Showing posts with label virginia theological seminary. Show all posts

10 November 2020

#AdventWord Gathers Christians for Prayer via a Global Online Advent Calendar

10/16/2020

Media Contact: Elizabeth Panox-Leach
Tel: 703-461-1764
Email: epanox-leach@vts.edu

ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ONLINE – For the seventh year in a row, #AdventWord will gather prayers via a global, online advent calendar. Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in partnership with Forward Movement is offering 27 daily meditations and images during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 29. During a year of disparate worship and communities of prayer, AdventWord offers a way to reflect and pause for the Advent season and await the birth of Christ.

Gathering a worldwide community, #AdventWord provides a daily meditation, visual image, and invites your personal reflections via social media to share your own Advent journey. Thousands have participated each year, responding to the words with photos, written responses, crafts, drawings, poems, found art, and Holy Spirit-filled posts.

“It is amazing to witness the prayers from around the world appearing on social media when Advent begins,” says AdventWord program director, Sarah Stonesifer Boylan. “I am really pleased to see that VTS has been able to continue to provide this offering consistently for four years, each time building on its success, and I’m excited to join with Forward Movement this year to expand the offering.”

In addition to the short daily meditations via email and social media, Forward Movement offers a print booklet of scripture-based longer reflections, action items, and questions. Waiting & Watching: Advent Word Reflections is available for purchase and is a perfect personal prompt following the #AdventWords and Sunday lectionaries. Each day includes a “doodle prayer” prompt by Praying in Color author, Sybil MacBeth. Forward Movement also offers a package of Advent prayer calendars created by MacBeth to accompany your #AdventWord.

“Forward Movement is delighted to be a partner in this year’s #AdventWord,” said Richelle Thompson, managing editor of Forward Movement. “Immersing ourselves in the Word of God is a wonderful way to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. #AdventWord offers many different ways to participate, enabling us to make this journey together.”

The Advent Sunday lectionary readings and The Way of Love inspire the word list for #AdventWord. Discover the visual and written meditations and give yourself the opportunity to dive deeper into the stories of this waiting season.

The prompts for 2020 #AdventWord are:

November 29 Tender
November 30 Deliver
December 1 Strengthen
December 2 Earth
December 3 Rebuild
December 4 Fellowship
December 5 Glory
December 6 Speak
December 7 Comfort
December 8 Patient
December 9 Mercy
December 10 Baptize
December 11 Word
December 12 Honey
December 13 Go
December 14 Rest
December 15 Worship
December 16 Pray
December 17 Learn
December 18 Bless
December 19 Turn
December 20 Rejoice
December 21 Mystery
December 22 Wisdom
December 23 Holy
December 24 Proclaim

The #AdventWord Images and meditations can be experienced through AdventWord.org, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and ASL videos via YouTube. Meditations will also be available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole via email and on www.adventword.org. Find Watching & Waiting on www.forwardmovement.org.

For more information:

www.AdventWord.org

www.instagram.com/adventword

www.twitter.com/AdventWord

www.facebook.com/AdventWordOrg

AdventWord@vts.edu

703-461-1885

###

Founded in 1823 as a beacon of hope in a country new and finding its way, Virginia Theological Seminary has led the way in forming leaders of the Episcopal Church, including: the Most Rev. John E. Hines (VTS 1933, D.D. 1946), former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church; the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker (VTS 1954, D.D. 1978), the first African-American bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; and theologian, author and lay preacher Ms. Verna J. Dozier (VTS D.D. 1978). Serving the worldwide Anglican Communion, Virginia Theological Seminary educates approximately 25% of those being ordained who received residential theological education. Visit us online at www.vts.edu.

#AdventWord Gathers Christians for Prayer via a Global Online Advent Calendar

10/16/2020

www.AdventWord.org

www.instagram.com/adventword

www.twitter.com/AdventWord

www.facebook.com/AdventWordOrg

AdventWord@vts.edu

#AdventWord Gathers Christians for Prayer via a Global Online Advent Calendar

10/16/2020

www.AdventWord.org

www.instagram.com/adventword

www.twitter.com/AdventWord

www.facebook.com/AdventWordOrg

AdventWord@vts.edu

22 September 2017

Draughting Theology ~ wonderful blog by the Rev. Steve Pankey

https://draughtingtheology.wordpress.com/

For "PayItForward" and "FollowFriday", I highly recommend the wonderful blog, "Draughting Theology," by my old seminary friend, the Rev. Steve Pankey. Steve is a dedicated blogger, who has blogged about the Bible for many years now. Over these years, he has delved deeply into all sorts of questions of scripture, and has a way not only with language, but also with connecting the scriptures to everyday life. His devotion to scripture is impressive, and his thoughtfulness is deep. He has a large following, and it is richly deserved. If you have not checked out his blog, I highly recommend it!

~Peter+

15 September 2017

Dr. Stephen Cook's Blog ~ Biblische Ausbildung

For this "Pay it Forward"/#FollowFriday, I want to highlight the excellent blog of my former seminary professor, Dr. Stephen L. Cook. Dr. Cook is a scholar of the Old Teatament / Hebrew Bible at Virginia Theological Seminary. He is an excellent teacher, scholar, and mentor, and has taught hundreds of students in his career. Dr. Cook's love and devotion of scripture is intertwined with a keen and incisive mind and many years of delving into the Old Testament / Holy Scriptures. Do go check out his excellent blog, Biblische Ausbildung!

~Peter+

http://biblische.blogspot.com/

12 September 2017

Check out "Faith Rules" by Ian Markham

I am always looking for new resources, books, videos, materials of all sorts which can help us delve deeper into our lives, and grow and transform. I happened across the "Faith Rules" resources assembled by Ian Markham, the Dean and President of my seminary, the Virginia Theological Seminary. Looks to be some great resources. I recommend them highly!

Blessings on this Tuesday,

Peter+

From the Very Rev. Dr. Ian Markham:

"For those searching for a gentle version of ALPHA, Faith Rules can help. Sam Gottlich and I have created the guidance notes for leaders on the website www.faith-rules.com (under resources). It is great to see the interest the book is generating. When at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wilmington DE, I had some fun reading some of the Rules relating to the Episcopal tribe. Please click here for the downloadable resources"
- http://www.faith-rules.com/resources

14 October 2015

Consecration of the Virginia Theological Seminary chapel - Immanuel Chapel

I was glad to hear that the "new" chapel at my seminary, Virginia Theological Seminary, was consecrated today with the help of our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, and also Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. It looks like a glorious new space, and I am thankful that the seminary has retained the shell of the "old" chapel and made it into a meditation garden. That chapel held a special place for me as I worshipped there every day for three years, and many significant moments happened there including the funerals of several VTS community members, the baptism of my son, and where I heard wonderful preaching, and where I myself gave my senior homily (with great trepidation). Blessings on the entire VTS Community! May Immanuel Chapel be a place of deep holiness, prayer, and peace.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

“Peace be to this house, and to all who enter here…”

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori opened the doors of Immanuel Chapel yesterday morning in a service of consecration and dedication; Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, preached. The service leaflet is available as a pdf here, and the VTS press release can be found here.

A 4:00 Evensong, with the Archbishop officiating, and the 25th Presiding Bishop,Frank T. Griswold III, blessing the change ringing bells.

The coming year will be a continued celebration of the chapel, which replaces the chapel that burned in 2010, with events including exhibits, a hymn sing with Alice Parker among others, organ recitals, a storytellers class by Donald Davis, lectures and talks by speakers including Katharine Jefferts Schori and other events: the schedule can be found here.

The morning service can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fj-arSLQps

23 January 2011

VTS Chapel photos

I recently made my way to see the VTS Chapel for the first time since the fire that destroyed it on October 22nd of 2010. I snapped a few pictures as I walked around the chapel. It was sad to see it in ruins, but also brought back many memories of time in that place. I also have a deep and abiding trust in the leadership of VTS and Immanuel Church on the Hill who will discern the best way forward for a new chapel.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

28 October 2010

And, even more memories of VTS Chapel

More memories of VTS Chapel, purely my own, purely from my own memory...

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

VTS, class of 2007

I already posted 1-5...

Chapel Memory #1 - The baptism of my son on the Easter Monday in 2006 along with wonderful sermon by the Rev. Michael White (now of Savannah), and celebrant the Rev. Joseph Constant (of VTS), and drumming by yours truly and the Rev. Lester MacKenzie (from South Africa, now in LA), and guitar by the Rev. Joseph Hensley (of Durham, NC)..."marching in the light of God," "I want to walk as a child of the light...'

Chapel Memory #2 - Memorial Service of Alice Hensley

Chapel Memory #3 - Sitting in the balcony next to theological ethicist Stanley Hauerwas (of Duke University) (who knew the Book of Common Prayer Service by heart) who turned to me and said how glad he was that we were singing so many Wesley hymns.

Chapel Memory #4 - Preaching my "Senior Sermon" there - was nervous as all get-out.

Chapel Memory #5 - Memorial Service of Adam Goren, VTS '05

Chapel Memory #6 - Hearing the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry (of the Diocese of North Carolina) preach, and seeing him shake the pulpit with such force that we thought he was going to get it unhinged.

Chapel Memory #7 - Attending many many community Eucharists with my family in the evening, only to have to bring my young son outside during the service - and playing out there on the circle of grass with him and with the other kids while others prayed and heard the sermon. Perhaps letting me know just how hard it can be to bring kids to church.

Chapel Memory #8 - Trying to kneel during the services and never really having enough room to get my feet under the pew that I had been sitting on. People must have had smaller feet 130 years ago, or they were more flexible, or both.

Chapel Memory #9 - Singing the fraction anthem for the first time, very nervous, but great fun!

Chapel Memory #10 - A particular sermon by the Rev. Dr. Tony Lewis on the Gerasene Demoniac, in which Tony unpacked the story in about 3 1/2 minutes - amazing.

Chapel Memory #11 - Taking Liturgics Practicum from the Rev. Andrew Merrow, learning a bit how to preside over the mysteries at the altar, I think of that space and those lessons often when I am presiding at the Eucharist.

Chapel Memory #12 - The memorial service for Professor Cook's daughter.

Chapel Memory #13 - Witnessing the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu baptize the son of the Rev. Dr. Michael Battle. Desmond Tutu is a gift.

Chapel Memory #14 - Hearing the Rev. Dr. Katherine Grieb give a sermon in which she referenced the "White Washed Tombs" in Matthew 23:27 and likened them to the white monuments of Washington, DC, calling upon us all to do more than merely remember the poor and oppressed - but get busy!

Chapel Memory #15 - Assisting at the "Table" next to Bishop Marc Dyer at (what was then called) an Experimental Noonday Eucharist and noting his rather unique way of celebrating the Eucharist, influenced I'm sure, by his work with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

18 September 2009

Brian McLaren to speak at VTS

from Dean Ian Markham's "Dean's Commentary" today

9/18/2009

I am delighted to announce today the Commencement speaker for 2010. Brian D. McLaren has accepted the Seminary’s invitation to issue the Charge to our graduating class on Thursday May 20, 2010.

Brian McLaren is a leading light in the ‘emerging church’ movement. He is a gifted communicator, a thoughtful theologian, and an inspiring leader of a congregation. As a communicator, Brian McLaren has appeared on a range of television and radio programs, including Larry King Live and Nightline. As a theologian, he comes to questions in theology with a remarkable breath partly because of his training and teaching experience in English Literature. And as a leader of a congregation, he was one of the founding members of Cedar Ridge Community Church – a strong and dynamic community. His writings have won awards and been widely praised. He offers a substantial critique of the Church in an accessible way. Among his many writings, there are The Church on the Other Side: Doing Ministry in the Postmodern Matrix, and A Generous Orthodoxy.

We are truly honored to have Brian McLaren as our Commencement speaker.

The Very Rev Ian Markham
Dean and President

Virginia Theological Seminary

31 August 2009

Congrats to the Rev. Dr. Katherine Sonderegger!

One of the finest teachers I have ever had is the Rev. Dr. Katherine (Kate) Sonderegger. She taught me in several courses at VTS, the most remarkable was the seminar on Barth, in which we only just began to scratch the surface of his Church Dogmatics.

Congrats to her as she was selected to be a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton Theological Seminary...

...congratulations and blessings, Kate!

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

From VTS Dean Ian Markham's Commentary:

"...we congratulate our Professor of Theology, the Rev. Dr. Katherine Sonderegger, who has been selected to be a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry for the duration of her sabbatical from Virginia Theological Seminary. She joins scholars from Switzerland, Australia, and the United Kingdom. She is part of an elite group of twelve members (including the Bishop of Durham, N. T. Wright) for time apart to write, think, and reflect on God and God's relations with the world."

Read it all HERE

16 July 2009

Congrats to Dr. John Yieh! Full Professor at Virginia Theological Seminary

My former professor, John Yieh, has been made full professor and has also won a distinguished faculty award! Congratulations!!

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Read more on Dr. Yieh HERE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Dean Markham's Deans' Commentary Today

7/16/2009
Virginia Theological Seminary has a strong and distinguished faculty. The Rev. John Y. H. Yieh, Ph.D. has not simply been made full professor after a demanding process of evaluation, but also the recipient of the 2009 Suzanne F. Thomas Faculty Research Award.

This important Award is an opportunity for the Seminary to recognize major research projects and support excellence in scholarship. Dr. Yieh is a worthy recipient of this award.

Dr. Yieh’s research interests range widely. He has not simply written on Matthew’s Gospel, in particular the Sermon on the Mount, but he is also one of the leading scholars on the reception of Christianity in China. Given that China is a leading economic and cultural power in the world, this work on understanding Christianity in China is enormously important. This is a pioneering research area; thanks to John Yieh, the Seminary is leading the way.

It is so good that we have this award. It is an award given to the Seminary in honor of Suzanne Thomas who believed in the importance of research underpinning teaching. We are grateful for the interest of our friends who support the Seminary.

The Very Rev Ian Markham
Dean and President

27 May 2009

Congrats to the Rev. Charles L. Fischer III! Director of Virginia Seminary's Alumni Affairs and Annual Fund Giving!

Charles Fischer to Head Virginia Seminary's Alumni Affairs and Annual Fund Giving

5.27.09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Susan Shillinglaw
Tel: 703-461-1764
Email: sshillinglaw@vts.edu

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Virginia Theological Seminary has announced the appointment of the Rev. Charles L. Fischer III as the new Director of Alumni, Annual Fund and Church Relations in the Office of Institutional Advancement. This new position is the result of two merged positions: Director of Alumni Affairs and Church Relations and Director of the Annual Fund. Fischer steps into his new position on July 1, 2009.

The Search Committee that selected Fischer included the Rev. Lonnie Lacy, the immediate past-president of the Alumni/Alumnae Executive Committee (AAEC), a present co-chair, the Rev. Blake Rider, of the Class Stewards, faculty representative, the Rev. A. Katherine Grieb, and two representatives from Institutional Advancement.

Fischer received his M.Div. from Virginia Seminary this past Thursday. He has distinguished himself as a campus leader, serving this past year as the Student Body President.

“I have valued Charles’ voice and perspective in our regular meetings,” stated the Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, dean and president of Virginia Seminary. “As we faced the economic upheaval of last fall, it was Charles who stepped forward to challenge the student body to give to the Annual Fund. Because of his efforts, 100% of the Middler Class made a gift or pledged to the unrestricted Annual Fund. That’s leadership we can bank on!”

Read it all HERE

21 May 2009

Check out VTS graduation online - Bishop Barbara Harris at Virginia Theological Seminary

Click HERE or go to www.vts.edu

Bishop Barbara Harris to Address Class of 2009 at Virginia Seminary's 186th Commencement

5.18.09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Susan Shillinglaw

Tel: 703-461-1764
Email: sshillinglaw@vts.edu

Alexandria, VA - Bishop Barbara Harris will address the Class of 2009 at Virginia Theological Seminary’s 186th Commencement ceremony on May 21, 2009. Sixty-one graduates will receive degrees of either Master in Divinity, Master in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Christian Education/Youth Ministry, Doctor of Ministry, Post-Graduate Diplomas in Anglican Studies, or Certificate of Work Accomplished.

When she was consecrated as bishop in 1988, Barbara Harris became the first African American woman to be ordained bishop in the Anglican Communion. She has previously served as Bishop Suffragan in the diocese of Massachusetts before retiring in 2002, and as an Assisting Bishop in the Diocese of Washington after retirement. For more details on Bishop Harris’ background, please visit http://www.edow.org/diocese/bishops/harris_bio.html.

For the second year in a row, Virginia Seminary will be streaming the commencement ceremony in its entirety through the VTS website (www.vts.edu). If you are unable to be present on Thursday, please join us online at 10:00 a.m.

Founded in 1823, Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest of the 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church. The school prepares men and women for service in the Church worldwide, both as ordained and lay ministers, and offers a number of professional degree programs and diplomas. Currently, the Seminary represents more than 40 different dioceses and five different countries, for service in the Church.

31 December 2008

Encountering the Mystery of God: Reading Stephen Cook's, "Conversations with Scripture: 2 Isaiah"

One of the brilliant teachers I was blessed to have in seminary was Dr. Stephen Cook, who is a wonderful Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) scholar, as well as a great teacher and writer (also, check out his blog HERE). He published "Conversations with Scripture: 2 Isaiah" this year and I have browsed it just a bit until this point. Being the final day of the year (at least in the Julian Calendar), and being that this is a day "off" (though occupied with watching children, cleaning the house, etc), I picked it up again. This book has a wonderful discussion and exposition of 2 Isaiah, the 2nd part of the book of Isaiah, a book of the Old Testament that (along with the Psalms) is quoted the most in the New Testament, and one that we hear often in the Christmas season. It is a good read, and Cook is brilliant in helping us to see this book with new eyes, not making the complex overly simple, but giving some "onramps" into this incredible text.

The "mystery" of God is central to 2 Isaiah, and Cook has helped me to encounter this "awe-ful" aspect of God in new ways, here is just an excerpt from the Introduction:

"Awe before Isaiah's God refreshes our reverence. It submerges the ego, paving the way for owning up to our frailty. It turns us outward from concern with self to the need and suffering for others, especially the poor and peripheral. As we repose ever more deeply in God's mystery, the Lord who is absolutely sufficient for our succor increasingly works through us to relieve others' brokenness. Simultaneously, the Holy transforms us into ever more reverent advocates of the natural world."

Just brilliant, thank you Dr. Cook!

~ Rev. Peter M. Carey

23 December 2008

End of year commentary from Dean Markham of Virginia Theological Seminary

End of year commentary from Dean Ian Markham of Virginia Theological Seminary. Read the Dean's Commentary HERE

~ Rev. Peter M. Carey

_______________________
12/23/2008

The Commentary is not written when the Seminary is closed. So this is the last day for the Commentary until January 2 2009. As 2008 comes to a close with the annual celebration of Christmastide, it is worth pausing to reflect on this year.

Much has been accomplished. The Strategic Planning Process came to a culmination with the Board’s adoption of a four year plan at the November board meeting. Thanks to the hard work of the maintenance team, the Seminary was a winner of the Alexandria Beautification Award. William Roberts, David Gortner and Jonathan Gray joined the Faculty, while George Kroupa and Ed Hall moved on. Three Foundations supported the Seminary with significant grants – the Henry Luce Foundation provided the Center for Anglican Communion Studies with a grant for ‘Interreligious’ work, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation provided funding for our work in the area of Ethnic Ministries, while the Lilly Endowment provided the start up funds for the Second Three years program. Virginia Theological Seminary was the only Seminary in the Anglican Communion with a booth at the Lambeth Conference of 2008, beautifully captured in the Fall issue of the Journal. Over 250 people came to our dinner, which was held there. Meriwether Godsey served countless outstanding meals in the Refectory and at the Deanery. Kathy Grieb continued her hard work on the Covenant for the Anglican Communion. Stephen Cook and Joyce Mercer both published important books. And of course, lots of students graduated and many more arrived.

We enter 2009 with some concerns. The dramatic fall in the value of the Seminary’s endowment will need some careful management. The Episcopal Church continues to face the challenges of disagreement both internally and across the Communion. All of this will make 2009 a testing time.

Yet Christmas is almost upon us. The Christchild is here: once again we remember the disclosure of divine love in a baby in a manager. For this moment, we give thanks. And we offer to God our worries, trusting that God’s grace is sufficient for every challenge the Seminary will have to face.

The Very Rev Ian Markham
Dean and President

Pages

10 November 2020

#AdventWord Gathers Christians for Prayer via a Global Online Advent Calendar

#AdventWord Gathers Christians for Prayer via a Global Online Advent Calendar

#AdventWord Gathers Christians for Prayer via a Global Online Advent Calendar

22 September 2017

15 September 2017

12 September 2017

14 October 2015

23 January 2011

28 October 2010

18 September 2009

31 August 2009

16 July 2009

27 May 2009

21 May 2009

31 December 2008

23 December 2008

11 October 2008

Peter Carey+