We had a lot of students with us over the January Term! Pictured above is the annual Distance Student Lunch, were we get to catch up with classmates and friends that we see only a few times a year!
Important Dates
Jan 20 – MLK Day
Jan 21-25 – ECC Midwinter Conference, IGNITE Course and Intensive Courses in Chicago, No Regular on Campus Classes
Feb 7 – May 2020 Graduation Applications Due
Feb 12 – Palmquist Lecture
Feb 17 – Summer Registration Opens
Welcome New Spring Start Students!
Welcome to NPTS! We are excited to have you here and be part of your journey. As you attend here, please be sure to be check your NPU email regularly. This will be the main way that NPTS staff and faculty communicate with you. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out- semservices@northpark.edu
Nyvall News & Notes is our community’s way of keeping all students and faculty/staff updated on what is happening in our community (through This Weeks Notes), what is coming up in our weekly chapel service(through Chapel Corner), and feature stories from our community voices. We hope you enjoy and make good use of it as a resource. Browse or search for past stories and keywords to find helpful info you may have missed!
Midwinter Conference
The ECC Midwinter Conference is taking place here in Chicago in two weeks. There are no regular campus classes during that time. There are, however, several intensive courses including our IGNITE cohorts. Please be aware that many faculty and staff will be out of the office to attend the conference. Alex Macias and Emily Wagner are available to meet with distance students while at the conference. Use this link to schedule a time: calendly.
Students are invited to participate in Midwinter in a variety of ways. Evening worship is open to the public. Luke is looking for students who would be willing to assist in driving vans to and from Midwinter to assist the distance students. If you are interested, please contact Luke Palmerlee: lrpalmerlee@northpark.edu.
Last Call for May Graduates!
The last day to submit your graduation applications is February 7, 2020. Applications processed after this date will be assessed a $200 late fee in addition to the $150 graduation fee. Submit your graduation application here: https://www.northpark.edu/seminary/calendar-and-events/seminary-graduation#1505250716225-e79996bf-220
Graduation Retreat
Speaking of graduation, Dean Deb Auger is looking for students who are graduating this May and are interested in helping to plan the annual graduation retreat. This event is open to all graduating students and is generally held at Covenant Harbor. Tentative dates are April 3-4. If you are interested, please contact Deb: dauger@northpark.edu .
Clear Up Registration Issues Quickly!
Classes dropped after the first week of class will result in charges. For more information, please see the course refund policy: https://assets.northpark.edu/wp-content/uploads/20180731124919/Course-Refund-Policy.pdf
MNST 6125 Issues of Faith in the Americas– The God Who Sees- Learning together about trauma.
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
Monday January 20th is the last day to contact Evy with interest in this Trip!
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.
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 Faculty Chair Mike Walker mawalker@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.
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