AADVENT in the morning First Day!

I am particpating in a wonderful, awesome and spectacular, plus faithful program designed to encourage young adult Asian Americans in discerning God's call in their vocation, secular or church.   AADVENT stands for Asian American Discipleship for Vocational Empowerment, Nurture and Transformation, a Lily funded program based at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.   Every year this program sponsors two events, a weekend event in August and a week-long program called "Taste" of which I am a participant.

TASTE means just that.  All the participants get a taste of seminary, outreach activities in Chicago and different faith sites (for this event we are going to Trinity UCC and Hamdard Center, a Muslim faith community).  In addition we will eat different ethnic meals from Korea, Malaysia, China, Mexico and the Middle East I can't wait!!!!!

The program's community consists of the participants (young adults from different places), faculty (McCormick and other places), mentors (four including me!) and the staff of the AADVENT program all focused on the Asian American experience.

This morning we introduced ourselves using the regular questions:  Where are you from?  What is your role here? and the name of an Asian American who is a mentor but the mentor couldn't be a member of your family.  Of course, my best mentors are my children who teach me so much and has taught me to be a better parent and person...but I couldn't use family.

Angel Magdael is the person I lifted up this morning!!  She is the person that invited my whole family back into the faith.  My father's wife died in March of 1987 and at her funeral, Angel came to pay her respects to my dad and the family.   At the funeral, Angel came up to me, gave me a hug, and then said, "You should come back and visit Trinity"   It was on March 18, 1987 (I remembered because it was Lauren's 3rd birthday)
So Joel and I, dressed up and brought our four children to church.  It was Palm Sunday!!!  As soon as we entered the sanctuary, we were embraced with love and with reception of a long-lost family member.   Joel  felt included in this predominantly Filipino congregation.  After worship, my daughter Deanne asked, "Do they do this every Sunday?" 

Angel's inviation has led our family on a journey one could not imagine!!   Bruce was encouraged to attend Presbyterian events, lead youth group and become an Elder.   I was sent to General Assembly as a commissioner, Presbyterian Women's gathering and Presbytery meetings and committees.  No one could have imagined that Burce or I would be a pastor, Joel and Lauren Elders, Deanne a Deacon (now she's a Catholic!) and Kevin is attend AADVENT this year (Pray!!)

21 years after that first invitation for Angel, Bruce is the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA!!!  and I'm blogging during the AADVENT gathering!!

Thanks be to God!  for the life and presence of Angel Bantillo Magdael!!