Nature in the city; LSTC survey coming your way; April events
April 2016 E.pistle
Nature in the city
Nichols Park, Chicago
by Thomas Oord

When LSTC faculty member Lea Schweitz asked her students  where they connect spirituality and creation, she realized something was missing from their responses: the city. They simply were not seeing creation in the urban landscape of Hyde Park and Chicago.
 
She says,"That makes sense in a certain way. For example, there are ways of reading Christianity that are very anti-urban. But given the trends toward urbanization and the research about how important nature is to human wellbeing, it seemed like we had to think about how we can open up the city as a place to see both God and nature at work in it."

To explore this more fully, Schweitz applied for a multi-year grant with the Enhancing Life Project. You can read more about her project in an interview shared by the Enhancing Life Project.

You can also read Schweitz's meditations on finding nature in the city on her new blog, wildsparrows.com. It's lyrical writing about the realities and wonder of God at work in the nature all around us.
 
Blessings,

Jan Boden,
Director of Communications and Marketing
jboden@lstc.edu
LSTC survey coming your way

We need your help. Since February, LSTC has been in a re-branding process to help us communicate more clearly the seminary's mission and value to prospective students, to alumni and donors, and the the church.

You can help us as we test those messages. On Thursday, you will receive another email inviting you to respond to an online survey. Please take a few minutes to respond when you get the link to the survey. Your responses are completely confidential. Your opinion matters to us!

Thank you!
News from LSTC

Hendel honored with Festschrift, "Subject to None, Servant of All"

On March 14, colleagues surprised Kurt K. Hendel, Bernard, Fischer, Westberg Distinguished Ministry Professor Emeritus of Reformation History at LSTC by presenting him with the Festschrift, Subject to None, Servant of All: Essays in Christian Scholarship in Honor of Kurt Karl Hendel. Read more.

The Rev. Dr. Richard J. Perry Jr. to preach at LSTC's 156th Commencement 
Richard Perry Jr.

On Sunday, May 15, the Rev. Dr. Richard J. Perry Jr., professor of church and society and director of the urban ministry program at LSTC will preach at LSTC's Eucharist and Commencement Service. The service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5472 South Kimbark Avenue, Chicago. Fifty-two students will graduate from LSTC's six degree programs. Read more.
Font and Table: Who is Welcome?

In a number of mainline churches in North America, the relationship between font and table is currently being debated. On Sat., April 16, 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.
LSTC Guild Spring Meeting
From Call to Arrival: How International Students Come to LSTC

Join Deaconess Katie Croft Lubeck and students Esther Buck and Godson Jacob at the April 23 LSTC Guild Spring Meeting. Redeemer Lutheran Church, 139 East 1st St., Hinsdale, Ill., is hosting the meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Your optional Guild membership of $20 or a donation of any amount will go directly to support LSTC's large and diverse community of international students and scholars. You are also encouraged to bring a new pillow or an electric fan for the students and their families. Please RSVP by April 18 to Erin Bodenstab  or Marilyn Olson (773-256-0690). Learn more about the LSTC Guild .
Jan Schnell Rippentrop
Faculty Panel:
Law & Gospel in Preaching

On April 20, Jan Schnell Rippentrop, Axel Jacob and Gerda Maria (Swanson) Carlson Chair in Homiletics at LSTC, joins fellow faculty members Esther Menn, Ralph W. and Marilyn R. Klein Chair in Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture; Kurt Hendel, Bernard, Fischer, Westberg Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Reformation History; and Vitor Westhelle, professor of systematic theology, share perspectives on law and gospel in preaching. Dean of the Chapel Harvard Stephens Jr. will moderate the discussion, which starts at 2:30 in the East Conference Room at LSTC. The event is free and open to the public. Share the Facebook event.
2016 Leadership Conference and Distinguished Alumni/ae Awards
Public Church, Public Leaders: Women in Leadership

Public church includes the congregation and all the mission we do together in the world around us. We are called to do public church together. We are better together.
Mikka McCracken
 
Tuesday, Oct. 11 thru Thurs., Oct. 13, come to LSTC to learn from an eclectic group of public church leaders who are national leaders for young adults, refugee resettlement, charity, and advocacy. You will gain a network of powerful women leaders while you discover actionable steps for engaging people in ministry to make a difference in the world. Build community with friends and alumni at the alumni/ae dinner on Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, celebrate the 2016 LSTC Distinguished Alumni/ae at an awards presentation and reception.

Linda Hartke, CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and Rozella White, ELCA Director of Young Adult Ministries, are the keynote speakers. LSTC Dean of the Chapel will preach and preside at Wednesday Eucharist and Mikka McCracken, Director of Planning and Engagement for ELCA World Hunger, preaches at the closing worship serivce.

Cost will be $175 for the full conference and alumni/ae dinner; $100 for Wed. only; $100 for 2013-2016 LSTC graduates; $25 for alumni dinner. No charge for Distinguished Alumni/ae Award ceremony and reception. Registration begins in May.

Details here. Contact Jen Thomas at jthomas@lstc.edu.
We Talk. We Listen.

This month, "We Talk. We Listen." continues to explore gender. Read Pastor Andrew Tobias Nelson's (2012, MDiv) post, "My gender, so far. . ." You may have also seen Pastor Nelson featured in the April Living Lutheran article, "When making a living and living in service intersect."


Currents now online

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. The April issue focuses on the Eco-Reformation celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.

Dr. Kadi Billman, Craig Nessan and Samuel Giere edit the journal. Barbara Lundblad edits Preaching Helps. Get yours here.
Benefits for you and LSTC

The markets have been rather jittery with wild swings up and down since the beginning of 2016.

You can insure a steady stream of income and be a "Pillar of the Seminary" by using investing a portion of your assets, in a charitable gift annuity. Establishing an annuity with $10,000 or more could benefit you with tax savings and a steady income. It also will provide an important gift to LSTC.

Learn more by contacting Clyde Walter at cwalter@lstc.edu or calling 773-256-0714.
Listen to faculty and student sermons

Hear recent sermons by Jan Rippentrop, Ben Stewart, James Nieman, and other faculty, and senior MDiv students.
More Opportunities at LSTC

All opportunities are held at LSTC, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, and are free unless otherwise noted.
 
Manz Organ Series Concert  
Andrew Paul Fredel, director of music, Gethsemane Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, Minn., presents a 30-minute free recital on the Ruth and Paul Manz Organ in the Augustana Chapel at LSTC, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, May 3 at 12:15 p.m.

Events and opportunities
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago | 773-256-0700 | www.lstc.edu 
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