My name is Maggie Claire Rutherford, I am a 25 year old first year seminarian at Yale Divinity School. I am a Postulant for Holy Orders to the Priesthood in the Episcopal Church out of the Diocese of Northern California, sponsored by Incarnation, Santa Rosa. In August 2023 I left my lay ministry job at camp & retreat centers to begin a three year Master’s of Divinity degree as the next step in my Postulancy.

Leaving behind two younger sisters (now 19 and 22), I left the Bay Area in 2015 and moved to Chico, CA in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Multicultural & Gender Studies. In 2019 I conferred my degree with the distinction of cum laude and then began my formal exploration of my call to Ordained Ministry. With the help of my family, friends, and many mentors I will matriculate into Berkeley Divinity School at Yale Divinity School in the beginning of October.

Ingrained in my spiritual life is a deep reverence for our natural world and the presence of the divine in all of Gods creation. I frequently incorporate Celtic Benediction into my daily prayers, seek out God in the forests, and work to increase sustainable practices in my day to day. One piece of my ministry in camps & retreats I will miss most while in school is the opportunity to connect people to one another in nature.

What’s in a name? First off, is my love of cows. Having spent much of my adolescence exploring Sonoma County, filled with rolling hills of many cow pastures. One of my favorite COVID pastimes was going on long drives in rural west county through said pastures and vineyards. Second, is that my love of cows influenced how I chose not one but both of my cats(Nala & Sarabi) whom are white with black spots. Lastly, I see this transition as a great beginning to a hugely formational chapter in my life. Thus, I am seeking out my spots.

My intention for creating this blog is to attempt to bring you, my dear readers, along with me in journeying through this finding of my spots. I hope to pour at least a little bit of myself onto these digital pages, from my prayer life to academic pursuits to fun with friends. I cannot wait to begin sharing with you!

Faithfully, Maggie