Words of Welcome from our Dean of Students
Author: Rev. Deb Auger
The walkways are resurfaced. The landscaping is refreshed. The Chapel has been renovated and waiting for voices of prayer and praise. How have you been prepared to enter this new academic year? When my children were small the annual trek for school clothes and supplies was always bittersweet. The end of the summer brought with it school schedule, homework, and inevitably, more growing up! But it also brings new possibilities, learning, and yes, more growing up! We read in Ephesians that we must grow up in every way into Christ who is the head, the source. And that we are being built up into love (Eph. 4:14-16). Not into power, or strength, or even wisdom, but love. Love is both our source and our end. It is our prayer that love would mark and sustain us as we learn, grow, and become the people God has intended us to be.
“We must grow up in every way into Christ who
is the head…It is our prayer that love
would mark and sustain us as we learn, grow,
and become the people God has intended us to be.”
This new academic year brings with it exciting new changes in space and personnel. We are thrilled to welcome to our community Rev. Dr. Dwight Perry as the new Dean of Faculty. Dr. Perry is our Convocation preacher which you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendars for Aug. 31 at 11:00 am. This event will be followed by a beautiful luncheon in Hamming Hall. We are also blessed to welcome Dr. Elizabeth Pierre as a newly designated tenure track faculty member! Another new staff member is Cristina Altiery who is filling in for Emily Wagner who is out on maternity leave until mid- October.
Our chapel has had a major technological renovation as well as cosmetic ones. Contractors and our own physical plant staff have been working hard to get it ready for us. We will have a new space in which to live out our life of worship together this year. In addition, we received a grant from the Calvin Institute of Worship to discover ways to “worship across” various divides that plague us including ability, culture, and politics to name a few. This year we will have six “worship across” chapels where we bring in expert practitioners to model worship across followed by a lunch forum for further conversation. Check the Chapel Corner for more details.
Whether you are a new or returning student or community member, we have each been called to North Park in this season that we might continue to grow up into Christ. May the love of God compel us toward growth and sustain us in the growing pangs. Welcome to a new year!