Nyvall News & Notes, November 21

Pictured Above: Seminary Students, Faculty, and Staff at last week’s Thanksgiving Community Meal. We are so thankful for our entire Seminary community, near and far! Happy Thanksgiving!

Important Dates

November

23-27 Thanksgiving Break (no classes)

December

8 Christmas Party (follows Community Worship)

3 Advent Retreat: REST, 9am–noon (Nyvall)


Contemplative Prayer Retreat

Saturday, December 3, 9 am-noon in Nyvall Hall

We invite you to join your seminary community for a time of quiet reflection and prayer. Our December retreat will draw on the theme of Advent, that time when we consider how God is birthing something new in us and in the world. In this season of shorter days and longer nights, of gray and cold and semester endings, you are invited to pause to notice what new gifts God may be offering you.


Seminary Christmas Party

Join us for a Seminary Christmas celebration! We will be meeting in Olsson Lounge after Community Worship on December 8th for good food and a White Elephant gift exchange-bring a $5 gift on the theme “Surviving Seminary”!


Community Worship This Week

We will not be meeting for Community Worship this week because of the Thanksgiving holiday. See you all back in Isaacson Chapel next week!


Kudos to Adham!

Congratulations to NPTS student Adham Alaraj for winning the Rev. Gordon Forbes Just Peace Preaching Award for an outstanding sermon focusing on the United Church of Christ Declaration on the Requirements of a Just Peace Between Palestine and Israel!


Assistance for Students Attending Midwinter

Are you an ECC student who is graduating this year? Do you need financial assistance with attending the Midwinter Conference? The ECC Ministerium has graciously provided some funds to use to help seminary students attend the conference. If you would like to apply for assistance, please contact Luke Palmerlee.


Mental Health First Aid Training – January Dates Added!

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to register for this free training opportunity that is designed to teach how to approach, assess, and assist a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or in a mental health crisis. Request training here, or visit the Counseling Support Services webpage. Participants must complete self-guided pre-work (approximately 2 hours), as well as attend 5 hours of live instruction to receive the Mental Health First Aid certification, which is good for 3 years. January training dates are Fri 01/06/23 & Mon 01/09/23 – both trainings will be held virtually. Additional training dates will be offered during spring semester. 

Questions can be directed to counseling@northpark.edu


15 Days Left to Apply for the Hispanic Summer Program’s Summer Session Latinx Discernment Workshop

The pandemic has made plain how “normal” did not work for everyone. Indeed, year after year students with dependents, students who worked full time, and students who for a myriad of reasons could not travel in the Summer months were consistently barred from our programming.

In the hopes of serving all of our students, then, the HSP has made the decision to host two fully online courses at the HSP 2023 Summer Session that will run concurrently with six in-person courses held at Candler School of Theology.

Among those six in-person courses is a never before offered Doctoral Seminar on “The Prosperity Gospel in the Latinx Context” taught by HSP’s very own Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Daisy L. Machado!

Where: Online or In-Person at Candler School of Theology at Emory University

When: June 18 – July 1, 2023

Applications Due: December 1, 2022

Tuition Fee: Fees vary depending on Course Selection and Sponsoring School Status. Visit our website for more information.


January & Spring Term Course Schedules are Up!

Course schedules for January term and Spring term are now posted on the Student Resources page. On October 24 registration will open through Self-Service, and draft syllabi will be added.

As you plan for your spring courses, remember the following resources:

  • Your academic advisor! Your advisor will be reaching out this week—and is available to you at any time in the semester. Don’t hesitate to email questions and/or schedule an advising meeting.
  • Degree planning core sheets
  • Progress tracking in Self-Service

Field Education

If you are looking for internships or ministry opportunities (some of them paid) while you attend NPTS, please see this list. It will be updated as more opportunities are made available. If you have any questions, please contact Bret Widman, Director of CALL


Fall Counseling Support Services

Counseling Support Services is offering a variety of counseling support options for students this semester free of charge. If you are experiencing unmanageable anxiety, sadness, difficulty adjusting, problems in relationships, or if you are hurting due to the many challenges before us, Counseling can help. We also offer Mental Health First Aid Training so that you can learn how to help friends and family that might be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

Individual Counseling Support – Free, confidential, short-term individual counseling support is available via telehealth and in-person. Request counseling via the counseling request form at northpark.edu/counseling, or by walking into our offices at 3317 W Foster, #24 on the campus map.

Group Counseling Support

Seminary Women Coming Together

A support group devoted to exploring and addressing the concerns and issues for women in the seminary. Open to all current female-identifying seminary students. Mondays at 10:00am, Virtual group, Starts September 26, 2022

For registration and inquiries: counseling@northpark.edu

TAO – TAO is an anonymous, self-service digital mental health support tool that is available free 24/7 to all current North Park students, faculty, and staff. Information and registration link at TAO

Let’s Talk – In collaboration with campus partners, Let’s Talk is an informal, walk-in support service that offers confidential meetings with a North Park counselor free for all NPU students at various locations around campus. Students can drop in (no appointment necessary) to speak with a counselor.

All Let’s Talk sessions are 11:00am-12:00pm

Mondays: Helwig Recreation Center, 2nd Floor

Tuesdays: Brandel Library, Helwig Conference Room on 1st Floor

Wednesdays: Health & Counseling Office, 3317 W Foster Ave

Thursdays: Health & Counseling Office, 3317 W Foster Ave

Fridays: Health & Counseling Office, 3317 W Foster Ave

Additional information at Let’s Talk

Mental Health First Aid – Students, faculty, and staff are invited to register for this free training opportunity that is designed to teach you how to approach, assess, and assist a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge


Seminary Shenanigans

Courtesy of our very own @nptscampus account. Be sure to like and follow on Instagram or TikTok!