Richard R. Caemmerer Jr., longtime visiting professor at LSTC, dies

Legendary gospel organist and choirmaster Pastor Maceo L. Woods and the Christian Tabernacle Choir  are the special guest at the 28th Annual LSTC Gospel Choir Concert, "Unity" on Sunday, April 10 at 4 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC. It's a "don't miss" program that also features the Shekinah Chapel Praise Team, Atmosphere of Heaven, which has been nominated for the Praise & Worship Album of the Year by Chicago Gospel Music Awards, saxophonist Harvard Stephens Jr., and the LSTC Gospel Choir.

The concert is free, but a freewill offering will be collected. Proceeds from the concert support the Grover Wright Scholarship and the Rev. Carole A. Burns Scholarship. Make a gift online by clicking "Make a Gift" and designating your gift for the scholarship fund of your choice or the LSTC Gospel Choir. For more information, contact Marissa Tweed at gospelchoir@lstc.edu.

Come to Seminary Sampler Night, an event specifically for commuters and Chicago area prospective students.You'll do all the groovy things you'd do at a two-day sampler :

• Explore your call and learn about LSTC's academic programs
• Sit in on a class and share a meal with faculty, staff, and students
• Discuss candidacy, financial aid and community life.
• Plus, we'll discuss how you can thrive as a part-time/ commuter student

It's on Monday, April 11, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. Dinner is provided. Spouses and partners are invited to attend. Childcare is available. To learn more, contact Scott Chalmers at schalmers@lstc.edu or 773-256-0727 or visit the webpage.

In a number of mainline churches in North America, the relationship between font and table is currently being debated. On Sat., April 11, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., hear ecumenical perspectives on the relationship between confession of faith and eucharist throughout the history of the church, how current pastoral practice might best invite to the table in our postmodern context, and the ecumenical implications of open communion. Panelists are: Dr. Ron Anderson, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary; Dr. Claudio Carvalhaes, McCormick Theological Seminary, Dr. Frank Senn, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary; and Dr. Ben Stewart, LSTC.

Held at LSTC, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, Room 350. For more information contact Shane Brinegar at shane.brinegar@lstc.edu.

In observance of Women's History Month, Director of the JKM Library Christine Wenderoth writes about why gender inclusive language is important. Read it at "We talk. We listen: Conversations about Diversity."

Alumnus John Gugel has published the new book, Faith Confronts Nuclear Power: A Theological Critique (Wipf and Stock). Alarmed by the apparent lack of concern about this issue, Gugel calls people of faith to action in the battle against nuclear power. He asks, "What is it doing to the earth God created?" and  "How do we care for the earth if we allow it to continue?" Professor Emeritus Ralph Klein commented, "John Gugel has long insisted that the church needs to have a public face that addresses society and its problems in addition to attending to the faith life of individuals. . .Anyone who reads this book will not want to remain on the sidelines."  Learn more.

You loved it in print, now get it online! Currents in Theology and Mission, the journal published quarterly by LSTC and Wartburg Theological Seminary, went digital in January. Dr. Kadi Billman, Craig Nessan and Samuel Giere edit the journal. Barbara Lundblad edits Preaching Helps. Get yours here.

It's a nerve-wracking time of year at LSTC.

Seniors have their synod assignments and now they are waiting to hear from their new bishop about congregations looking for a new pastor.

Middlers are done with their half-dozen internship interviews. They have submitted their preferences. And now it's out of their hands. They'll know sometime in April where they'll be living next year.

Juniors are working on setting up CPE sites for the summer and filling out paperwork for next year's Ministry in Context site assignment.

And, of course classes are still in session. Reading, papers, Greek!

And that's just the MDiv students. MAM and MATS students are writing papers and summative evaluations. ThM students are sitting for exams. DMin students are preparing for summer residency or finishing up their professional papers. PhD students are writing, revising, and defending their dissertations.

So is that the bad news or the good news? Well, both/and. Seminary is an incredibly busy time, but not for the sake of being busy. They do it for the sake of bringing, as President Nieman says, "a more credible, gracious, and effective witness to the gospel in the many arenas of life they will encounter."

Have a conversation with an LSTC student and you will find out how well-equipped they are to do just that. You will also hear how mentors, friends, family, community, teachers, classmates, supported and shaped them.

You play an essential role in all of this through your gifts, your prayers, your encouragement. You can support current and future students by making a gift online right now.

Thank you!

The Chicago Council of Religious Leaders is hosting a preview screening of the National Geographic documentary, "The Story of God," on March 30 at 7 p.m. at Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Avenue, Chicago. LSTC alum and Metropolitan Chicago Synod Bishop Wayne Miller serves as the moderator of a panel discussion following the screening. Read more about the event from the Council of Religious Leaders.

Hear recent sermons by Richard Perry Jr., Ray Pickett, student Amy Michelson, Vitor Westhelle,  and other faculty, and senior MDiv students.