Faithful reader, I have a confession to make. I put together these issues of the E.pistle imagining what it is you'd find useful and then I hope that it is. I keep preaching to my colleagues that they need to get to know the people they want to engage (Who ARE those prospective students, donors, alumni and what can LSTC give them that's of value?) And yet, I haven't done the same thing with you.

So it's high time I asked you how the E.pistle could serve you better.

Through the miracle (or alarming invasiveness) of electronic data collection I get a report each month that shows how many of you open the E.pistle email and where you click to read more (or if you don't). But that tells me only so much.

What do you enjoy or find useful? Is there something else you'd like to hear about? Is the E.pistle too long? Does it come too often or not often enough?

I realize I'm asking this when probably 75% of you are on vacation, so I promise to ask again in the fall when I won't get so many "Out of Office" automated replies.

But if you are still there and reading in these dog days of summer, please let me know how we can give you more of what you want and less of what you don't want. Not only will it make for a better E.pistle, I can take this first step toward practicing what I preach.

Click here to take survey

Many thanks-

Jan Boden

Director of Communications and Marketing

 jboden@lstc.edu

Listen to Reformation Jubilee podcast

Hear the podcasts of Dr. Margot Kässmann's June 5 talk at LSTC and responses by a distinguished guest panel. Dr. Kässmann is Special Envoy for the Reformation Anniversary Celebration 2017. She spoke about the celebration already underway around the world and the challenges of the Reformation Jubilee. Responders were Dr. Anna Case-Winter, Bishop Wayne Miller, and Dr. Vitor Westhelle. Podcasts  

Sign up now for fall online courses in Greek and Pentateuch

Want to delve into or brush up your Biblical Greek? Yearning to learn about the way the first five books of the Bible and the Wisdom literature speak to the issues of our day? Then sign up for a fall online course from LSTC here. These introductory classes are led by two experienced instructors, LSTC alumni the Rev. Dr. Peter Perry and Dr. R. Scott Chalmers.

New book honors Vitor Westhelle

Churrasco: A Theological Feast in Honor of Vitor Westhelle is a collection of essays by a wide range of theologians from around the world on the occasion of Westhelle's 60th birthday. The introduction makes clear that it is not a Festschrift, which marks an ending, but an acknowledgement of the gift of Westhelle's scholarship and his entering into an exciting second cycle of life. LSTC alumni Dr. Mary (Joy) Philip and Dr. John Arthur Nunes edited the collection along with Charles M. Collier, a Ph.D. student at Duke University. It is available from the publisher, Wipf and Stock.  

JKM Library donation benefits new seminary library  

Emilie Pulver, JKM special projects librarian, doesn't like to see things go to waste. A few weeks ago, extra bookshelves were removed from the JKM Library and were being hauled out to the garbage when Emilie sent a quick email to Greg Heynen at the Theological Book Network to find out if anyone could use them.

Sure enough, Mr. Heyden easily found someone who could use the shelves. Logos Evangelical Seminary in Chicago, a satellite program of Logos Evangelical Seminary in El Monte, Calif., was setting up a new library. The Rev. Dr. Albert Pua, director of the Chicago campus, said the donation was the answer to a prayer. He rented a U-Haul and with the assistance of some of his students and LSTC staff, transported the shelving (in several trips) to their new home.

Logos Evangelical Seminary is the only Asian seminary in the U.S. accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.  

Emilie Pulver, Dr. Albert Pua, and LSTC staff person Larry Alexander are pictured above. Photo by Joan Beck. 

You answered the call

Thank you to alumni, friends and employees who answered the call to meet the Annual Fund Challenge. LSTC's Spring Phonathon was a great success! We spoke with 229 alumni and friends and nearly half of them made gifts to the Annual Fund.

Good news! The matching gift challenge continues. Another generous couple, inspired by Mark and Kathy Helge's gift, will be matching all new, renewed and increased gifts from July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014.

Be part of forming visionary leaders for the future of the church. A strong Annual Fund means a strong and sustainable seminary.

Make a gift online or call 773-256-0712.

When Charles Featherstone was an M.Div. student at LSTC, he began  writing songs based on Bible stories, ones that explain Lutheran theology, some he sang as children's sermons and even ones that paid tribute to LSTC faculty and staff. He's amassed quite a collection that you can listen to and watch on YouTube. You may also hear some of those songs and maybe even some new ones in person. Charles will be performing at the first ever Lion & Lamb Festival in Fort Wayne, Ind., Aug. 31 - Sept. 1.

Nominate distinguished alumni

We know they're out there, but we need you to tell us about them. Nominate an LSTC alum who does outstanding ministry for a 2014 LSTC Distinguished Alumni Award. You have until August 15 to send your nomination to LSTC's Alumni Board. The awards will be presented March 10, 2014, at the conclusion of the Leadership Conference. Find the form here. 

Take a few minutes now to fill it out and send it to Rachel Wind at rwind@lstc.edu.

Scholarships ease debt for "first generation"

LSTC students 

Toby Chow, a philosophy student at the University of Chicago, local community organizer and active member of Augustana Lutheran Church, begins his M.Div. program at LSTC this September. He will receive a Hope Scholarship, which will help ease the financial burden of tuition and living expenses each of his three years studying on campus. Read more about Toby on his TEDx talk bio page here. 

This year, LSTC is giving out its third round of Hope Scholarships to incoming students. Hope Scholarships are awarded on merit or need to students of color who will be the first in their family to attend seminary. Learn more  

To find out how you can create a Hope Scholarship, contact Mark Van Scharrel at mvanscha@lstc.edu or 773-256-0676.

Pastor Pete's M-O-S-Q-U-I-T-O song

Pete Warmanen (2003), a member of LSTC's Alumni Board, has a message from a mosquito about the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Check it out. 

Save the date: Seminex 40th Anniversary

2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Christ Seminary-Seminex. Alumni, friends, and faculty are invited to come to LSTC June 17-19, 2014, to celebrate. If you'd like to be part of planning this gathering, contact Mark Van Scharrel at mvanscha@lstc.edu.

Mark your calendar

Scherer Lecture: Christian Presence and the Syrian Civil War

Dr. Mary Mikhael presents the annual Scherer Lecture on Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. in LSTC's Common Room. Since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, Dr. Mikhael has been interpreting the consequences of this tragedy for the Syrian and Lebanese people, particularly the Christian communities. She will examine the conditions in Syria and the global Christian response to the mind-boggling misery there. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information see the Scherer Lecture page or contact Dr. Peter Vethanayagamony at pvethana@latc.edu.

Seminary Sampler-Oct. 20-22

Get a feel for what seminary life is like. Meet students and faculty. Attend chapel. Explore Hyde Park. Learn about candidacy and financial aid - and do all this with others who are discerning a call. Register at  here or call 773-256-0726.

Lutheran Heritage, Mexican Ancestry and the Future of the ELCA

The Rev. Dr. Javier "Jay" Alanis, executive director of the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, will present the Lutheran Heritage Lecture, "Lutheran Heritage, Mexican Ancestry and the Future of the ELCA," at LSTC on November 19 at 11:30 a.m. It is free and open to the public. The Lutheran Heritage Lecture Series is designed to provide a contemporary perspective on the Lutheran tradition.

Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center events

LSTC observes Hispanic Heritage month on Sept. 9, with "Treasures of Peru" presented at 5 p.m. in Room 350 and on Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. with conversation and a meal in the Refectory.

The Pero Multicultural Center Benefit Concert will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Augustana Chapel. At 10 a.m. on Oct. 14, attend the 2nd Annual Pero Multicultural Center Lecture, "Leading Multicultural Congregations" followed by a workshop on Christian education at 11:30 a.m.

The Arab/Middle Eastern Heritage Month conversation and meal is on Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Refectory.

At 4 p.m. on Oct. 21, the Pero Multicultural Center hosts a performance of the play, "Defamation" at LSTC.

Opportunities at LSTC       

Sept. 3 - Fall Semester begins

Sept. 4 - Opening Convocation

Sept. 9, 5 p.m. - Pero Multicultural Center "Treasures of Peru"

Sept. 19, 4 p.m. - Hispanic Heritage Month Conversation and Meal

Sept. 24, 4 p.m. - Scherer Lecture by Dr. Mary Mikhael

Oct. 13, 4 p.m. - Pero Multicultural Center Benefit Concert

Oct. 14, 10 p.m. - 2nd Annual Pero Multicultural Center Lecture

Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m. - Multicultural Workshop: Christian Education

Oct. 17, 4 p.m. - Arab/Middle Eastern Heritage Month Conversation
and Meal

Oct. 20 - 22 -Seminary Sampler

Oct. 21, 4 p.m. - "Defamation"

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