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Call Waiting.
by Amy Wiegert M.Div. Class of 2002  Waiting is not my gift. (There, I said it.) In the past, I set out to ask God for gobs of patience. My prayers were quickly answered with many, many opportunities to wait. My wonderful first call found me in Galesburg, Illinois, which turns out to be the unofficial train capitol of the universe. I got to wait several times a day at railroad crossings, with no way around the train. Just waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
I've also waited in doctor's offices (why can't I charge them for MY time?), for plumbers and for car mechanics. Every so often, waiting gives me unique time to be with myself and be with people where they are, not glossing over life's big things, difficult or exuberant. We get to enter all the parts, even the painful ones when we wait. Sometimes I can be in the moment. But most times, I'm not able to. I find I am not living in the moment. I am anxious and wondering what is happening that I should wait so long.... Read the rest of Amy's Story |
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Take us with you!
"When you go, take us with you."
This is what we tell our seminary students. Theological education at LSTC - indeed, the gospel - is not about remaining sedentary. Rather, seminary education encompasses a dynamic series of comings and goings in a variety of contexts: clinical pastoral education, ministry in context, and internship for our masters-level students; internships and local teaching positions for our graduate students; intentional engagement at the congregational level for our D.Min. students; international study programs for many of our students. And of course, the ultimate "going": commencement, when our students are sent forth into the world and into the church to minister or teach.
We encourage our students to go out into the world, to take their place as the newest leaders of the church. And at the same time, we encourage them to take something of LSTC with them as they go.
A seminary education at LSTC represents an enormous investment. Students invest their time, energy, talent, and resources as they learn, experience and pay for their education. And the seminary invests heavily in each student as well. Before any LSTC financial aid is added to the package, every acceptance into our degree programs represents about $25,000 of "invisible scholarship aid" offered to each student, every year. This represents the difference between the tuition that LSTC charges and the actual cost of educating a student, which is much higher. Theological education is costly - and, as we all know, priceless.
How have you taken LSTC with you into your congregational and other ministry contexts? How might you connect back with LSTC to help us meet some of our urgent needs? Our top fundraising priorities at LSTC for this year are the Annual Fund, which provides for operating expenses, staff positions and unendowed faculty positions; and immediate student scholarship aid, which will flow directly into the financial aid packages of our students. In these difficult times, we are exceedingly grateful for the faithful generosity of our donors which allows the mission of the seminary to continue.
When you left LSTC, you took something of LSTC with you into your ministry. How might you complete the circle?
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| Coming up at LSTC...
2009 World Mission Institute on "Spiritual Ways: Spirituality, Meditation and Mission"
March 26- 27, the Chicago Center for Global Ministries presents the 2009 World Mission Institute, "Spiritual Ways: Spirituality, Meditation and Mission," held at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago. The gathering is dedicated to the worldwide preparations for the centenary of the 1910 Edinburgh Conference. The two-day conference fee is $25; $10 for Thursday only. Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) students and faculty may attend the conference for free. Read more. Chicago Bass Ensemble presents modern string compositions on March 29Four Chicago area bass players (yes, four basses), will present a concert on Sunday, March 29, at 4 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. The free concert includes works by Doug Johnson, Teppo Hauta -Aho, Paul Hindemith, Seth Boustead, and Jan Alm. It will be one of the more unusual ensembles you will hear this year. A freewill offering to support the Chapel Music Series will be gathered after the concert.
Gospel Choir Concert on April 19 will benefit Grover Wright and Carole A. Burns Scholarship Funds
Come be inspired by the music of the LSTC Gospel Choir and other Chicago area gospel choirs on Sunday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. Composer, arranger, and director Dr. Keith Hampton will lead the choir. The 2009 Grover Wright and Carole A. Burns Scholarships will be presented during the concert. A reception honoring the scholarship recipients immediately follows the concert. To make your contribution to the funds prior to the concert, contact Patricia Bartley at pbartley@lstc.edu or call her at 773-256-0717. Read more.
Youth in Mission Pastoral Care for Youth - 2009 Conference, April 20-22
Youth ministry workers and clergy will not want to miss LSTC's first annual Youth in Mission Conference: Pastoral Care for Youth. The conference will be held at LSTC on April 20-22, 2009. Read more or call us at 773-256-0725. Please note: Registrations are being accepted through March 20, 2009. Stewardship ministry development workshop at LSTC May 2
On Saturday, May 2, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and LSTC's Tithing and Stewardship Foundation present "Congregational Leadership: Building Mission and Ministry in Anxious Times" led by the Rev. Dr. Peter L. Steinke.
"Stewardshops" include:
· Leading with Vision and Values: Strategic Ministry Planning,
· Stewardship Ministry Development: A Foundational Approach,
· Inspiring Generosity: Engaging & Growing Diverse Communities of Congregational Givers, and Turnaround Congregations: Congregational Renewal
The day begins with registration from 7:45 - 8:30 a.m. Bishop Wayne Miller will lead worship at 8:30 a.m. Registration fee is $25 per person, $20 for those who send in payment by April 22. For more information and to register online visit www.mcselca.org
Zygon Journal and Zygon Center to host symposium honoring Philip Hefner
"Where Are We Going? Zygon and the Future of Religion and Science" is the theme for a May 8 - 9 symposium honoring the Rev. Dr. Philip Hefner on his retirement as editor of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. Philip Hefner provides the opening keynote address on May 8 at 7:00 p.m. Ursula Goodenough and Gregory Peterson will make plenary presentations on May 9. Scholars from around the world will participate in panel discussions. Zygon Journal's next editor, Willem B. Drees, will present the final keynote address. For more information or to register, please visit www.zygonjournal.org, email Zygon@lstc.edu, or phone 773-256-0671. |
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News you should know...
Dr. Barbara R. Rossing named Henry Luce Fellow in Theology for 2010
The Rev. Dr. Barbara R. Rossing, professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), has been named a 2009-2010 Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology. The Luce fellowships are one of the premier fellowship programs for theological scholarships in the United States and Canada. Read more.
Scherer honored by Chicago Center for Global Ministries
On February 17, Dr. James A. Scherer, professor emeritus of missions and church history, received the Silver Globe Award from the Chicago Center of Global Ministries (CCGM) to recognize his distinguished service to that organization. Read more.
Visiting professors of religion and science appear in television programs
Carol R. and John Albright are featured in two programs produced by EBRU-TV ( www.ebru.tv/en), a satellite TV station that aims to promote better understanding between the Muslim world and the West. Carol Albright appeared in "The Spiritual Brain," which aired March 11 at 8 p.m. John Albright is seen in a two-part series airing March 18 and 25 called "Unity of Knowledge." EBRU-TV broadcasts programs on science, the environment, and public affairs. Carol R. and John Albright are both visiting professors of religion and science through the Zygon Center of Religion and Science. See http://www.zygoncenter.org/about_who.html for more information about the Albrights. | |
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Opportunities at LSTC
CCMEPJ sponsors
Save the Date
April 26.
(more info to come!)
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Upcoming Reunions
35th Anniversary of Christ Seminary-
Seminex.
On June 23-25, 2009, the Seminex contingent at LSTC invites you to join us for the 35th anniversary celebration of the founding of Seminex.
Class of 1969
reunion May 16, 2009
Join classmates and their spouses at LSTC to get reacquainted and to share your memories of your year at LSTC.
Contact Jessica Nipp at jnipp@lstc.edu. or 319-541-3066 for more information. Read more.
Classes of 1959:
50-year reunion
in May 2009
Fifty year graduates of LSTC's predecessor schools will be honored at commencement on Sunday, May 17.
All 50-year graduates are invited to a dinner in their honor and time to share their ministry stories on Saturday, May 16.
For more information, please contact Ruth Ann Deppe at 773-256-0710 or rdeppe@lstc.edu.
Make a Gift to LSTC
Just by using Goodsearch LSTC receives donations!
GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate.
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