Pizza Study Break
Has the stress of finals diminished your Christmas cheer? Does the thought of having to cook and write a ten-page paper fill you with dread? Do you like pizza? If you answered yes to any of those questions, be sure to join Student Association for a pizza study break at 6:30pm on Wednesday, December 11. Pizza and grab-and-go snacks will be available. Feel free to stay and chat or fuel up on your way back to the library.
Registration for Spring Semester is Live!
Registration for spring semester is open! If you have not yet signed up for courses, it is highly recommended that you do so before the end of the semester. Questions regarding registration should be directed to your advisor or to the Office of Academic Services (semacademicserv@northpark.edu). Below are several unique options to consider as you plan your classes.
THEO 6355 Foundations of Worship Arts
Foundations of Worship Arts focuses on a theology of the arts and their best uses in Christian worship. The class will be extremely practical, using the Seminary chapel services as a liturgical laboratory to evaluate, plan, and lead four services that use music, visual arts, movement/dance, and poetry/literature. You do not need to be an artist to join this class; you just need a desire to explore how the arts can help shape worship. All are welcome!
MNST 6125 Issues of Faith in the Americas- The God Who Sees- Learning together about trauma. (Travel Course to Ecuador Rescheduled).
From earthquakes, to interpersonal violence, to human trafficking–South America has experienced tremendous trauma. Inevitably, churches and church leaders are impacted by such events. This class gathers pastors, lay leaders, and students from North and South America to listen, share ideas, and collaborate in order to provide effective pastoral care within this context. This class will particularly focus on the role that lament and forgiveness play in the healing process for victims of trauma. We will also address burnout and learn how to care well for pastors and lay leaders who serve this population.
After an experience of trauma, one may believe that God does not see his or her suffering. We hope that our time together will create an environment where each person experiences that he or she is seen by the God of hope.
- Tentative Dates: March 5-15th 2020, including some pre-travel readings and group preparation, as well as post-travel reflection assignments
- Location: Quito and Guayaquil
- Cost: $1500 (this an approximate and may change) to cover transportation, room, board, other in-country expenses of the course. Tuition and personal costs are an additional amount. The money can be fund-raised through the North Park Global Studies Fund, as well.
- Language Requirement: None, but openness to learning some basic Spanish for use while in Ecuador
If interested in attending this course, please fill out the travel course application and mail to Evy Lennard at: North Park Theological Seminary Nyvall Hall 3225 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 or scan and email to elennard@northpark.edu.
Course in Korean through Chicago Theological Seminary: Christian Religious Education in a Multicultural World
One of the unique benefits to attending NPTS is our partnership with the Association for Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS), which allows students to take courses with affiliate seminaries in the city. This spring we are happy to highlight a course at Chicago Theological Seminary. In this first Korean online course at Chicago Theological Seminary, taught by Rev. Dr. Heesung Hwang, we will explore multifaceted dimensions of society and the role of religious education and the possibility of intercultural/interfaith dialogues, particularly for those who share Korean heritage. Students who complete this course will have broader understanding and teaching plans of various issues on race, religion, gender identity and class. For Koreans in this globalized world, this course will give you a chance to reflect and find an alternative approach for the future ministry.
Course Plan (2/3-5/14-14 weeks: 4 ZOOM meetings included)
PART 1: What is Christian Religious Education in a Multicultural World?: Biblical/theological/educational understanding. PART 2: Sociocultural Understanding: Race/Ethnicity & Culture, Interfaith Dialogue, Generation Gap, Children and Seniors, BTS, Korean Wave, Christianity & Capitalism, Gender & beyond, Ecology, Public Theology. PART 3: Field Research / Creative Teaching Project: Analyzing the Context & Customized Planning. PART 4: Liberative Interdependence, and the Vision of Christian Religious Education for Social Transformation
To Register: A cross-registration form is required for this class. Please contact the Seminary Academic Services Coordinator at semacademicserv@northpark.edu to register.
Looking to Volunteer? Help out at the Warming Center!
Resurrection Covenant Church in Chicago where persons experiencing houselessness can come for a warm meal, fellowship, a shower and hygiene supplies on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. Volunteers can come once a month, once a quarter, or every time. More information about the Warming Center can be found in this video. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Sarah Snow at sarahelizabethsnow@gmail.com.
New Opportunities for Clinical Pastoral Education
CPE at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center & Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is accredited by ACPE.
- Winter Extended Unit: January 20, 2020 – June 3, 2020
- Summer Intensive Unit: June 4, 2020 – August 23, 2020
Applications can be found at: https://www.acpe.edu/pdf/acroread/CPE_Application.pdf
Students will learn how to:
- Understand, clarify and further develop your pastoral identity
- Enhance your pastoral competence and intervention skills
- Grow your ability to do critical reflection of your pastoral identity, pastoral formation and pastoral competence
- Use real life ministry encounters in a hospital setting
Please send complete application by email to:
Rev. Susan J. Gullickson, MS in Ed, D.Min.
Chaplain/ACPE Certified Educator
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
836 West Wellington
Chicago, IL 60657
Susan.gullickson@advocatehealth.com
Phone: 847-723-5133 or 773-296-8340
Globalization and Diversity (G&D) Committee is Looking for New Members!
North Park University’s Seminary is on-boarding members for the Globalization and Diversity (G&D) Committee. The G&D Committee strives to be an advocate and resource for the values of inclusion and diversity within the Seminary community, while also giving consideration to the larger North Park, Albany Park, and surrounding Chicagoland communities.
For the 2019 – 2020 academic year, the G&D aims to prioritize the facilitation of student- and faculty-centred conversations on both global and local diversity, especially where it concerns ethnic, spiritual, lingual, cultural, and social differences.
The G&D is currently seeking individuals able to volunteer for the following positions:
- Media & Communications Editor
- Secretary
- Program Manager
- Relational Coordinator
Those interested can contact G&D’s Student Chair, Seanna Wong at Sawong-Nyaku@northpark.edu, for more information on the aforementioned positions.
CRUX Formation Coordinator
Rev. Dr. Bret M. Widman, the current director of the CRUX program for undergraduates at NPU, is looking for seminary student who would be interested in working with CRUX during the 2020-2021 academic year. One of the main roles of this position is to help students integrate discipleship with campus, social and academic life. If you are interested, there is more information on the “Jobs” link found below, or you can email Bret directly at bmwidman@northpark.edu.
We are Resurrecting the Prayers: Joys and Concerns Page
We are bringing back a page dedicated to joys and concerns connected to the seminary. https://nptsnyvallnews.com/community-prayers/ .
As a community dedicated to serving Jesus and each other, it is our privilage to lift each other up in prayer. If you have a joy or concern you would like to add, there is a place at the bottom of the Prayers: Joys and Concerns Page.
Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne and Iona 2020
The Center for Spiritual Direction will host its next pilgrimage May 27 to June 8, 2020. We will immerse ourselves in Celtic spirituality through participation in The Abbey on Iona and an historic tour on the island of Lindisfarne. There is also time in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland. For more information contact Ellen Kogstad: ekogstad@northpark.edu.Heading
Don’t forget to check out our Job Board, Digital Archive, and Community Prayers page for updates weekly!
Submit an entry for our weekly notes by filling out this form by 12 pm on Wednesday