered with cards that I have received just in the past two weeks. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to drop me a note.
I will let you know how I did grade wise this semester later this summer. The professors here are very good, just not very timely in getting grades in. I finally got my grade from my January Hebrew class (I got a ‘B’) in late March. So, it might be after July 4 before I get my spring grades. I have registered for classes for fall already. I will be taking, Intro to Christian Education, Biblical Studies 3 (we start the New Testament), Church History 2, and Religion and Healing, the first three are required, the last is an elective.
Graduation festivities start tomorrow. I am singing in the choir twice, worship service at 11:00 a.m. and graduation at 7:30 p.m. Then I will catch a couple of hours of sleep and head home early Saturday morning. I have not seen Diane since mid-February and I have not seen Kelly in about 6 weeks, she and her boyfriend Mark came down for a quick visit in early April.
That is about it from here for now, I need to get busy cleaning, my apartment is a mess. I promise I will try to post more often as I move through the rest of this journey. Please know that mere words alone cannot thank you enough for the support you all have given me this past year. I also know that each of you are walking along this path with me, I feel your spirit all the time.
Blessings to you all.
Dennis
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1/28/07
I wanted to let you all know how my first semester at school went, so here are my grades. I think I did pretty well, don't you?
Biblical Studies 1: Torah and Former Prophets: B-
Context and Call 1: Not for Credit
Theology of Mission and Church: B
Pastoral Theology and Care: A
HIV and AIDS: Theological Issues: B+
Total GPA: 3.25
Hopefully this semester will go just as well.
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12/25/07
As I sit here in McFarland on Christmas morning, I realized that I have not updated my web site since early November. I have finished my first semester at Eden. It was very good, I like them, they like me so they decided that I can come back after Christmas break. It will be a very short break for me; I head back to St. Louis on New Years Eve. I decided to take a class during J-term (J is for January). I have decided that I need to learn Hebrew, so Hebrew class starts on January 2. It will be 3 hours per day 5 days a week until January. Call me crazy! Spring semester begins on February 4.
I do not have any of my final grades back yet. I had a solid ‘B’ going in all my classes heading into finals. As long as I did not mess anything up I should finish with at least ‘B’s’ in all my classes. I ended up writing 18 papers for the semester, with five of those in the final two weeks. This short note is the first thing I have written (other than a few checks) since December 17.
I will be leading worship at McFarland UCC on December 30, 9:30 a.m. If you are in the McFarland area that morning stop in for worship, I would love to see you.
That is about it for now, when I get my grades I will post them for you to see.
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10/31/07
Survived reading week, I was ready to get back to class about Wednesday, wanted my routine back. Did manage to get 5 assignments taken care of (all written things) and a little reading done, still not sure why it is called reading week when all I did was write. Got my exam back in Biblical Studies 1 this morning, got an 83, class average was 81, so I was very pleased. I am on the right track and my failure anxieties are starting to fade. YEAH!! I will be helping to lead the All Saints Day celebration in chapel tomorrow. My first opportunity to participate in the leading of worship here, I am looking forward to it. I will probably get other chances to lead worship in the future since I am one of four first-level reps on the worship council. That’s about it from here, about time for lunch. The Development Department is treating us to lunch today as payment for writing thank you letters (I had to write three) to the donors that make our scholarships possible. Because I am a UCC member I receive a 50% tuition scholarship. Makes school much more affordable.
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10/19/07
I thought that here at about the half-way point of my first semester I would bring you up to speed as to where I am at and where I have to go as the semester progresses. Reading week (which really should be called writing week) starts next week and there are no classes. The idea is that we take the week to get caught up on stuff. While some folks are taking the week and going home (taking books with them), I plan to stay here and do just that.
Everything appears to be going well. I have only gotten one paper back so far, received a “B” on it. Waiting to get a couple of others back, everything feels good though.
I am making lots of new friends. The community here at Eden is amazing. Everybody is looking out for everybody else. It is nice to walk across campus and have people wave and call out your name, maybe even stop for a minute or two and ask how you are doing. Everyone is concerned that the first level students are coping with everything. I have to admit there are times that I am not sure that I will be able to cope! For example I sat down this morning and made a list of the papers that I have to write between now and December 19, I felt that I needed some order right about now. I am beginning to think that getting some order about things was a bad idea. The exercise brought front and center the amount of work that I have left to do this semester. In the next 8 weeks I have 14 papers due! They vary in length from 3 pages to 20 pages. Oh and by the way, there is still reading to be done.
My field placement with Bethesda Hospice Care is going very well. Today I will be doing client visits being shadowed by a hospice chaplain in preparation for going out on my own next week. At this time I will be working with four different individuals. That number may be increased if things are going well.
I had better head out. I miss seeing everyone and worshiping with all of you. I should be home for Thanksgiving and look forward to being in worship that Sunday. Thank you for all your continued support.
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9/1/07
While moving into school, Dennis made a video to show you all just what it's like to live in his world. Check it out!
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8/17/2007
It is very difficult to find the right way to say thank you, mere words do not seem to be enough. But, I will give it a try.
Thank you all for the book fund that you have set up for me here at Eden. Books are very expensive and you gifts will help a lot. Thank you for being there on Sunday as I led you all in worship. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the great loving family that is McFarland United Church of Christ. Thank you for holding me and my family in prayer as I begin to journey down this new road in my life.
But, most of all, thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to venture down this road. I look forward to the journey and will bring each of you along in someway as much as possible. You all are the best!
Peace,
Dennis Ureche
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Recently, Dennis went to Eden to show Diane around, as she had never been there. Please enjoy some pictures from that trip.
