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From the Dean
I was listening to Eva Cassidy do her great blues version of Bridge over Trouble Water
today.
I don't know why listening to the blues always makes me feel so good; it just happens. But when I find myself in real times of trouble, the blues aren't enough and I turn to my support system, my community. I don't mean the larger Pagan community of which I am a part, but my small, personal community made up of family, coven and closest friends. (These aren't mutually exclusive categories for me, incidentally.)
It is community that sustains and supports me and has seen me through the most difficult times in my life. One of these times was when I was in graduate school and my daughter died in a car accident.
Graduate school is a unique period - almost like a time outside of time - when you find yourself growing in ways you never imagined. And while you are undergoing this reshaping of self and ideas, life goes on around you. And sometimes, when darkness comes, you need an understanding community to help you handle it.
This is a challenge for an online school. Yes, you have your classmates, if you have stayed in touch beyond Moodle. But is that enough?
We have decided that Cherry Hill Seminary needs to offer you more. We are establishing a Chaplain's Office, staffed by three volunteer ministerial faculty members to serve our community. They will be there when times are rough. Look for the link on your Moodle classrooms. Friends can be found.
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You Can Help With Just One Click
We often hear that Cherry Hill Seminary is one of the best-kept secrets around. We do not rent mailing lists from others and never share our own lists. But word-of-mouth is the very best way to let people know about this veritable jewel.
Will you help by forwarding CHS messages to the groups to which you belong?
A link at the bottom of this newsletter makes it easy to forward our news and announcements without the formatting becoming garbled.
Thanks for spreading the word! |
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Important Dates
For Students
May 21 - Begin summer classes
May 21 - Foundations Sum 1 classes begin
May 28 - Drop/Add deadline midnight tonight
Jun 18 - Foundations Sum 2 classes begin
Jul 15 - Foundations Sum 2 classes end
Jul 16 - Foundations Sum 3 classes begin
Jul 30 - Fall registration open
Aug 12 - Foundations Sum 3 classes end
Sep 10 - Fall classes begin
Sep 17 - Drop/Add deadline
For Faculty
Jul 1 - Sum 1 grades due to office
Jul 29 - Sum 2 grades due to office
Aug 26 - Sum 3 grades due to office
Sep 14 - Spring course proposals due to dept. chair
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Dr. Christine Kraemer's Impact on CHS
Stepping Down as Chair of Theology and Religious History
 Dr. Christine Kraemer had an immeasurable impact on Cherry Hill Seminary. At a critical time in our development, she brought a creative and professional infusion of energy. She was instrumental in developing the 2011 version of CHS's Admissions process. "I'm clearer about her impact on the Admissions process, as she brought a great deal of academic experience and academic clarity to the evaluation of student credentials, talents and abilities, and motivation." - Maggie Beaumont, former Academic Dean. Due to her abilities as a professor, she was given the role to write a "teaching with Moodle" manual for faculty, which is now a resource offered to all faculty members upon hiring. At conferences (both CHS and those hosted by larger organizations), Christine always shows up as a consumate professional with strong interpersonal skills, excellent presentation skills, and a wealth of knowledge in both 'traditional academic' disciplines and in several Pagan arenas. "I will miss Christine's organizational skills, intellectual approach and can-do spirit as a department chair, but am grateful that she remains with us as a very valued teacher and member of our Cherry Hill community." - Wendy Griffin, Academic Dean. |
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Registration Begins July 30
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July 16 - Aug 12
Instructor: Christine Kraemer, Ph.D.
Class meetings: none
Victor and Cora Anderson were the founders of the Anderson Feri (or Faery) tradition, an American witchcraft tradition famous for its ecstatic practices and its queer-friendly theology. Despite its small size, Feri has had a tremendous impact on the Pagan movement through well-known figures such as Gwydion Pendderwen, Alison Harlow, Starhawk, T. Thorn Coyle, M. Macha NightMare, and many others. More info and register
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July 16 - Aug 12
Instructor: Lee Gilmore, Ph.D.
Class meetings: none
Burning Man is an annual eclectic, seven-day celebration of art, fire, and community that takes place in Nevada's Black Rock desert. Think critically about the event's dynamic  history, culture, communities, traditions, rituals, and values to cultivate an expanded understanding of religion. In the spirit of Burning Man, this course will be participatory and will culminate in the completion of creative and academic projects. More info and register
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Litha Comes Spiraling
Annie Finch, Artist-In-Residence
 Solstice spirals, loud and dark, spiral down into us, moving our love, plant and fold us, singing our song. This is the touch of the seasons that move deep inside us, changing and strong, petals that bloom to bless all that we wove, gifting us the ancient mark humans carry, when we belong: flaming, open, solstice spark. |
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Incoming Newsletter Coordinator Erika
Erika Patterson is a Druid and Reiki Practitioner. She recently finished a Master of Arts in Teaching English degree from Winthrop University, located in S.C. During her graduate studies, she presented research at international conferences and published two articles in English. She focused her research on Medieval Literature and Myth Criticism in her undergraduate and graduate studies and states, "I want to take the research in religions at CHS and connect them with the literature of various cultures. We need to know how we all connect."
Erika's interest in English and her background in publishing allows her a chance to give back to her community with her talents as the CHS Newsletter Coordinator.
To reach Erika write
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