Heaven and earth are joined

Janice Heidlberger and Dr. Ben Stewart lighting Paschal candle  from the new fire at the 2013 Easter Vigil.

Exult, all creation around God's throne! Jesus Christ is risen!

From the first time I experienced it, the Easter Vigil has been my favorite liturgy. We tell stories and sing songs in the dark and then have a joyful, late-night party to celebrate the risen Christ. It's not just the drama that dazzles me. What I love most is the repeated message of all of creation being saved.

The holiness of this night puts to flight the deeds of wickedness; washes away sin; restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to those who mourn; casts out hate; brings peace; and humbles earthly pride.

Last week, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a draft report that is, in a word, devastating. Read it here. I'd like to live in a bubble of denial, but the winter we've had, the extreme weather and the environmental disasters in so many places around the world make me wonder, "Are we paying attention yet?"

The short answer is, yes, some of us are. On April 8 alumna Monica Villarreal and Lutheran World Federation Secretary for Youth Caroline Richter visited LSTC to talk about the Global Young Reformers Network (more about that in next month's E.pistle). Environmental and economic sustainability is a priority for LWF Youth. On the LWF web site is this call to fast for climate justice.

On campus, the Zygon Center, the Green Zone, and the Future of Creation class offer lectures, movies, and discussions to inform and motivate. Professor Emeritus David Rhoads and Lutherans Restoring Creation connect us to ELCA, synod, and secular resources and calls to action related to climate change on their web site here. 

This is the night in which heaven and earth are joined - things human and things divine.

Inside and outside the of the Great Vigil of Easter, our brokenness still exists, but we know that the saving grace of Christ's death and resurrection is for the whole creation. We must, in however halting or soaring a way we are able, live out that good news.

Blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter-

Jan Boden

Director of Communications and Marketing

jboden@lstc.edu

April 13 - 26th Annual LSTC Gospel Choir Concert

Come celebrate the beginning of the LSTC Gospel Choir's 2nd quarter-century with their concert, "Every Praise!" on Sun., April 13 at 4 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. Admission is free, but a freewill offering to support the Grover Wright and Rev. Carole A. Burns Scholarships will be gathered. Atmosphere of Heaven Ministry, St. Paul Lutheran School Praise Dancers, St. James Industrial M.B. Church Choir, and Shekinah Lutheran Church Praise Singers, will join the LSTC Gospel Choir in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC for an afternoon of Gospel music that you won't want to miss. Download the poster.

News from LSTC

Cynthia Moe-Lobeda to preach at LSTC's 154th Commencement

On Sun., May 18, Dr. Cynthia D. Moe-Lobeda, a leading voice in defining what it means to be a "public church," will preach at the Eucharist and Commencement Service for LSTC. The service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5472 South Kimbark Avenue, Chicago. Fifty-seven students will graduate from LSTC's six degree programs. Read more. 

Alumni sightings

Kirsten Fryer

Kirsten Fryer at St. Andrews United Church, Cairo Egypt

Dr. Michael Shelley, on a sabbatical trip to Cairo, Egypt, reports that he worshiped at St. Andrew's United Church, where Kirsten Fryer (2009, M.Div.) has been pastor since August 2013. Her spouse, Justin Kolb, is a professor of English at the American University in Cairo. Shelley served as pastor at St. Andrew's for a little over 10 years, 1988-1998. The Rev. Dr. Rosanne Swanson, former director of field education at LSTC, served there as associate pastor, 1994-1998.

Kaufmanns featured in Wellness video

If you're covered by Portico Benefits and are earning Wellness Rewards, you may have watched this year's video, "When Life Changes, How Do You Live Well?" It shows how Alum Greg Kaufmann (Christ Seminary-Seminex,1977, M.Div.) and his spouse, Diane, continue to live well despite the challenges of rheumatoid arthritis and lyme disease. Greg represents the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin on LSTC's Board of Directors.

Fear Not: Risk, Ministry and the Gospel-2014 Leadership Conference and Seminex 40th Anniversary Celebration

What do faithful leaders do when they need to take a risk for the sake of the gospel and the integrity of their call? The 2014 LSTC Leadership Conference explores that question, using the 1974 walkout of faculty, staff, and students from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and the formation of Christ Seminary-Seminex as a starting point.

"Fear Not: Risk, Ministry and the Gospel" will be held in conjunction with a Seminex 40th anniversary celebration that starts the afternoon of June 17. Former LSTC President William Lesher is the keynote speaker for the session. A celebration dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., with Bishop Robert Rimbo as the dinner speaker.

The Rev. Heidi Neumark, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City is the keynote speaker on June 18. She is the author of Breathing Space: A Spiritual Journey in the South Bronx, the story of her 19 years as pastor of Transfiguration Lutheran Church.

The morning of June 19 is reserved for class reunions on campus and concludes with worship in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. Get all the details and register online.

April 23 - Seminary Sampler Night at LSTC

Know someone interested in attending seminary? They're invited to a one-evening introduction to seminary on April 23, from 4:30 - 9 p.m. Contact Scott Chalmers at schalmers@lstc.edu or 773-256-0727 or go to the web page.

Opportunities in April

Earth Day Worship

The Albert "Pete" Pero Jr. Multicultural Center and the Kateri Center of Chicago are sponsoring a special Earth Day Worship on Tues., April 22 at 4 p.m. in the LSTC Courtyard. It will celebrate and honor the earth through Native American and Christian ritual and prayer. All are invited. Get the flier here. 

World Mission Institute looks at World Council of Churches' mission document

"Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes" is the topic of this year's World Mission Institute hosted April 24 and 25 at LSTC. The title is taken from the World Council of Churches' Affirmation on Mission and Evangelism presented at its 10th Assembly at Busan, Korea, in October 2013. On April 24 at 7 p.m. Adele Halliday, United Church of Canada Program Coordinator for Intercultural Engagement and Education, presents the keynote address. On April 25 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Professors Steven Bevans, David Esterline, Scott Alexander, and Rob Gallagher will give short reflections on the document. All are welcome. Contact Dr. Peter Vethanayagamony at pvethan@lstc.edu or 773-256-0749 for more details.

Annual Sacred Texts Conference April 27

Presenters from the three Abrahamic traditions will look at what our sacred texts say about care for the suffering. This year's conference is Sun., April 27, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the American Islamic College, 640 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. For more information, contact Sara Trumm at strumm@lstc.edu or 773-256-0708. Get the poster here. 

Imagine!

You make a gift for ministry. You receive an income tax charitable deduc­tion. You receive annuity payments of up to 9%, depending on your age. Part of each annuity payment is tax free. Did I mention you will also be making a gift to The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago? Ask about charitable gift annuities. Call Mark Van Scharrel at 773-256-0676 or email mvanscha@lstc.edu.

Spring Stewardship Conference

"Overcoming the Stewardship and Financial Confusions in Your Congregation" is the topic of a one-day Stewardship Conference sponsored by the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and LSTC on May 3. Matthew M. Thomas, a senior consultant with Design Group International, will help congregations get the "two sides of the ledger" to work as a team, identifying and clearing up commonplace financial and stewardship confusions. The conference, held at LSTC, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, runs from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit

the web site.

Your Annual Fund gift to LSTC matched until June 30

Please remember that generous donors have extended the LSTC Annual Fund Challenge for a third year, offering to match $500,000 of new, renewed, or increased gifts to the Annual Fund received by June 30, 2014. Your gift will be matched if it is:

• New - If your first gift to LSTC was June 1, 2011 (or anytime since then), 100% of your gifts this year will be matched dollar for dollar.
• Renewed - If you "got back on board" and started giving again to LSTC since June 1, 2011, your gifts will be matched again this year dollar for dollar.
• Increased - If you've increased your giving the last two years, your "increase" will be matched dollar for dollar again this year.

It's easy to make a gift online or contact the LSTC Advancement Office at 773-256-0712.

Opportunities at LSTC       

April - Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Apr. 13, 4 p.m. - 26th Annual LSTC Gospel Choir Concert

Apr. 22, 4 p.m. - Earth Day Worship

Apr. 23, 4:30 p.m. - Seminary Sampler Night

Apr. 24, 7 p.m. - World Mission Institute

Apr. 25, 9 a.m. - World Mission Institute

Apr. 27, 1:30 p.m. - Sacred Texts Conference, American Islamic College

May 6, 12:20 p.m. - Manz Organ Series Recital

May 18, 2:30 p.m. - 154th Commencement, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

June 17, 1:30 p.m. - Christ Seminary-Seminex 40th Anniversary Celebration $

June 17, 6:30 p.m. - Celebration Dinner $

June 18, 9 a.m. - "Fear Not: Risks, Ministry, and the Gospel" $

June 18, 5 p.m. - Distinguished Alumni Awards and Reception

June 19, 9:30 a.m. - Class gatherings

June 19, 11 a.m. - Closing worship

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