Volume 54, Issue 8
October 27, 2014

Community Worship

Photo by Cindi Beth Johnson
 
There will be no chapel services during Reading Week this week.  We will resume our regular schedule in November. 

Reading Week Contemplation:
Last week, the United community celebrated in memory of those who have transitioned from this life. The photo below is from that service, which was entitled "Remembering Our Saints."


"When a child is born, an invisible red thread connects [them] to those [they are] destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break. As one goes through life, the thread shortens, bringing us closer to those who will impact our lives"  - Chinese Proverb 

  • To whom do you feel especially "connected" right now? 
  • From whom are you disconnected? 
  • For whom is a connection to you vital and life-giving?
  •  How would you like to attend to, strengthen, and restore the important relationships in your life?
     
Job Opportunities
Click here to go to the
Job Opportunities web page to see additional postings for jobs outside of the seminary.  The page includes links to resources and related career opportunity websites.
   
At United:
Chapel assistant position
Seeking an assistant for chapel worship. 10 hours a month. Must be available before worship on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Send inquiries to Chaplain John Lee.
 
AV Assistants/Computer Network Maintenance
United is seeking several students to assist with audio-visual setups and/or computer network maintenance. Previous experience is highly desirable, but an aptitude for troubleshooting and a willingness to learn could get you the job. We are putting together a team that can cover all hours of the day and evening, so specific hours per week are yet to be determined. The position pays $10/hour. If interested, please email [email protected] and copy [email protected].


Elsewhere:
Occasional Childcare Worker 
Michael Servetus Unitarian Society Fridley, MN
Click here for more information.
10/20/14

Context Caf�  

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options will always be available.
 
In addition to the  regular menu, Chef Amy will have food to go available for students who are taking evening classes and want to eat before or during class.
  
THIS WEEK'S MENU
 Whatever fine food you're fixin'! 
The Context Caf� will be closed during Reading Week. 
See you in November!


CONTEXT CAFE HOURS
During the academic year, the Context Caf� will serve meals according to the following schedule:
 
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Lunch:  
12:00 - 1:30 PM
   
Mid-afternoon break (Homemade desserts and/or snacks)
 
Tuesday, Thursday
Dinner:
4:30-5:30 PM
 

Spencer Library Hours

 

FALL TERM

 Sept. 11 - Dec. 12, 2014

M, W, F:     8 AM - 5 PM

T, Th:         8 AM - 9 PM

Sat:          10 AM - 2 PM*

Sun: CLOSED

 

*Extended Saturday hours when hybrid courses meet:

Sept. 20 and Dec. 6

8 AM - 2 PM

 

READING WEEK

Oct. 27 - Nov. 1

Mon.-Fri.: 8 AM - 5 PM

 

SPECIAL HOLIDAY/EVENT CLOSING

Thanksgiving Recess

Close Wed., Nov. 26 at noon

Reopen Mon., Dec. 1 at 8 AM

 

TERM BREAK

Dec. 13 - Jan. 11

Dec. 13 - 21

Mon.-Fri.: 8 AM - 4 PM

Sat. & Sun.: Closed

 

Dec. 21-Jan.4

Seminary Closed

 

Jan. 5-11

Mon.-Fri.: 8 AM - 4 PM

Sat. & Sun.: Closed

 

 

Monday Morning Archives
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(PDF files)
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Monday Morning
Monday Morning is published weekly by the dean's office during fall, winter, spring and summer terms. Submit articles to Deb Olsen by 5:00 PM on Thursdays.

Please put "Monday Morning Announcement" in the subject line.

About us
United Theological Seminary
of the Twin Cities
3000 5th Street NW
New Brighton, MN 55112

Phone: 651.633.4311
Fax: 651.633.4315
Toll free: 800.937.1316


The seminary offices will be closed on Thursday, October 30, for a staff retreat. This does not affect the Spencer Library. The library will be open during its normal hours on Thursday.
From the Dean

Are You a Leader within Your Church?

(Here's an invitation for YOU!)

Do you consider yourself a leader within your church? 

 

Are you interested in playing a role in finding and equipping the next generation's leaders in ministry? 

 

If so, Midwest Ministry and North Central Ministry Development Centers need your help!  Please consider clicking on the link below to assist them.  It should take only about 5 minutes of your time. 

 

Here's what they have to say about this project:

"We are looking to gather opinions from people like you about what contributes to ministerial effectiveness within your church.  Through collaboration with Work Effects, a leadership consulting firm, we are developing a state-of-the-art assessment for ministerial effectiveness.  By taking a brief survey to assist in our research, you will be helping to provide the critical data we need. Results will be confidential and anonymous and will only be used for the research and development of the assessment."  

 

If you are a denominational leader, you can choose to complete the survey with either your congregation or a congregation with whom you work in mind.

 

Click on this link to take the survey: http://ncmdc.org/survey

THANK YOU! 

Seminary News

 

Flying Leaves

Community Day 2014 Art-Making Project

This year's Community Day offered us an opportunity to make a contribution to an art project to visually convey who we are as the United community. Inspired by artist Sarah Stengle's mile-long book project, many of us created our own square piece of paper including a song, a poem, a prayer, a collage, a drawing...anything the person wanted. Those squares are now joined together in a long line flying above the library atrium! It represents our common journey...faith flying toward hope, justice, love, and peace.

 

Please stop by the Spencer Library to look up and see this wonderful offering from the community. We offer our thanks to Patsy Herbert for creating and coordinating this project for Community Day and to Patsy and Skip Davis for the installation. And, to each of us who had a part in creating this wonderful work of art.

 

 

 

November Inaugural Exhibition at

The Intersection Gallery: "Stories of Memories"

Students, staff and faculty are invited to participate in the first gallery exhibition, "Stories of Memories."  This will be an opportunity for community members to share with one another their personal objects of devotion, reflection or worship in November. 

 

As our own Rev. John Lee has said, worship can be understood as whatever we ascribe value to in our environment.  Whether it is the painting of a river that reminds you of your childhood, the statue of Buddha you picked up at a fair, the crucifix you kneel before or even the last fallen leaf of the tree in your backyard, bring in the objects and images that bring you clarity and solace to your life. 

 

For more information and submission forms contact Nathan Young, Curator and Education Associate, Center for Arts, Faith & Culture.




2015 Distinguished Alum Nominations

Due November 1

Distinguished Alums are graduates of the seminary who have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to making the world a better place through their work and ministry. Nominees need to have graduated at least 10 years ago from United, Yankton, or Mission House Seminary.

The Distinguished Alum is honored annually at the Alum Banquet during United Days in the spring. Please return the completed form by

November 1.

 

The more information, including the nomination form, can be found here.

 

 

 
Steadfast Witness: An Evening with
Daoud Nassar, Director of Tent of Nations

Tuesday, November 4, 2014, 7:00 PM

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

Bigelow Chapel

Free; registration requested 

Please join us for a presentation by Daoud Nassar, a Palestinian Christian farmer whose family works a 100-acre farm and orchard just outside the town of Bethlehem. It is on this farm that the family members strive to maintain a haven of peace and brother/sisterhood through activities at the Tent of Nations.

 

Tent of Nations was established as a peace and local education center by the Nassar family in 2000. International visitors, including many Israelis, join together to plant trees, harvest olives and fruit, teach at the Women's Education Center, lead activities in Youth Summer Camps, and come together in solidarity and shared goals in the pursuit of a just peace through non-violent activities. Tent of Nations' mission is to build bridges between people, and between people and the land. Tent of Nations brings people of various cultures together to build bridges of understanding, reconciliation, and peace.


Click here to register.
 

Click here for more information about Tent of Nations.

  



"Nuns on the Bus: The Call to Compassion":  Sister Simone Campbell at Westminster Town Hall Forum
(co-sponsored by United Theological Seminary and Kaleo Center for Faith, Justice and Social Transformation)

Thursday, November 13, Noon-1:00 PM
Westminster Presbyterian Church 1200 S Marquette Ave., Minneapolis

Musical Presentation: 11:30 AM-Noon
Free. No registration or tickets required.

 

The Westminster Town Hall Forum engages the public in reflection and dialogue on the key issues of our day from an ethical perspective. Join other members of the United community as we gather for the event. The forum will last one hour, consisting of a speaker presentation followed by a question-and-answer session with written questions from the audience. A public reception with a light lunch follows the presentation.

Sister Simone Campbell is executive director of NETWORK, a Washington-based public policy research organization lobbying for immigration reform, healthcare, economic justice and peace-building. An attorney and ...more


More information about this event: Contact Kiely Todd Roska, 651.255.6121.

For more information about the Westminster Town Hall Forum:  www.westminsterforum.org 



Center for Arts, Faith & Culture Special Edition!
At the Intersection
Opening of The Intersection art studio

Celebrate Your Work at The Intersection
 Tuesdays,  November 4 and 18, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

 Facilitated by Sheryl Schwyhart

  

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it."

~Kurt Vonnegut

 

 As artists, we generally like to talk about our work and share creative ideas with others of like mind.  This is an evening set aside to do that  - gather with other students and artists to talk about art and the process of creating art.  It's an open forum gathering where candid sharing about triumphs, epiphanies and struggles are encouraged.

 
Bring a piece of your work - finished or in progress  - to share with others.  Feel free to talk about your art practice.

See you at The Intersection!
 

 

 

 

Mandala Workshop 

Thursday, November 6, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Sheryl Schwyhart will introduce a new community drop-in project, a dialog with mandalas.  Mandalas are personal - they offer a visual representation of the connection of our inner world and our outer reality.  They can be simple or complex.  The practice of designing mandalas is inspirational, spiritual and therapeutic - a mindfulness process that can be an echo of your innermost being or a reflection of the day's events.

 

Join us for the introductory session on November 6, or drop by on your own.  If you're dubious about jumping right into creating an original mandala, feel free to use the (copyright free) pre-printed samples to color in and add shapes to.  If you're creating an original mandala for the first time, keeping it simple is the most effective.  The main objective is to be open to the process  - the more times you approach the practice, the more revealing things may become to you.

 

See you at The Intersection!

 

 

 

Come On In During Reading Week!

Don't forget: The Intersection will be open during the Break Week for anyone who wishes to work on art or drop in for a creative respite between times in the Library.  Supplies will be available for anyone's use. 

 

See you at the...well, you know! 

 

Get Out the Vote on November 4!

Voting in MN on Nov 4? Here's How!

If you retain a residence in another place, we hope you have voted or
will vote by absentee ballot. If you have moved to Minnesota (or to the Twin Cities from elsewhere in MN) to attend or work at the seminary, you can vote in the general election on November 4 if you have been a Minnesota resident for at least 20 days before the election.

You can find everything you want to know about voting in Minnesota, including the location of your polling place, at the Secretary of State's
website: www.sos.state.mn.us. Click on the Elections section, and
follow the links; it's logical and moderately user-friendly. What's important to know is that you can register at your polling place on Election Day. You will need one of the following to verify your residence:
  • someone who is registered in the precinct where you live who will vouch for your residence;
  • a Minnesota driver's license, learner's permit, Identification, card, or receipt for one, with your current Minnesota address;
  • Tribal ID;
  • a recent utility bill*, or passport with utility bill;
  • or a student ID, registration, or fee statement with your current address.
*Note: The utility bill must have your name, current address, and be due
within 30 days of the election. Utility bills may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cell phone or cable TV.

Polling places open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM. If you need help with voting, you can ask the election judges at the polling place for assistance in reading or marking your ballot, or you may bring someone to help you.

Minnesota law allows you to take time off from work without loss of  salary or wages to vote during the morning of state elections. Most  people vote in the neighborhood where they live. You can look up
your polling place location by calling your county auditor or city clerk, or,
as noted above, by checking on the Minnesota Secretary of State's
Alumni News

Ecclesiastical Council for Charles Owens

Thursday, October 30, 11:00 AM

Union Congregational UCC

3700 Alabama Ave, St. Louis Park MN

An Ecclesiastical Council for Charles Owens '13 will be held Thursday, October 30 at 11:00am at Union Congregational UCC (3700 Alabama Ave, St. Louis Park), with lunch to follow. A period of examination to be followed by a vote on a motion that Charles Owens be ordained into the ministry of the United Church of Christ. Voting will be by all clergy with standing and lay delegates from a minimum of seven churches with standing in the same formula as prescribed for other voting meetings of the Conference.

 

To ensure a quorum, please RSVP to the church at 952-929-8566 or[email protected]. Anyone who wishes to have lunch following the Council is requested to so indicate with the RSVP. 

 

 Find more information about Charles here. 

The Office of Admissions

Follow United on Instagram! 

Follow United's new Instagram profile, welcome_to_united! Instagram provides a vibrant, creative, and interactive platform to share our community's essence: our work, our mission, our history, and the spirit of United through thought-provoking pictures and words. Be co-creators in our Instagram story and follow welcome_to_united on Instagram!

http://instagram.com/welcome_to_united.

 

Kaleo Center

 

To Set at Liberty: Faith, Race and the Sin of Mass Incarceration
Tuesday, November 11

Shiloh Temple International Ministries

1201 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis

Free will donation

 

Wednesday, November 12

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

3000 Fifth Street  NW, New Brighton

$25 registration fee; scholarships available

 

The Faith Summit, "To Set at Liberty: Faith, Race and the Sin of Mass Incarceration" is a collaborative effort led by the Kaleo Center to ignite, convene and equip 250 faith leaders to understand and lead their congregations and communities in addressing the racialized systems that prohibit African Americans from living productive and healthy lives.


 

The event will address mass incarceration as a human rights issue and give attention to public policies of school suspensions, private prisons, restoring voter rights and explore proven juvenile detention alternatives. Most importantly we will provide faith leaders with the theological, analytical and practical skills to be powerful and sustained agents of
change.


 

For more information, email Arif Mamdani at Kaleo Center. 


 

Click here to view flyer, including speaker and theme information.

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    Events of Interest

    David and Saul, by He Qi

     

    He Qi Art Exhibit

    Now through November 9th

    Centennial United Methodist Church
    1524 W. County Road C2

    Roseville, MN 55113

    Centennial United Methodist Church invites one and all to visit their current exhibit of artist He Qi's colorful Christian/biblical inspired paintings.

     

    Please check out his website to get a taste of his work, and visit CUMC's website for more information on this exhibit.

     

     

     

     


     

    Volunteer Opportunities
    For more information, and to apply, click here.