My October column for The Bellringer, the monthly newsletter at my internship congregation (St. Peter Lutheran Church in Dubuque, Iowa). Enjoy!
I can barely believe two months have already flown by since I started my internship here at St. Peter! At the same time, I’ve been so welcomed into this place and become involved in so many things that it’s hard to believe it’s been only two months!
In my first two years of seminary, I’ve taken many classes on topics like church history, Bible, worship, preaching, and theology. Many of these classes were wonderful (and if you have an opportunity to take a seminary class, I highly recommend it!), but they always felt sort of “theoretical.”
Doing an internship in a church congregation is an opportunity to put this education into action. There’s a big difference between learning about preaching and actually getting up in front of a congregation. Talking about pastoral care in a classroom is different than getting to go visit people in the hospital.
Part of what’s unique about internship is who it’s for. Internship is for both the intern’s and the congregation’s benefit. I’m here to learn about what being a pastor is about, to learn the practical skills of daily ministry. But internship isn’t just another class. I’m here to do ministry, to be involved and participate in what’s going on at St. Peter.
So after two months of my internship, I want to say thank you. Thank you for welcoming me into your ministry, and thank you for your service to the wider church by hosting an intern.
In Christ,
Daniel Flucke, Pastoral Intern