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February 26, 2009 >> 10:43:52 PM
Journey the Way of the Cross with us
During this season of Lent, the Asbury community invites you to journey with us, breathlessly following the Son of God, so that we might "share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." (Phil. 3:10)
Just this week you may have received our Asbury Reader for the Season of Lent to Eastertide. If you won't have the opportunity to visit our chapel office on the Wilmore campus to obtain these beautiful readers, rest assured that you can travel with us online at www.asburyreader.com
Daily Scripture readings and regular postings we call "Story Immersion Practices" can be found here throughout the Lenten season.
Another major way to journey with us is by means of the social network of Twitter. If you are not already a part of this network, after joining for free, search for Twiturgy (Twitter + Liturgy) and click "Follow." For those already "following" Twiturgy, prepare for new updates throughout Lent three times daily. The updates will consist of bitesized portions of the daily Scripture from our Reader for reflection and prayer.
The updates, for this season, will be sent during three of the little hours. The "little hours" are the fixed daytime hours of prayer for the Divine Office. For our community, updates will be sent at 9am (Terce), 12pm (Sext), and 3pm (None) all in the eastern standard time zone.
These will begin tomorrow, the second day of Lent.
We are excited and hope you are too. May this sojourn to the heart of our Savior, and these means of transportation, bring us to discover Jesus, the Christ, "in me and in you."
February 25, 2009 >> 03:01:41 PM
Ash Wednesday
You may have noticed many people on Wednesday with a smudge of dirt on their forehead. If you look closely you may recognize it as a cross. Wednesday marks the start of the 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday is a time to remember and lament the effects of sin in our life, to remember the frailty of human life. As the ashes are applied one of two phrases are generally spoken, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent, and believe the Gospel"
Wearing ashes is a vivid reminder that we are made from the dust of the earth and that we will return to it. They are widely used in the Bible as symbol for repentance, "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3 - 19)". The prophets often called for the people to repent in "sackcloth and ashes". Sackcloth is not a very comfortable material to wear and ashes aren't very fashionable either, together they depict outwardly the humility of a heart moved to confession before the Holy Lord.
The liturgical name for an Ash Wednesday service is 'The Imposition of Ashes'. It is common for prayers of confession to be recited corporately. The Psalms of Lament (i.e. 51) are also often read during a service. Traditionally the ashes used come from burning the Palm Branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The ashes are mixed with oil or holy water to help them remain on the forehead. The officiant will dip their finger (often the thumb or index finger) into the bowl of ashes and then draw the sign of the cross upon each participant's forehead (some apply the sign of the cross to a person's hand instead).
While Ash Wednesday is a somber and reflective day it should not end with a despairing over the falleness of humanity. The emphasis should always be directed back to our God who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 86). We can confess our sins in full confidence that because of Jesus' atoning death on the cross we will be forgiven.
wikipedia
United Methodist BOW
New Advent (Catholic)
Ash-Wednesday.org
(image taken from Worshiphelps)
February 25, 2009 >> 10:49:20 AM
Real Life for Real - Variations of "Working hard or hardly working?"
February 19, 2009 >> 04:27:12 PM
Dear Robbie
Dear Robbie,
As you may or may not
know, Asbury Seminary’s new president, Dr. Timothy Tennent, will take office
beginning this summer. I would like to help welcome Dr. Tennent but I am not
sure the best way to do it. Do you have any pointers that hospitable students
(like me) can use to comfortably usher in our new leader?
Warmly,
New Prez Fanboy
Dear Fanboy,
Receiving new “higher-ups” to our community can be quite a difficult task. This is mainly because we know so little about their “likes” and “dislikes.” In fact, many times we only know about their vast world experience, impressive curriculum vitas, and theological orientation.
Thankfully, we live in a world of “MySpaces” and “Facebooks” which allows us to uncover only the most intimate details of people’s unprofessional lives. I have investigated Dr. Tennent’s “Internet World” and compiled a list of his “likes” and “dislikes.” My hope is for congenial students (like you) to use the following list to make our new president’s inauguration to this community a more meaningful and comfortable one:
TOP TEN LIKES
- 1. Jesus Christ
- 2. John Wesley
- 3. Charles Wesley
- 4. Ray Charles
- 5. Wesley Snipes
- 6. Paddle-boating
- 7. Mini Marshmallows
- 8. Medieval Weaponry Facts
- 9. Microsoft©
- 10. Puppies
TOP TEN DISLIKES
- 1. The Devil
- 2. John Calvin
- 3. Calvin Klein
- 4. Kevin Kline
- 5. Klingons
- 6. Canoeing
- 7. Secret Diaries
- 8. World War I Facts
- 9. Macintosh©
- 10. Kittens
-Robbie
February 18, 2009 >> 09:09:42 AM
Asbury names new president
For those of you that were either hibernating or involved in a 36 hour W.O.W campaign, Asbury has a new president elect. Yesterday in chapel it was announced (via Internet in Florida) that Dr. Timothy Tennent will be coming onboard as our new President. If you want to link chase it there is the official way (via the school website), or a host of social media outlets (Twitter and Technorati). I did both and it is great finding out the facts and seeing what people thought If you follow the twitter search far enough, you can get to a little banter before and during the announcement.
February 13, 2009 >> 09:14:32 AM
First Week Thoughts
Well the first week of spring is over. Just like Dr. Jessen said yesterday in chapel, for some this is the first semester and for others, your last. But no matter where you are in your stay in our community, you are a part of Asbury. The first week is usually filled with the hopes of a light reading schedule, getting back into the school groove and re-arranging your life to fit your new classes and homework. There is always a buzz surrounding the first couple of weeks of school. I am sure there are many great reasons for that.
The thing that always excites me is to see our community come together as a worshiping community, spread across the globe and connected by our affiliation to Asbury and her mission. That is one of the reasons that I love new students, because they help us to continually redesign what it means to be Asbury Seminary. Having friends move away is always a drag, but I have learned that they will be replaced by others. I have also learned that it is easy to get frustrated, but I am always reminded (usually when I don't want too) that no matter what I feel like or think, this place will continue to be special to the hearts of thousands and will still be "being" Asbury.
So at the start of this new semester, lets try to not become preoccupied with studies, and quickly allow our personal devotion and adoration of the Triune God to fall by the wayside. We are lucky to have many professors to lead us in a great example of Holy scholarship, and to show us how our academic work influences our personal life. For years Asbury has been able to craft a unique marriage of the two. Let us not also stop participating in the worship life of this special place. One of my favorite church seasons at Asbury is Lent, and you should be receiving your new copies of our common text in the SPO in the next couple of weeks. Stephanie, in our Wilmore communication office, has done a great job and it looks beautiful.
This didn't start about to be any sort of a blog post offering a charge, but as I sit here buried in the depths of the student center it seems appropriate. Lets make the decision to be Asbury, it takes alot of work, but it is something that people have decided to do for the last 85 years. Taking this mantle is hard, but is part of the rewarding experience that we have journeyed here for.
February 09, 2009 >> 11:51:37 AM
Order of St. Luke Worship announcements
The Order of St. Luke's Eucharist and Morning Prayer Service will begin on February 17th. The services are held Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. in the Richard Allen Chapel (BC114) located on the lower level of the Beeson Center throughout the spring semester. Announcements will be posted weekly. Look soon for a sidebar button on Web Parish for a quick look at the entire Order of St. Luke schedule for the Spring. Please consider joining us in this spirit-filled act of worship as we celebrate the sacramental life together.
Tuesday, Feb. 17th: Dr. Michael Pasquarello, Professor of Preaching, will lead in worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, Feb. 19th: The Reverand John Hatton of Southern Hills UMC will lead in the Service of Word and Table.
Tuesday, Feb. 24th: The Reverand David A. Baca will lead worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, Feb. 26th: The Reverand Peter Matthews of St. Patrick's Anglican Church will lead worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Tuesday, March 3rd: Dr. Lester Ruth, Professor of Preaching, will lead worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, March 5th: The Reverand John Hatton of Southern Hills UMC will lead worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Tuesday, March 10th: Teri Lucas, MAPC, will lead worship and Rev. David A. Baca will preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, March 12th: Dr. Michael Pasquarello, Professor of Preaching, will lead us in the Service of Word and Table.
Tuesday, March 17th: Brent Arn, MDiv, will lead worship and Rev. J. D. Walt will preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, March 19th: The Rev. Peter Matthews from St. Patrick's Anglican Church will lead us in worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Tuesday, March 24th: Sharon Bailey, MDiv, will lead worship and Dr. Michael Matlock, Asst. Professor of Inductive Bible Study, will preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, March 26th: Dr. Lester Ruth, Professor of Worship & Liturgy, will lead us in the Service of Word and Table.
Tuesday, April 7th: Dr. Michael Pasquarello, Professor of Preaching, will lead us in worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, April 9th: Dr. Michael Matlock, Asst. Professor of Inductive Bible Studies, will lead us in the Service of Word and Table.
Tuesday, April 14th: The Rev. David A. Baca will lead worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, April 16th: The Rev. Peter Matthews from St. Patrick's Anglican Church will lead us in worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
Tuesday, April 21st: Dr. Lester Ruth, Professor of Worship and Liturgy, will preside over the Service of Word and Table.
Thursday, April 23rd: Sharon Bailey, MDiv, will lead us in worship and Dr. Don Demaray will preside over the Lord's Table.
Tuesday, April 28th: The Reverand David A. Baca, Ph.D. (Intercultural Studies), will lead us and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, April 30th: Dr. Michael Pasquarello, Professor of Preaching, will preside over the Service of Word and Table.
Tuesday, May 5th: The Reverand Evan Dolive, MDiv, Lexington Theological Seminary, will lead us and preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, May 7th: The Reverand Peter Matthews, St. Patrick's Anglican Church, will led us in worship and preside over the Lord's Table.
These are the final two morning worship services for the Order of St. Luke. It has been a joy to serve OSL this past year. Please watch for announcements coming in late summer from the new prior, Sharon Bailey, as to when the Order of St. Luke will begin again. May our Lord bless each of you over the summer months.
Tuesday, May 12th: Teri Lucas, MAPC, will lead us in worship and Rev. David A. Baca, Ph.D. (Intercultural Studies), will preside over the Lord's Table.
Thursday, May 14th: Dr. Lester Ruth, Professor of Worship and Liturgy, will lead us in a special Investiture Worship Service and preside over the Lord's Table.
The Gatch Farm Table of the Order of St. Luke invites you to worship on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. in the Richard Allen Chapel (BC114) located on the lower level of the Beeson Center throughout the spring semester. Please consider joining us in this spirit-filled act of worship as we celebrate the sacramental life together.
Any questions please contact Teri Lucas, Prior, at teri.lucas@asburyseminary.edu or call 858-9441. (Membership in the Order is not required to attend)
February 09, 2009 >> 10:44:55 AM
WIll you survive?
86%February 04, 2009 >> 08:31:07 AM
Real Life for Real
February 03, 2009 >> 04:15:54 PM
The Changing Landscape of Wilmore.
Over the last week, us on the Wilmore campus have seen some pretty dramatic landscape transformations. The winter weather has surprised us!!!
This morning I was deep in the bowels of the student center working on a few things. I was supposed to drive to North Lexington to take care of some errands. To my surprise when I finally emerged into a floor with windows I saw that it had been snowing most of the morning. Last week on Twitter, there were some discussions as to what mythical landscape Wilmore resembled the most.
Since it seems we are back in the snow, we will let YOU decide. Narnia or Hoth.
