The Surprise of Mystery
Another festival season is upon us and many CHS volunteers are out there speaking, staffing information tables and handing out materials.

Most are warmly welcomed, though volunteers frequently report back that visitors were bewildered by the idea of our classes, one person recently asking, "What is a 'seminary?'" and others shrugging to learn that we don't offer initiations. 
 

It's tempting to gulp with astonishment at such reactions, but people don't know what they don't know, after all, so here is one more way we might explain why anyone would spend their precious time and hard-earned dollars at CHS.
It's about the mystery.

It's about the aha moments. 

The newfound understanding of faraway peoples and their ways.  The renewed love affair with the earth and her many gifts.

The chance remark of a classmate which unexpectedly opens a window formerly unseen. The glimmer of understanding about old family wounds that comes while reading about things that seem completely unrelated.

The flash of insight about society's many crises.  The abundant feast spread before you after years of hunger. The surprising joy of learning. The surprise of mystery.

So, how do we tell people that Cherry Hill Seminary will change their life? 
And while we're at it, how do we show them why we should all support CHS?

Like the Hermit of tarot, CHS stands on the edges of civilization, carrying a lantern to light an oft-solitary way. It's a risk to walk off into that gray liminality, but one without regrets.

During our annual Fall Scholarship Drive consider what it means to have CHS holding the lantern out for seekers in search of themselves.

Give to help keep the lantern burning in the dark, and to give someone the surprise of setting off towards mystery.

Holli Emore, Executive Director 
 







Resources

The Ancient World Online has this extensive Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Ancient Studies.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has developed this free resource, Developing High Quality Emergency Operation Plans for Houses of Worship.

How will you observe Pastoral Care Week, October 25-31? More info and ideas here.

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry and personal growth in Pagan and other Earth-based spiritualities.
Important Dates
 
For Students
Sep 16 Drop/Add deadline
Oct 4 Insights 1 classes end
Oct 11 Insights 2 classes begin
Nov 8 Insights 2 classes end
Nov 16 Insights 3 classes begin
Dec 13 Insights classes end
Dec 20 All fall classes end
Jan 18 Spring classes start 
Jan 25 Insights 1 classes begin
Jan 29
Drop/Add deadline
Feb 21 Insights 1 classes end
Feb 29 Insights 2 classes begin
Mar 27 Insights 2 classes end
Apr 4 Insights 3 classes begin
May 1 All Spring classes end
May 23 Summer classes begin 
May 30 Insights 1 classes begin
Jun 3 Drop/Add deadline 
For Faculty
Sep 28 Spring 2016 course proposals due 
Oct 17 Insights 1 grades due
Nov 22 Insights 2 grades due
Dec 27 Insights 3 grades due
Jan 3 All Fall grades due 
Feb 1 Summer course proposals due
Mar 7 Insights 1 grades due
Apr 11 Insights 2 grades due
May 15 All Spring grades due 
 
Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities.

For more information, visit www.cherryhillseminary.org, or contact CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.

 
Give from the Autumn Equinox through November 1. Scholarships will be awarded for Spring 2016 Semester classes. Details to come on how to apply.
Fall Insights Classes

Insights 4-week Courses
Session 2 - October 11 - November 8: 
Spiritual Sketchpad Journey (no live meetings) 
Living the Fifth Sacred Thing Tuesdays 8PM ET
Session 3 - November 16 - December 13: 
Course descriptions here 

CHS Peeps In The News

Visit our tribute page in memory of faculty member James Bianchi to read your and other comments on this departed friend.

Congratulations to three CHS folks who have articles in the latest issue of the peer-reviewed The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies - Gwendolyn Reece, Michelle Mueller and Daniela Cordovil.  

Former Dean of Students Maggie Beaumont writes us: "Just started a CPE Residency at Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia PA. Absolutely loving the work, as well as the opportunity to make interfaith relationships with other chaplains and people who are planning to become clergy in other faith traditions."

Congratulations to Marla K. Roberson who has accepted a position as Director of Academic Resources at Greenville Technical College, Greenville, SC, in June, 2015.  She is responsible for libraries and computers labs at the main campus and the 3 satellite campuses. 

Listen to this interview with Holli Emore on Elle Shepard's The Wytching Hour podcast.

Scott Mohnkern has been selected to offer the workshop, "Scribe, Philosopher, Mystic: Approaches to Religion," at Sacred Space in 2016.

Enjoy the poetry and prose of Hugh Eckert at his blog, The Words Swim, Waiting. 

Patrick McCollum will be speaking at multiple events for the International Day of Peace in New York City and his World Peace Violin will be featured at several related events, including the IDP World Flag Prayer Ceremony at the United Nations Interfaith Chapel.

Jean Pagano was interviewed for Corr Bolg, a Brasilian Druid magazine. Read his blog, A Druid's Progress

Michael York recently attended the International Society for the Sociology of Religion conference in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), IAHR conference in Erfurt (Germany) and the BASR conference in Canterbury (Britain). . 

And these CHS students and faculty are off to Salt Lake City October 15-19 for the Parliament of the World's Religions: Jeffrey Albaugh, Chandra Alexander, Jennifer Bennett, Ruth Barrett, Vivianne Crowley, Holli Emore, Marcella Fox, Wendy Griffin, Francesca Howell, Candace Kant, Michelle Mueller, Macha NightMare, David Oringderff, Lauren Raine, Gwendolyn Reece, Victoria Selnes, Kirk Thomas, Genise White.

New park bench in memory of Margot Adler, placed in New York City's Central Park, near the west 93rd street entrance.


























Heard in the CHS Classroom

This course has helped me to find focus and confidence in my continuing quest for spiritual and philosophical guidance.

I think it's important to step out of the narrow, if varied, views of our own Paganisms and look around the world to see how and why others practice in Pagan ways.

I really appreciated how actual projects I am actively working on in my real life (including a ritual for one project) had a chance to be evaluated on paper by my peers long before the actual event itself.