Natalia Pierson
What is your favorite memory of your time at LSTC?
My favorite memory of my time at LSTC is all the times that I spent time with my neighbors and classmates. From watching the Grammys/Super Bowl/the election results, to worshipping together for dinner church, or game nights, I am thankful for the community that supported me.
What was the most meaningful class you took?
The most meaningful class I took at LSTC was Intro to Worship. I appreciated the space to co-create a Holy Week worship service with my classmates and even used parts of the liturgy during my internship.
How did you feel supported during your seminary journey? Were you the recipient of any major scholarships? What communities or people uplifted you during your studies?
My time at LSTC was brief as I completed my Lutheran Year, while completing a CPE residency. I felt supported by the other students, my professors, and my fellow CPE residents. I received Wilbert and Marjorie Thiel Scholarship, which made it possible for me to complete this degree. In addition, Holy Trinity in the Loop uplifted me during my studies.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I will be finishing my time as a Horizon International Intern in Nottingham, UK. Then, waiting for God to show me the next step as I await my first call in the Northwest Washington Synod.
How did LSTC shape you as a future leader of the public church?
My time in theological education has taught me that God is not meant to be confined within four walls on a Sunday morning. God is out in the world they created, with the ones who need God’s love the most. Attributed to St Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no hands, no feet on earth but yours.” This captures the calling of the Church: to be the hands and feet of Christ in service to our neighbors. LSTC has shaped me as a future leader by grounding me in the Lutheran tradition while equipping me to serve the communities to which God calls me.
