Seminary Class 2014
I am grateful, honored and humbled to my knees to have found a "path of love" at TOL School for Sacred Living, Interfaith Seminary, which inspired/s my gifts and talents so that I may fulfill my true purpose and function, in service to God, Mankind, Nature, The Universe, The One Love. Thank you Rev. Stephanie for all you have done and all you do. My words alone are insufficient. There was a purpose and a destiny locked within me, and you have helped to set it free. I believe my most venerable gift is to Love and my most venerable purpose is to teach Love. It is what Jesus came to do, to love and to teach love, and to teach us to love one another. Love makes right all things. I have a vision grounded in this Love and unified in purpose, exercising a 'curriculum' that benefits the Wounded Spirits. I cannot do this alone, thus I am looking for other like-minded Brothers and Sisters to co-create this Vision with me. I envision a community with healing arts, creative gardening and inspirational living, a vision of a life that is more affirming, sustainable and spiritually fulfilling. For now I plan to lease a space, continuing my work as a Spiritual Guide, Teacher and Healer, allowing The Impulse to guide me, Extending the Love, Healing the Mind, and Unifying the Spirit. Regina Bolden
The focus of my interfaith seminary experience has been on exploring my path to God as it applies to my life and my life's purpose. We have studied the Sikh, Sufi, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions as they apply to exploring the many paths to one God. Learning mantras, chants, dances, prayer, and meditation practices and incorporating them into my daily practice has assisted me in finding my path to God. Becoming an interfaith minister is, for me, the opportunity to share with the world the love in my heart with anyone who desires to be comforted and held in God's love. It's very personal, but at the same time it's my gift to share with the world. Deborah Cort
A quarter century before I began seminary, my father lay dying and I sat by his side, his witness and aide de camp. Unbeknownst to me, Beloved planted a seed in my heart that night. Two years ago, when my darling sister died suddenly, I didn't realize the seed had sprouted and now sported soft, almost translucent leaves. Today, the fruit hangs, full and pregnant with sweetness, from a branch on the Tree of Life; an interfaith ministry in hospice awaits. All Thanks, Rev. Stephanie! 'Sooner or later, the wound can carry us toward its own remedy, if we only let it.' -Henry Shukman Julia Eddy
I received my calling in April 2012. Over the last two years, I have heard the whisper of the Beloved grow stronger with each class that I shared with my sisters. Watching each of us grow into deep spiritual practices, spreading our wings fearlessly has been a great blessing. Joyous laughter, wrenching tears, faith and trust in one another, deep soul searching, all necessary to uncover our highest true nature and purpose in life. Our greatest blessing during this transformation was the complete unconditional and overwhelming love of our guide and teacher, Reverend Stephanie Rutt. Miigwetch. Thank you for this incredible life changing journey, Ecstatic Cry, Hugs and Kisses. Peggy Marcellino
What an amazing and beautiful journey this has been with my fellow seminarians and our most talented and beloved teacher, Reverend Stephanie. I hope to continue with studies and service that support the spiritual healing of our planet. I believe that in order to heal the planet we must collectively realize that we are not separate - not from each other and not from our natural world - we are ONE." Bonnie McKellar
"From the first day of Interfaith Seminary school, I felt like I was beginning my journey to my whole self. I could hear somewhere deep inside my being, a great big bell that was ringing just for me, calling me to begin my journey home. Home to who I was created to be, and to what I was to do with the gift of my life. These last few years of seminary school has been one of the most beautiful and transformative experiences of my life. My vision for my ministry is to actively, and lovingly help, guide and serve where ever I am stationed. Kristen Melanson
Experiencing the Tree of Life interfaith seminary class with Rev. Stephanie and my classmates for the past two years has truly transformed for me. I've learned how to cultivate the courage to share my writing in the world - "putting my gift on the table while remaining detached from the outcome." We've also had the privilege of studying the ancient Hindu sacred text the Bhagavad Gita, with Rev. Stephanie's luminous book An Ordinary Life Transformed: Lessons for Everyone from the Bhagavad Gita. I feel so blessed to have shared this journey with Rev. Stephanie and my classmates, and it's with a tinge of sadness that I feel this chapter ending, but also a heart full of joy, excitement, and curiosity in anticipation of our next chapter's unfolding. Camilla Sanderson
"We are as the flute, and, the music in us is from thee..." - Rumi. As much as the thought seemed to be mine, for me to be in seminary, inside me an inner smile knows it was the Beloved that turned me toward the Tree of Life Interfaith Seminary Program, As the Crow Flies. To walk the Path of Crow, was to become awake to the music that lives in me, and to become joyFULLy tuned to play the Beloved's songs as the instrument I am meant to be. Seminary was consecrated time for self-discovery, through its teachings and spiritual practice. Awareness and reverence expanded through exploration of other faith traditions. I take the fruit from what has been planted in my spirit, and, go forward to serve in the area of Youth and Interfaith. My heart is full with love and gratitude to Reverend Stephanie Rutt, a shepherd who leads by the sound of her own ecstatic cry, which comes from her devotion and love of God, the Beloved. My Path of Crow sisters have been examples of spirit and soul-teachers. How the Beloved has blessed me! "Our wind whereby we are moved and our being are of thy gift; our whole existence is from thy bringing into being." -Rumi Laurel Van Dyck
The focus of my interfaith seminary experience has been on exploring my path to God as it applies to my life and my life's purpose. We have studied the Sikh, Sufi, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions as they apply to exploring the many paths to one God. Learning mantras, chants, dances, prayer, and meditation practices and incorporating them into my daily practice has assisted me in finding my path to God. Becoming an interfaith minister is, for me, the opportunity to share with the world the love in my heart with anyone who desires to be comforted and held in God's love. It's very personal, but at the same time it's my gift to share with the world. Deborah Cort
A quarter century before I began seminary, my father lay dying and I sat by his side, his witness and aide de camp. Unbeknownst to me, Beloved planted a seed in my heart that night. Two years ago, when my darling sister died suddenly, I didn't realize the seed had sprouted and now sported soft, almost translucent leaves. Today, the fruit hangs, full and pregnant with sweetness, from a branch on the Tree of Life; an interfaith ministry in hospice awaits. All Thanks, Rev. Stephanie! 'Sooner or later, the wound can carry us toward its own remedy, if we only let it.' -Henry Shukman Julia Eddy
I received my calling in April 2012. Over the last two years, I have heard the whisper of the Beloved grow stronger with each class that I shared with my sisters. Watching each of us grow into deep spiritual practices, spreading our wings fearlessly has been a great blessing. Joyous laughter, wrenching tears, faith and trust in one another, deep soul searching, all necessary to uncover our highest true nature and purpose in life. Our greatest blessing during this transformation was the complete unconditional and overwhelming love of our guide and teacher, Reverend Stephanie Rutt. Miigwetch. Thank you for this incredible life changing journey, Ecstatic Cry, Hugs and Kisses. Peggy Marcellino
What an amazing and beautiful journey this has been with my fellow seminarians and our most talented and beloved teacher, Reverend Stephanie. I hope to continue with studies and service that support the spiritual healing of our planet. I believe that in order to heal the planet we must collectively realize that we are not separate - not from each other and not from our natural world - we are ONE." Bonnie McKellar
"From the first day of Interfaith Seminary school, I felt like I was beginning my journey to my whole self. I could hear somewhere deep inside my being, a great big bell that was ringing just for me, calling me to begin my journey home. Home to who I was created to be, and to what I was to do with the gift of my life. These last few years of seminary school has been one of the most beautiful and transformative experiences of my life. My vision for my ministry is to actively, and lovingly help, guide and serve where ever I am stationed. Kristen Melanson
Experiencing the Tree of Life interfaith seminary class with Rev. Stephanie and my classmates for the past two years has truly transformed for me. I've learned how to cultivate the courage to share my writing in the world - "putting my gift on the table while remaining detached from the outcome." We've also had the privilege of studying the ancient Hindu sacred text the Bhagavad Gita, with Rev. Stephanie's luminous book An Ordinary Life Transformed: Lessons for Everyone from the Bhagavad Gita. I feel so blessed to have shared this journey with Rev. Stephanie and my classmates, and it's with a tinge of sadness that I feel this chapter ending, but also a heart full of joy, excitement, and curiosity in anticipation of our next chapter's unfolding. Camilla Sanderson
"We are as the flute, and, the music in us is from thee..." - Rumi. As much as the thought seemed to be mine, for me to be in seminary, inside me an inner smile knows it was the Beloved that turned me toward the Tree of Life Interfaith Seminary Program, As the Crow Flies. To walk the Path of Crow, was to become awake to the music that lives in me, and to become joyFULLy tuned to play the Beloved's songs as the instrument I am meant to be. Seminary was consecrated time for self-discovery, through its teachings and spiritual practice. Awareness and reverence expanded through exploration of other faith traditions. I take the fruit from what has been planted in my spirit, and, go forward to serve in the area of Youth and Interfaith. My heart is full with love and gratitude to Reverend Stephanie Rutt, a shepherd who leads by the sound of her own ecstatic cry, which comes from her devotion and love of God, the Beloved. My Path of Crow sisters have been examples of spirit and soul-teachers. How the Beloved has blessed me! "Our wind whereby we are moved and our being are of thy gift; our whole existence is from thy bringing into being." -Rumi Laurel Van Dyck