Worship at Union

Psalms Chapel

2009-06-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

Prof. Esther Hamori's Psalms class led the chapel on April 29, 2009. We worked over a period of four weeks to imagine how to use the Psalms as our primary resource for all the actions of worship. The verses of the Psalm of the day, Psalm 4, provided a frame for the service. Other Psalms were use to gather us in worship, lament, and celebrate God's presence. The video shows some of the variety of ways we experienced the Psalms throughout the service.

Torn Apart

2009-06-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

On March 5, 2009, Professor Barbara Lundblad preached on the baptism of Jesus as recorded in Mark 1. The passage talks about the heavens being "torn apart" so that the Spirit could come forth - torn apart so that they could never be shut again. Prof. Lundblad talks about the many ways in which we also are torn apart, and even in that brokenness, find the Spirit of God coming to us.

Building a Movement ... One Stitch at a Time

2009-06-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

Union Seminary's Poverty Initiative and the Worship Office hosted an exhibit of quilts during the latter part of the Fall 2008 semester. Quilts came from the Tutwiler Quilters in Tutwiler, MS and from Marks, MS, as well as from other friends of the Poverty Initiative. The chapel on October 29, 2008, allowed these quilts to be the primary texts for the day. We were invited to listen to their stitches and celebrate the stories woven from the scraps of life.

Click here for more info on the quilters in Tutwiler, MS

Guilty by Association: a Holy Week Communion

2009-06-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

On the Wednesday of Holy Week, April 8, 2009, Gospel Choir director M. Roger Holland II and Ph.D. student Kim R. Harris created a communion liturgy based on Matthew 26. Drawing on resources from the African American Roman Catholic tradition, the service threads music and the verses of Matthew through a service that moves from preaching, to communion, to a stripping of the altar.

Iraq War Memorial Chapel

2009-06-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

On March 12, 2009, Union's Students for Peace and Justice led a chapel service for the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War. The group chose to lead the service entirely without spoken words. Oud player Tom Chess began the service with an instrument and sounds traditional to Iraq. A meditation bell guided us through sections of the service as we were invited to meditate on Scripture, pray, and come together as a community around communion. Megan Joiner signed the words of communion as Prof. Barbara Lundblad presided. Meanwhile members of SPJ kneeled under the table, a sign of those whose lives have supported our table.

Commencement Communion 2009

2009-05-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Union Seminary graduates led our final worship of the year on Friday morning, May 22, 2009. Gathering under a "Spirit Bird" crafted by Kathryn Dickinson, Andrea Dedmon, and Allison Killeen, the service invoked Pentecost's promise of a spirit poured out on all flesh. Jay Williams, Valerie Cousin, and Drew Paton offer reflections, and both the Seminary Choir and Gospel Choir bring music for the day.

Communion on 9/11

2008-10-27T08:23:00.001-07:00

Gathering for Communion on September 11, 2008, Ph.D. student Jane Huber led the community in reflections on the writings of Wendell Berry. The congregation gathered around tables to consider, discuss, and pray in the light of these readings before coming to communion.

Watch the clip below and offer your response to the day.

Rosemary Keller Memorial

2008-10-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

On September 24, 2008, the Union Community gathered to remember Former Dean and Professor Emerita of Church History Rosemary Skinner Keller. Prof. Keller died on June 5, 2008 after a long battle with kidney cancer. Announcing her appointment as Dean in 1996, Holland Hendrix (then President of Union) called her "a visionary firmly grounded in the practical challenges of education and theology" whose particular experience would be "ideally suited" to the Seminary's opportunities and challenges at the time. When she came to Union, she had just completed 19 years on the faculty of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. For the last three of those years she served as that seminary's first woman Academic Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. For more on Rosemary Skinner Keller click here.

Here is a clip of excerpts from her service. Feel free to add other remembrances in the comments below....

Barbara Lundblad - Emmaus

2008-06-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

Below is a video clip of Professor of Preaching Barbara Lundblad at a communion service on Thursday, April 10. At this service our acting dean James Hayes announced to the community that Rev. Lundblad had just been promoted from Associate to full Professor. We celebrate with Professor Lundblad and know that she is such a valued member of the Union community and to all those who study and practice the art of preaching. In this service she preaches about the post-Easter Emmaus text. She picks up the story where many of find ourselves--way past the dawn of resurrection. In her telling we hear how "the guest becomes the host." She describes what it takes to turn these followers of Jesus around, in the middle of the night, to walk all the way back to Jerusalem. What would it take to turn us around?

I love this sermon because she picks up and affirms the myriad ways resurrection continues to happen in our midst, particularly in James Chapel. Listen and give us a comment.

A Rock Communion: Isaac Everett/j. Snodgrass

2008-03-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, March 27, Isaac Everett and his band performed 8 songs off his new album TRANSMISSION for our weekly communion. Isaac and lyricist j. Snodgrass are both Union students who translate an Episcopal Eucharist into contemporary language and sound.

Below are links to three songs from the service. The first "God Help Me" is based on the Kyrie, "The Stranger" is the Great Thanksgiving, while "Tomorrow and Today" is the communion hymn.

Listen to them at the links below:

And for the lyrics written by j. snodgrass:

Transmission Lyrics

Please post a response to Isaac and John's music.

Just Where Is the Mark?

2008-03-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

The second semester has been a very hectic time for the worship office. We participated in the inauguration of Professor Paul Knitter and then a special week of services leading up to our annual Trailblazers service.

The week of Trailblazers chapels each used the text from Phil. 3:12-14 with the theme "Pressing toward the Mark." Here is a short clip from the chapel of Tuesday, February 26. Jen Brown begins with an excerpt from "Letters of Love and Hope: The Story of the Cuban Five," and Derrick preaches a sermon titled "Just Where is the Mark?"

Enjoy and send your comments.

video and editing by Patricia Santiago

Ritual Performance Class

2007-12-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-13T15:36:00.001-08:00

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...

2007-11-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-11-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-24T17:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

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"

2007-09-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-14T04:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-05T08:19:00.001-07:00

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