Ritual Performance Class

The Ritual Performance and Criticsm class prepared the chapel for Tuesday, November 13 based on a reading from II Thessalonians 2. The text speaks to the community in Thessalonica expecting the immanent "day of the Lord" a warning not to be deceived or shaken by others. The chapel group used their learnings in our ritual class to imagine many new sounds and actions to embody the feelings of alarm and breaking trust, as well as the comfort that Paul promises in every good work and word.




Video by Patricia Santiago
Editing by Troy Messenger

Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Below is one of two posts of our final chapels services led by our Introduction to Preaching and Worship Class. This service took place on Wednesday, November 29 and is based on Isaiah 7. You hear in the call to worship and reflections the urgent plea for God to be with us, Emmanuel.




Video and editing by Patricia Santiago

Remembering Tim Fauvell

The Rev. Tim Fauvell, lecturer in Field Education and supervisor of Union students in CPE, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 7. We remembered him at a funeral today in the Riverside Church with stories and the music that was such a part of his life. We post here a short clip of a service in which he preached from February 2005.

Feel free to post remembrances in the comment section.




Video by Bill Winer
Editing by Haddon Givens Kime

I am who I say I am...

On Wednesday, October 24, members of the Black Caucus led a chapel service based on Exodus 3:13-14 where God reveals Godself as "I am who I say I am." Ben Sanders delivers a powerful message claiming "I Am" as a model for our living before God and others. Derrick McQueen and Kim Harris sing, "Lord, How Come We Here?"

Listen and post a comment.

Video by Patricia Santiago
Editing by Kyle Carnes

The dead have a pact with the living...

Special guests for our service on All Hallow's Eve were Professors Siobhan Garrigan (Union STM ’91) and Patrick Evans (Union artist-in-residence 2001-02) who serve as Dean of Chapel and Director of Chapel Music, respectively, for the daily ecumenical worship program in Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School. Siobhan is Assistant Professor of Liturgical Studies at YDS and the Institute of Sacred Music, and Patrick is Associate Professor in the Practice of Sacred Music at YDS/ISM.



Our service for All Hallow's Eve was the first of three that celebrated are ancestors and loved ones who have died. On Thursday, November 1, at noon we had our annual All Saints and All Souls communion service. And that evening the Latina/o Caucus presented their Day of the Dead service and dinner.

As I post this one week later on Thursday, November 8, we have just experienced the sudden death of a dear friend who was an alumnus, one of our field education lecturers, and a CPE supervisor.

We are reminded how important these services are as a chance for the community to be present to one another in the times of our greatest loss and across all time as we gather at one table as the communion of all saints.

Video and editing by Patricia Santiago

John Bell, Artist-in-Residence

During the week of October 15, John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland was a guest artist-in-residence at the seminary. During the week he worked with students to lead chapel each day, met with worship classes, and led workshops both at Auburn Seminary and Advent Lutheran Church. Bell moves easily between leading congregational songs, preaching, conversation with a congregation, and liturgical action.

Watch the video of some of the highlights of this week's services and post a comment. More about John Bell, the Iona Community, and Wild Goose resources can be found at the Iona website.

video by Patricia Santiago and Kyle Carnes
editing by Patricia Santiago

Black Madonna

On Wednesday, September 26, the Black Women's Caucus led a wonderful chapel service meditating on the Black Madonna Art Exhibit. (For more information on the exhibit click here.) The processional service allowed the community to move around the room focusing on individual works as we were led by songs, poems, prayers, and reflections.

Watch the video clip below for an overview of moments from the service and post a comment.




Video by Kyle Carnes and Patricia Santiago
Editing by Patricia Santiago

The service is led by
Terri Baxter
Kímara Blackman
Alla Renee Bozarth
Raina Edwards
Brenda Ford
Kim Harris
Star Jackson
Joy Newsom
Danielle Parish
Lobi RedHawk
Judith Scott
Yvette Wilson,
Judith Scott

M. Roger Holland II directs the Gospel Choir

Unitarian "Water Communion"

On Wednesday, September 19, Unitarian Universalist students at the seminary led a "water communion" chapel. In Unitarian churches, water communion is a welcome service that invites members of the congregation to bring water from the places they have been. The water is offered into a common vessel as a sign of the many gifts brought together by the congregation.

Watch a short video excerpt from our service and post a comment.



Video by Patricia Santiago and Kyle Carnes
Editing by Rich Montone

The Compassionate Mandala

Throughout the week of September 18-22, James Chapel has hosted the Compassionate Mandala tour. Of all the artistic traditions of Tibetan Buddhism the ritual of painting with sand is one of the most unique and exquisite. During the week, people were able to witness the slow unfolding of the mandala.

The monks also led the meditation class of Professor Hyun Kyung Chung, a singing class in Tibetan chant, and a workshop in sand painting. The week culminated in a concert Friday night and the Saturday dissolution ceremony (a reminder of the profound Buddhist concept of impermanence). The concert featured the traditional Tibetan chanting of the world-renowned Namgyal monks from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s private monastery in Dharamsala, India and Tenzin Choegyal, who draws on his traditional Tibetan roots to create music which expresses his thoroughly modern life.

Below is a short video of the dissolution ceremony and our walk to the Hudson River where we poured out the blessed sand used in the mandala. Please make a comment and follow other events of the tour at the related link posted here.



Video and editing by Troy Messenger

Poverty Initiative Chapel

The Poverty Initiative at Union led daily chapel on Wednesday, September 12. The group grounds their commitment to economic justice in the message of the Gospel.

In this chapel, two members of the Poverty Initiative reflect on texts from Matthew. The prayers of the day are based on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. At the invitation, "Blessed are the poor...", the congregation adds the names of those who are poor, sick, mourning, and persecuted for righteousness sake. The service ends with an altar call that is a twist on one sometimes practiced in churches that preach a "prosperity gospel." Instead of bringing dollars to the altar to be blessed with more money, the congregation on this day brings forth statistics of economic injustice as a sign of their commitment to be alt(e)red by the demands of the gospel. We go out singing the justice song, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round."



We invite you to watch the video and make a comment.

Video by Kyle Carnes and Patricia Santiago
Editing by Rich Montone
Photo by Patricia Santiago

Convocation 2007: The Dream of God

Convocation at Union Seminary ritually constitutes the seminary for the academic year. Coming ten minutes after the close of registration, Convocation officially marks the beginning of the semester.

In this year's service on Wednesday evening, September 5, a festive procession of incoming students and the faculty enter to a congregation singing "We Are the Ones, We've Been Waiting For." The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori addresses the assembly with a charge to step forth and help realize the "dream of God." Finally, the service culminates in a Rite of Matriculation in which incoming members of the community and then returning members pledge to help Union carry out its mission in our time. A dancer and solo jazz saxophone weave a prayer of blessing around the spoken prayer.

We invite you to watch the video clip and tell us, "What is the dream of God?" and "How does this worship service picture that dream?"


Video by Patricia Santiago and Rich Montone
Editing by Rich Montone