[
Return to Homepage ]
>> Under Construction <<
For the Alumni/ae
of the
Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU
"Under Construction" means under construction!
The LCM@WVU Webmaster is taking a tentative step into this arena, and there
are a host of questions. Take a look and send us your ideas.
More news from Russia
Jeffrey Moss, a recent alumnus, writes again from Russia. There isn't
room for everything, but here are some highlights. Of you would like
to receive periodic updates on Jeffrey's progress, send a note to him at
lion_of_God@hotmail.com.
In the photo below, Jeffrey is on the left in the back row.
|
Monday, February 3, 2003
 I
hope the first few weeks of the new year have gone well for you and that
you have had the chance to see God's grace in new ways. I am getting
used to the thought that Russia is my home for now and will continue to
be my home for at least another one and a half years, if that is God's
will. I'm finding out that life in a culture so different from the
one where I grew up has both its good points and bad points, and on both
the good and the bad days it's important to remember that the only place
where I really belong is neither here nor in America, but with God in His
heavenly kingdom. As a citizen of that kingdom, I can enjoy living
in any culture on earth with its joys and challenges, knowing that through
Jesus Christ the future is always bright.
ST. PETERSBURG WEATHER: The main thing
to remember about the weather in this city in northwestern Russia, is that
it's always changing. When I ask people here what "typical winter
weather" is in St. Petersburg, they always answer that there really isn't
anything typical. One day this past month the temperature was a relatively
mild 21 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 Celsius), but by the following evening it
had plunged to -17 F (-27 C), with wind and snow making it seem even colder.
A few days later it was actually over freezing and the snow was starting
to melt, but then after about a week the temperature fell back into the
teens again (around -10 C), and it's still fairly close to that now.
On quite a number of days this month we had snow, usually a small amount
of snow each day, but as long as the temperature stays below freezing it
keeps piling up. It's actually better when the weather is a little
colder, because you can walk on the snow and be pretty sure of your footing.
When the temperature gets up near the freezing point (32 F/0 C), a lot
of snow melts and then re-freezes, making sidewalks and streets treacherously
icy.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE FAR EAST: A lot of
things have been happening recently as our departure date for the Far East
of Russia comes nearer (see the latest photo of our five-person "core team"
for the Far East). Chris and Sveta Hearn have had to return to the
United States until the end of February in order to work through some documents
and permissions that they need relating to passports, visas, etc.
But before they went, our whole team had the chance to lead a church service
at a small church near here. Chris preached a sermon (in Russian!)
based on John 14:6, that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life, and
no one comes to the Father except through Him. I spoke about how
God first brought me to Himself and how He has led me over time; Sveta
read a poem about Jesus, our faithful Friend; Artur spoke about how God
brought him to the point of becoming a missionary; and Jin A concluded
our portion of the service by singing a Korean song of blessing.
This was our first "public appearance" as a missionary team, and it seemed
to go very well. Afterward a number of people in the church wanted
to talk with us, ask some questions, and give us some words of encouragement. |
Recent
Alumnus Is Jesus
David Peterson, 2002 graduate, played (what else) Jesus in the CalRep production
of Jesus Christ Superstar in mid July 2002. In addition to
JCS,
David appeared in a supporting role in Secret Garden. For
more photos, visit our "Theatre" page.
By the way, Peterson left Morgantown in a renovated school bus a few months
ago. He is in California by now, seeking fame and fortune.
Another of our alumni, Matt Sincell, recently appeared off-off-Broadway
in a new play, Activity Place Mats. Sincell will soon be heading
for England. To find out more, visit our "Theatre"
page.
Alumna
Ordained
Fredrica Meitzen, alumna of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU, was ordained
to the ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by The Most
Rev. Carol Hendicks on Saturday afternoon, November 9, in the Church of
the Abiding Presence, on the campus of the Lutheran Theological Seminary,
Gettysburg, PA. Meitzen will be serving a Lutheran congregation in
Edders, PA. [Pictured at right is Meitzen with members of her home
congregation, St. John's, Martinsburg, WV]
Alumna Preaches and Presides
On Sunday,
March 3, 2002, The Rev. Susan Mazer Winger returned to the Lutheran Campus
Ministry at WVU. Worshipers at the 5:00 PM Sunday mass were blessed
to have Winger in the pulpit and at the altar. Her sermon was rooted
in the Gospel pericope, John 4:5-42. She also presented several copies
of
What Shall I Say? Discerning God's Call to the Ministry, a short
book intended for those considering church vocation. In addition
to this text, Winger presented other resources useful in the discernment
process.
Winger, a 1980 graduate of WVU's School of Nursing, serves as an Assistant
to the Bishop in the Allegheny Synod of the ELCA, a post she has held since
1994. Her responsibilities include the pastoral care of rostered
leaders and congregations, leadership support for rostered and lay leaders
in the synod, Candidacy, Ministry of Reconciliation, mobility and Transition
Ministry Team, and sharing in the worship life of the congregations of
the Allegheny Synod.
The Rev. Susan Winger (r) poses in the Lutheran Campus Chapel library
with her sister, Cynthia Winger (l), also a WVU alumna (undergrad and Med
School), above right. Alumni/ae are always welcome at the Lutheran
Campus Chapel.
Remembering Edward Vogelsong
Edward Vogelsong was the last of our "student pastors."
A major advance in the ministry took place in 1959 with the
establishment of an intern program. That year, and the next four years,
five seminary interns served as "student pastors" at WVU: Jerry Robbins,
Donald Moeser, Donald Hardman, John Deisinger and Edward Vogelsong. In
that period university enrollment increased from 7000 to 8500, Lutheran
students rose from 164 to 305 and the number of Lutheran faculty grew from
20 to 36. The style of campus ministry varied with each intern but always
included worship, teaching, visitation, and nurturing of the LSA. Use of
the student center for social contact and programs was encouraged. A newsletter
announcing activities was periodically distributed. Faculty gathered for
study and fellowship. Ecumenical activities were scheduled at both staff
and student levels. Through the encouragement of the Campus Religious Workers,
WVU administrators initiated discussion to establish a program of religious
studies within the regular curriculum of the university. (From A
Brief History of Lutheran Campus Ministry at West Virginia University)
Sadly, we received news from Mrs. Vogelsong that Pr. Vogelsong was translated
by death on March 19, 2001 (a.k.a., the Feast of St. Joseph). Dee
Vogelsong, an alumna of WVU and our campus ministry, writes,
I was a student at WVU when Ed was there for his seminary internship.
During the year we became best friends and started dating the summer afterward.
We have raised four children and he spent many years working with adjudicated
delinquent boys. I find particular meaning in his connection to St.
Joseph because Ed was a passionate woodworker, the best of fathers, and
a wonderful husband. He spent so much of his energy working with families
and to preserve and strengthen marriages and St. Joseph is patron of all
these endeavors.
Pr. Vogelsong held degrees from both Gettysburg
College and Gettysburg Seminary.
He later earned a Ph.D. at Penn State University. The house in which
Mrs. Vogelsong lives was built by Pr. Vogelsong.
In memory of Pr. Vogelsong and in thanksgiving for his work at WVU,
a requiem mass will be on Tuesday, March 19, 7:30 PM, at the Chapel of
Christ the King (a.k.a., the Lutheran Campus Chapel). For information
on memorial gifts, click here.
O King of Paradise, where light abounds and life reigns, give
to our dear ones who are with Thee (especially Ed) a full share of Thy
treasures, that they may always be white with Thy purity, tranquil with
Thy peace, and glad with Thy joy. Let us live vividly in their present
love as they live in ours, until the time of separation is past, and we
are taken to the place whither they have gone before, there to dwell with
them in the perfect fellowship that knows no end. Amen. --Charles
Henry Brent
Requiescat in pace!
In memoriam
Gifts given in memory of Pr. Vogelsong will be applied to the acquisition
of a chalice and paten for use in the eucharistic liturgies at the Chapel
of Christ the King (a.k.a., the Lutheran Campus Chapel at WVU). You
may send your gift to
Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU
1497 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26505
Please include on the memo line, "Vogelsong Chalice." Should you
have any questions or would prefer to use an electronic transfer, please
call (304-296-5388) or write. |
Is an alumni/ae page a good idea?
That is a very good question. Do you, the alumni/ae of this ministry,
think that a page would serve you? What sort of thing should be on
such a page? What would interest you?
What you see before you is nothing more than a conversation starter.
Of course, a little more flash in the design area would be nice, but our
big question is "content." This first attempt has an article about
one of our alumnae and her return to guest preach at our chapel.
There is a public update of an email address from a very recent
alumnus. There is a necrologue.
The webmaster would like to hear from you. Please send you thoughts
to Lutheran@WVU.edu.
Would you like to be on the emailing list?
We continue to work on our email database. Would you like
to be added to the "alumni/ae" list? From time to time, you'll receive
updates about the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. We don't share
our lists with anyone, and we use "bcc" to protect your privacy in the
email
header itself. You can remove yourself from the list at anytime by
simply emailing us. We also do our best to practice safe computing.
We don't participate in chain letters nor do we forward information unrelated
to this ministry.
To join the list, simply email us at Lutheran@WVU.edu.
Share this page with your fellow alumn!
Our elist of alumni/ae is very small. You can help spread
the word about this project by sending a link to one of your fellow alumni/ae.
[ Return
to Homepage ]