Bon voyage cookout for Missionaries

The Lutheran Campus Center was the site of a cookout on Wednesday, June 25. The guests of honor, Shaun and Amy Whiteman, Amo Payne, and Jennifer Bell, will be departing for Russia in a few days on a missions trip sponsored through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Originally, a Theology on Tap in celebration of Philip Melanchthon and the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession was scheduled for the evening, but it seemed meet and right to change plans. In the past few years, the relationship between IV and the Lutheran Campus Ministry has been set on a positive footing and continues to strengthen. Several students participate actively in both ministries. "On many campuses, denominational campus ministries and para-churches like IV don't get along," explains Chaplain Riegel, "but it's different here. With the right people in both organizations, a mutually fruitful coexistence is possible. We denominationalists should remember that parachurches did tremendous good in the nineteenth century. With care, the problems can be avoided or mitigated. At the same time, parachurchers need to remain connected to the church where Word & Sacrament are found and where orthodoxy is maintained."

Worship

St. Benedict's Day -- A Day of Benedictine Prayer

For the third year in a row, the Chapel of Christ the King (a.k.a., the Lutheran Campus Chapel) took on the character of a monastic oratory. Friday, July 11, was the Feast of St. Benedict. Given the chaplain's association with St. Augustine's House, the only Lutheran Benedictine priory in the USA, the observance of the day seems meet, right, and salutary. Beginning with vigils at 5:00 AM, all seven canonical hours were prayed. "Attendance is hardly stellar. It is, after all, the middle of summer; most folks are gone," explains Chaplain Riegel, "but my own experience in the priory taught me that it is not about numbers. It is about attending to the Word of God."

Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul in Chains

Tradition has it that Peter and Paul both died in Rome, on June 29, after making a bold confession of faith before Caesar Nero. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified head-down. In the process, they were also involved in the death of Simon Magus. To read the non-canonical account click on The Acts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

Jan Hus

A century before Martin Luther, Jan Hus, a Bohemian reformer challenged the corruption and political structure of the Roman Catholic church. Condemned as a heretic at the Counsel of Constance, Hus was burned at the stake in 1415. July 6 is observed as the anniversary of his martyrdom. Hus' legacy lived on, however, in the Bohemian Brethren. The Moravians are descendants of this reform movement. For a brief article on Hus, click here.

Camp Luther

For more than fifty-five years, Lutherans have gathered in Webster County, WV, turning Camp Caesar, a 4-H camp, into Camp Luther, the flagship church camp of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the ELCA. With well over 400 campers and more than 70 volunteer staff, Camp Luther is the largest gathering of Lutherans in West Virginia.

WVU was well represented as usual. Several incoming freshmen were senior campers. Many of the staff are current students and alumni/ae. Chaplain Riegel serves on the senior faculty.

Summer Sessions of Theology on Tap

John XXIII: Tuesday, June 3

"Authoritarianism suffocates truth, reducing everything to a rigid and empty formalism that is dependent on outside discipline. It curbs wholesome initiative, mistakes hardness for firmness, inflexibility for dignity. Paternalism is a caricature of true fatherliness. It is often accompanied by an unjustifiable proprietary attitude to one's victim, a habit of intruding, a lack of proper respect for the rights of subordinates."--Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli*

Believe it or not, a Roman Pope is on the Lutheran book of Worship calendar. Pope John XXIII was commemorated by the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU with sext (monastic noon prayer) and Theology on Tap. At the Theology on Tap, which met at Mario's Fishbowl, the summer gathering was pleased to have Fr. Paul Hudock, the Roman Catholic Campus Pastor at WVU, join the company. His insights into both the life of John XXIII and Vatican II proved most helpful, sparking lively conversation.

Classed in the Lutheran Book of Worship as a "Renewer of the Church," John XXIII is most remembered for convoking Vatican II in the 1960s. This council lead to the most sweeping reforms of the Church of Rome since the Council of Trent four hundred years before. Vatican II also lead to significant ecumenical efforts on the part of Rome. Of course, not everyone welcomed the reforms. The Tridentine Catholic movement has decried many of the changes. Still, many Lutherans were, encouraged by Vatican II, hoped that the council would lead to greater and greater reforms and ultimately the end of the "errors" identified by the Lutheran Reformers. John XXIII is one of the few popes praised in Lutheran circles. For an enjoyable and short bio, click here.

John Calvin Topic at Theology on Tap

On Tuesday, May 27, a special Theology on Tap met at Mario's Fishbowl, a popular Morgantown establishment, to celebrate the contributions of John Calvin. Reading selections from Calvin's writings, the participants engaged in spirited discussion. The most hotly debated topic was predestination (of course), but sacramentology and ecclesiastical discipline also received special consideration.

Calvin might be thought of as a reformer of a reformation. The Swiss Reformation had begun contemporaneously with the German Reformation (a.k.a., Lutheran Reformation) in the early years of the sixteenth century. Zwingli, the father of the Swiss Reformation, had not addressed many issues, and the movement was in a state of confusion when the young Frenchman, Jean Calvin, passed through the area. He brought his considerable intellect (and sense of good order) to the task of clarifying the theology of the movement as well as establishing both ecclesiastical structures and law.

Education Throughout the Summer

Adult VBS at St. Paul

St. Paul Lutheran Church (Evansdale Campus) held its annual Vacation Bible School the week of July 21. Chaplain Riegel taught an adult class on the non-canonical scriptures, the books that didn't make it into the Bible. Lively discussion marked the class. A great blessing was the presence of Elliot Kennel of WVU whose past studies of Ethiopic Enoch proved invaluable to the class. For access to the texts being studied, click here.

GSA Auction

A small contingent from the Lutheran Campus Ministry attended the General Services Administration auction on May 21 which was held only a block away from the chapel. Making some fabulous buys, we've obtained a (working) InFocus LCD Projector for $300--"How's that for stewardship of resources!" In the same lot (meaning no extra cost), we also acquired a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatograph. Let us know if you have use for one of these--better yet, let us know what it is. Also acquired were roughly five pallets of office furniture. We're keeping the lockers, lateral files, and some of the other items. The rest, however, we'll be happy to sell at much reduced prices (or trade for other items). We have several 5-drawer and 2-drawer filing cabinets. All are sturdy, high-end government issue. Let us know if you are interested.

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