An Introduction

Welcome to my Day1 blog!  I am Debra von Fischer Samuelson, and am looking forward to being in conversation about faith and values, and the church.  A bit about my background and who I am:

Music was my first love.  I graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota with a harp performance major, and worked my way through seminary, "harping" around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  I received my Master of Divinity degree from Luther in St. Paul Minnesota, and earned my Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

Peter (Samuelson - one of our other bloggers) and I met while I was serving as an intern in his home congregation in Minneapolis.  We married in 1983 and are blessed by two wonderful children, Miriam, now 23 and Isaac, now 21, who have been the light and joy of our lives.  We also have three other "children" - Emma, Champ and Bikko, our Pugs!

I am currently serving Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Midtown Atlanta, where I have been privileged to serve for 14 years.  Redeemer is a strong and faithful congregation with excellent worship, and is a congregation whose concern is not only for one another but for the needs of the community around them and their neighbors across the world.

I have been a regular participant on Day1 and was a panelist on the Day1 Diner for several years.  I am also a contributor to the new lectionary commentary series by Westminster John Knox Press, Feasting on the Word, and have been a guest preacher on "30 Good Minutes", a public television program in Chicago, IL.

My husband and I are ballroom dancers, and I sing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus.