Volume 54, Issue 31
April 13, 2015
Community Worship
The United community worships together on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Bigelow Chapel, at 11:35 a.m.  All are welcome; please join us!
 

Tuesday April 14

"You are a River of Water"
led by Tom Witt
 
Thursday April 16
Senior Chapel
Come and bless our seniors before commencement weekend.
  
Saturday April 18    
5:00 pm
Commencement Eucharist Rev. Dr. Samuel Subramanian preaching "What is God doing with you?"
Rev. John Lee Presiding

A reception will follow the service.
 

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.

Tuesday lunch
Taco bar
 
Tuesday dinner
Chicken cordon bleu
 
Thursday lunch
Chicken tika masala
  
Thursday dinner
Salisbury steak
 
Friday lunch
Sandwich bar

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
    
   
On days when the hybrid classes meet, Chef Amy will have Grab-n-Go meals in the cooler for lunch. Prices will be posted, along with instructions about where to leave your payment.
 

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:
On Campus Employment in Food Services

The Context Caf� is in need of on-call student workers for catered events on campus. If you are interested and have flexible hours, can be on your feet for long periods, lift up to 25 lbs, follow precise instructions, and enjoy serving people, please email Vonda Pearson, director of human resources and operations. Thank you!

 

Elsewhere:
Chaplain
Ebenezer Minneapolis Campus currently has an opening for a fulltime Chaplain. This position is responsible for providing spiritual care and counsel for tenants and families, as well as providing Inter-faith religious services and small group devotions/Bible study.
Click here for more info, including contact information for submitting a resume.

Infant & Toddler Caregiver
St. Paul's United Church of Christ St. Paul MN
651-224-5809
03/23/15

Director of Worship and Outreach
Forest Hills United Methodist Church
Forest Lake MN
Click here for more information.
03.23.15
 
Director of Music Ministry
Cherokee Park United Church, St. Paul MN
Click here for more information.
01/26/15  05/01
 

Spencer Library Hours

SPRING TERM

 January 12 - April 17, 2015 

M, W, F:     8 AM - 5 PM

T, Th:         8 AM - 9 PM

Sat:          10 AM - 2 PM

     Sun:          CLOSED

 

Extended hours when hybrid courses meet:

Fri., Jan. 16 & April 10

Open until 6:00 PM

 

READING WEEK

February 23 - 27

Mon.-Fri.: 8 AM - 5 PM

Sat. 10 AM - 2 PM

 

SPECIAL HOLIDAY/EVENT CLOSING

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Monday, Jan. 19

CLOSED

 

Easter Break

March 30 - April 3

CLOSED

 

Monday Morning Archives
Subscribe: If you would like to receive issues of Monday Morning via email please sign up by clicking here.

(PDF files)
Connect with United
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


Commencement 2015

We look forward to

United's 53rd Annual Commencement Exercises on Sunday, April 19! 

 

Commencement Exercises

Sunday, April 19, 3:00 PM

Plymouth Congregational Church

1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis

The service, which begins at 3:00 PM, will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church. For driving and parking instructions, visit  the church's website. Parking is limited! so please take time in advance to review alternate parking areas for you and your guests. The theme of the service is Water as Transformation on the Journey to Other Shores and Rev. D. Timothy Hart-Andersen, Senior Minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church, is the commencement speaker.

 

Graduates must arrive and be robed before 2:00.

 


 

Spring Banquet

Friday, April 17, 6:00 PM

United Theological Seminary

The spring banquet will be held at United on Friday, April 17, beginning at 6:00 PM. This is a time for the seminary to celebrate graduates, award academic prizes, honor retiring faculty members and welcome you as an alum. Each graduate receives two complimentary tickets to the banquet. When the menu is finalized, additional tickets will be available for purchase via Constant Contact. Watch for more information.

 

Register here by Monday, April 13.

Please register everyone in your group, including yourself.
 


 

Church of the Cabaret!

Friday, April 17, after the Spring Banquet (around 8:30 PM)

Bigelow Chapel

See notice under "Seminary News," below.

 

 

 

Commencement Eucharist Service

Saturday, April 18, 5:00 PM

Bigelow Chapel
 
Graduates and their guests are invited to attend the commencement Eucharist service In Bigelow Chapel on Saturday, April 18, at 5:00 PM. Chaplain John Lee and Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian, Assistant Professor of New Testament Theology, will be the officiates for the service. There will be a reception following the service.

 

 

 

Commencement Instructions

Graduates should arrive before 2:00 PM. Pictures start promptly at 2:15 PM. Please be on time as we are on a tight time frame. Graduate instructions were emailed to your seminary email address. Please contact Deb Olsen if you are not planning to attend the Commencement Exercises so you are not included in the seating chart or the order of procession. Robes and hoods are coordinated by Susan Hastings, registrar, will contact graduates when robes and hoods are available for pickup.

 

Click here to download the instructions for Commencement.

 

 

Commencement Invitations

Each graduate is provided 10 invitations and envelopes. Additional invitations are $.50 each. They will be available for pick up from my desk starting Monday, March 16. An invitation to the Commencement Eucharist service will be sent electronically to your seminary email address, which will make them available to print and mail, or forward on to family and friends.

 

  

Farewell to Seniors Chapel Service

There will be a chapel service in honor of the graduates, tentatively scheduled for 11:35 AM on Thursday, April 16. Chaplain John Lee will be coordinating the service, which will be held in Bigelow Chapel.

 

  

2015 Class Gift

Your commencement committee student representatives (Terri Burnor, Karen Evenson and Tija Rahoelikajina) will be in contact with you about the 2015 Class Gift.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Deb Olsen, [email protected] or call 651-255-6168. 

Seminary News

 

Church of the Cabaret!
Friday, April 17 

8:30 PM (after the Spring Banquet)
Bigelow Chapel
All are invited to the final Church of the Cabaret lead by our spirited ringmaster (and graduating senior!), Hortense MacLeod (and her merry cohorts, A.J. Galazen and Terri Burnor, also graduating!). For many of our graduates, cabaret has been a beloved worship experience these past few years. Join the current generation to send it off with a bang ... or song, story, poem, performance art piece, whatever you're inspired to create!

 

The cabaret will be held in the chapel immediately following the spring banquet. All are welcome to participate or attend. We especially hope non-graduates will come and be inspired to keep the movement going. Huzzah!

 

 

Seeking Ushers for Commencement

Interested to see and experience United's commencement exercises? Gifted in the art of handing out stuff and saying "Right this way!"?  Then this is an opportunity with your name on it!

 

We need several ushers to provide a warm welcome and directions for our guests at commencement. The service is held at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Minneapolis. Ushers should arrive by 2:00 PM; the service begins at 3:00 PM.

 

Please contact Deb Olsen ([email protected]) or Meredythe Jones Rossi ([email protected]) if you are willing to help.  Act now, don't delay!  Graduating in the near future?  This is your chance to pay it forward!

 

   

 

On Campus Apartments Available

There are several one bedroom apartments available for rent.  The monthly rent is $625.  This includes all utilities, basic cable TV and wireless internet service.  In addition there is a $150 housing deposit.  If interested, please contact

Michelle Turnau at [email protected] or call her at

655-255-6117.

 

Attention Students!

2015/16 Course Schedule

There has been an unexpected delay in completing the 2015/16 course schedule.  Please continue to check your seminary emails after the spring term ends on April 17th.  The expected date for posting the schedule on the seminary website will be Friday, April 24th.

 

 

Neck Massages during Finals Week!

See announcement in the SEC section, below.

 

 

 

Planning to Graduate This Summer, Next Fall, Next Spring?

Do This Now!

If you are planning to graduate THIS SUMMER (2015),  please submit a Petition to Graduate Form by this Wednesday, 8 April 2015!

 

If you are planning to graduate at the end of the Fall Semester 2015 or in the Spring Semester 2016, please submit a Petition to Graduate Form by 18 May 2015!

 

Please note: Commencement for all students graduating in the summer, fall and spring will be the first Sunday in May (1 May 2016).

 

If you'll be finishing Summer 2016 through Spring 2017, watch for the Petition to Graduate Form coming out this summer.

 

 

 

FROM THE LIBRARY  

TO THOSE HOPING TO GRADUATE ON APRIL 19th  

 THE END IS COMING (Congratulations!!).  ALL GRADUATES' LIBRARY MATERIALS ARE DUE BY 5 P.M. FRIDAY, April 10.  We respectfully remind you that DIPLOMAS will be handed only to those who have returned all library materials borrowed from UTS and from other Consortium and Minitex Libraries.  Please keep your ID cards so that you can continue using the library as alum borrowers. We will automatically change your status from student to alum, and after Commencement you will be welcome to check out materials on a 6-week basis.  Also, check with the Development Office about the ATLAS for Alums program that provides access to full-text journals in religion and theology.

 

Students who are not graduating: 

All library materials are due by 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, unless extended loans are approved by one of the librarians.   After April 17 each unreturned item will be assumed lost and billed to your seminary account at the rate of $50.00 per item. As with the IRS, please file your request for extended loans BEFORE the due date.

 

Thanks for your cooperation with this annual ritual.

 

 

 

On Campus Employment in Food Service

The Context Caf� is in need of on-call student workers for catered events on campus. If you are interested and

  • have flexible hours,
  • can be on your feet for long periods,
  • can lift up to 25 lbs,
  • can follow precise instructions, and
  • enjoy serving people,

please email Vonda Pearson, director of human resources and operations. Thank you!

 

SEC
After
Before

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

FREE Neck and Shoulder Massages during Finals Week!

Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Reading Room 1, Spencer Library

 

Stressed out on finals week?  Too much hunching over your computer for long hours?  Then read on, intrepid scholar! Read on!

 

Your newly reformed SEC has scheduled John Sheehan from LMS Massage to come to United on Tuesday and Thursday during finals week.  He will be giving 10 minute neck and shoulder rubs beginning at 10:00 a.m. each day, with a break for lunch. 

 

The sign up sheet will be available at the front desk of the library on Monday morning at 9am.  Please sign up for only one appointment to begin with, and if there are extra times available you will be contacted to see if you would like to return for some extra pampering. 

 

P.S. Feel free to bring some pictures of your favorite presidents for John's tip jar, in gratitude for his gracious service and care.    

Educational Opportunities

Calling all UCC students, UCC members-in-discernment and UCC wannabes!

Workshops with Rev. Malcolm Himschoot at United!

Wednesday and Thursday, May 6 & 7

United Theological Seminary

Wed: 1:30 - 4:30 PM, Steckel Learning Center

Thur: 9:00 AM - noon, Small Dining Room 

The Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ and UTS welcome all authorized ministers, Members in Discernment, and interested mentors and advisors to attend all or part of this two-day event.  Survey the nationwide terrain for ministry through UCC Ministry Opportunities. Learn about the new Snapshot for all ministers, four UCC categories for terms of service, and the improved Ministerial Profile for those in Search and Call. Explore networking and self-presentation together with colleagues.

 

Recommended: pre-register for a profiles account ahead of time. 

Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 

"Chaplains for Children: Recognizing and Responding to Abuse and Neglect within Faith Families"

June 8-10

Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI

 

The National Child Protection Training Center, a program of Gundersen Health System, will be hosting a three-day conference for seminary professors, seminary students, clergy, and other faith leaders on the subject of child abuse. Seminary and other students may attend at a reduced rate of $99.

 

Child abuse touches all of our faith communities and religious leaders often face the issue of keeping children safe, ministering to survivors, and managing sex offenders who often seek out faith communities. All of these issues and more will be explored in depth at this conference.


 
If you are interested in attending, click here for more information and to register.    

 

Events of Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Architecture of an Apology"

Tuesday, April 14, 12:30-1:30 PM

University of St. Thomas School of Law

1000 La Salle Ave, Room 235, Minneapolis campus   

Dr. Kimberly Vrudny, associate professor of systematic theology at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, and Dr. Mahmoud El-Kati, professor emeritus of history at Macalaster College in St. Paul will be speaking this week in a special edition of the Murphy Institute's "Hot Topics: Cool Talks" series.  Together they will explore diverse means to make apologies meaningful. 

 

Dr. El-Kati's talk will center around what countries do or don't do to apologize for atrocities of the past. Dr. Vrudny, who is graduate of United, and was the recipient of United's 2011 Distinguished Alum Award, will suggest that the architecture of an apology requires not only recognition and acknowledgement of the role of Christian theology in certain atrocities, but also concrete evidence of constructive theological work being done to correct theological course in order to ensure that such atrocities occur never again.

 

The event, which is offered as part of this week's Perspectives series, and presented with the University of St. Thomas Black Law Students Association, is free.

 

For those who register, there will be a complimentary lunch available.

 

 

 

"Welcoming Everyone's Gifts: Equipping Churches to Include Children and Youth with Disabilities"

April 17-19

Valley Community Presbyterian Church

3100 N Lilac Drive, Golden Valley MN 

Welcoming children and youth with disabilities presents both opportunities and challenges for faith communities. An interfaith, ecumenical conference, Welcoming Everyone's Gifts: Equipping Congregations to Include Children and Youth with Disabilities, will offer resources and strategies for staff, volunteers, and family members.

 

Lecture and workshop titles include:

  • Creating a Culture of Inclusion 
  • A House of Prayer for All People
  • Children and Mental Illness: It's Not the End of the World
  • All in the Circle
  • Apples and Oranges: Thinking about Individualization, Collaboration and Creativity

Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project

Recently, on the William Sloane Coffin Archive Project's Kickstarter webpage, David Coffin posted news that the project has been completed, and invited folks to help spread the word about this resource.  The archive features sermons and prayers from his father's work as a civil rights and peace activist during the 1960s and '70s, and throughout his career.

 

"I wanted to make sure everyone knew that the Sermon Archive Project has been completed thanks to all your generosity. You can visit the Archive website at www.williamsloanecoffin.org. Please tell your friends and anyone else who would/should be interested. Word of mouth is our best friend right now in helping to get more exposure for the website. If you can put an announcement in your church bulletin, even that helps. I'm noticing that many preachers are downloading sermons on a regular basis."  ~David Coffin
 

Thanks to Patsy Herbert for bringing to our attention the wonderful news of this project's completion! 

 

Ordinations and Appointments

Dwight Wagenius Ordination! 

Dwight Wagenius '09 will be ordained Sunday April 19 at 1pm at Mayflower Community Congregational Church (106 E. Diamond Lake Rd. in Minneapolis). Clergy are invited to robe and wear the stole of their choice. Dwight has been called to serve Mayflower as Community Minister.

 

Congratulations, Dwight!

 

Community Programming

Sign Up for Hands-On Beekeeping!

Thursday April 23rd from 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Thursday April 30th from 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Saturday May 2nd from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Cost: $80

Work with live bees from United's own bee operation, giving you the confidence to start a successful beehive in your backyard.  This course consists of both classroom and hands-on learning, offering participants practical skills for at-home beekeeping and honey extractions, as well as an in-depth look at the biology and history of beekeeping.

 

Register:  At United's Website or by calling 651-255-6170.