George Was Here

After I handed my movie ticket to the attendant, and as I fumbled through the aisles with a giant tub of over-buttered popcorn and a cumbersome soda, I finally settled into a coveted seat amongst one of the comfy leather couches at the Moolah Theatre in St. Louis (www.stlouiscinemas.com/moolah/). I could not be happier; I was just about to watch the movie I had been anticipating for almost one full year. In March of 2009, word spread rapidly around St. Louis that George Clooney was in town, shooting his newest film, "Up in the Air." The news of where exactly Clooney was filming each day spread like wildfire, thanks to various media outlets. A fellow Seminary co-worker and I even took a few lunch break trips to go "Clooney-spotting." Unfortunately, we didn't ever catch a glimpse of George out on the streets of St. Louis. But I didn't care now because today I was going to finally see the completed film on the big screen!

2 hours later...

A-MAZE-ING. The movie could not have been better; totally worth the $7 admission price. In my opinion, the best parts of the movie were, of course, the scenes filmed in St. Louis. Many of the locations were very recognizable to a native St. Louisan; Affton High School, Cheshire Inn, Lafayette Square, Mansion House, Maplewood United Methodist Church, Renaissance Grand Hotel, and the most obvious, Lambert Airport.

Many people assumed the Gateway Arch would not be depicted in the movie, considering "Up in the Air" is supposed to be set in Omaha, Nebraska. Nonetheless, I did catch a glimpse of the unmistakable 630 foot tall monument out one of the windows during a scene which was actually set in St. Louis.

Lately I have heard some Oscar-buzz surounding the release of this movie. And while I totally agree with all the hype and good reviews of "Up in the Air," I will be the first St. Louisan to admit that I would've liked this movie no matter what, solely based on the fact it was filmed in St. Louis.

"Up in the Air" opens nationwide on Christmas Day 2009. However, if you're like me and live in St. Louis, you've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to see this movie since early December!

So...when is Johnny Depp filming his next blockbuster here???

Who Am I Dealing With?

Many of you call in to the Admissions Office with questions about coming to Concordia Seminary. Hopefully, you find that the voice on the other side offers you the answers (and encouragement) you need. Some of you, however, do not know us beyond the voice. We thought we would take care of that. Today, you will find posted on our website, http://www.csl.edu/, a new picture of the Admissions staff at Concordia Seminary here to help you. This staff includes 1 office manager, 2 counselors, and 5 student workers all armed and dangerous with helpful information.

Now when you call in you will know exactly what you're in for :)

Kyle Castens

Out with the Old, In with the New

I have finally vacated the office I had for the last 6 and a half years, and I must say the space has never looked so good! What was my office has now become "The Jefferson Room" named after South Jefferson Avenue where the Seminary resided for years. The purpose of the room is to give us a place to meet with our guests, and to have a space available for other meetings and functions.

So, those who are interested in coming to seminary can now join us for conversation over a cup of coffee sitting at a historic dining hall table. The room also offers sketches of the original plans for the seminary chapel to be built in the 1920's. The other wall offers two historic photographs. The first is of the student body of 1913 standing in front of the Jefferson campus. The second is the first faculty to step foot on the Clayton campus.

So, the next time you are at the Sem, please make sure you stop by our office and we will treat you to that good conversation and cup of coffee in the Jefferson.

Kyle Castens

It's Done!!!

I know some of you have made recent visits to the Seminary campus, but had to take a scenic route to get here. I-64/40 has not been fully operational for the last two years. However, for those of you tired of the long and winding routes to the Sem, I have good news.

Now, the highway is done and it is a beautiful project. If you are planning to visit us, you can exit the highway just a few blocks from the Seminary.
If you are coming from the east, simply exit on the Clayton Rd exit. If you are coming from the west, exit on the Bellevue exit.

As always if you need more detailed directions, please give me a call at 1-800-822-9545.

Kyle Castens

Holiday Light Displays

Christmas is a magical time in St. Louis. The city comes alive with lights, carolers, and all kinds of events and activities throughout December. For many families, going to see local holiday light displays is a favorite yearly tradition. It's a great way to jump-start your holidays! So bundle up, jump in the car and spend an evening taking in some of these great holiday light displays.

Wild Lights at the Zoo
Hours: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Admission: $4 for Zoo members and $5 for non-members. Children under 2 get in free.
Dates: December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23 & 26-30
Location: St. Louis Zoo

Way of Lights
Hours: 5pm - 10pm
Admission to view the lights is free, but there is a small charge for the laser light show, camel rides and other attractions. Donations are accepted.
Dates: November 20 - January 3
Location: Our Lady of the Snows Shrine, Belleville, IL

Santa's Magical Kingdom
Hours: 5:30pm - 10:30pm (Sun - Thurs) & 5:30pm - 11pm (Fri & Sat)
Admission: $18/car or $12 for wagon rides
Dates: November 20 - January 3
Location: Jellystone Park, Eureka, MO

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park
Hours: 5:30pm - 9:30pm
Admission: $9/car
Dates: November 25 - January 3
Location: Tilles Park, St. Louis County

Christmas Wonderland in Alton
Hours: 6pm - 9pm (Mon - Fri) & 5pm - 9pm (Sat & Sun)
Admission: $7/car
Dates: November 27 - December 27
Location: Rock Spring Park, Alton, IL

Celebration of Lights
Hours: 6:30pm - 9pm (Sun, Tues - Thurs) & 6:30pm - 10pm (Fri & Sat)
Admission: $9/car, $15/large van (Tuesday is discount night - $7)
Dates: November 27 - December 30
Location: Fort Zumwalt Park, O'Fallon, MO

Anheuser-Busch Holiday Lights
Hours: On December 4, 11, & 18, the tour center will extend their hours until 9pm for special evening tours, sampling, and shopping in the gift shop
Admission: Free
Dates: November 27 - January 3
Location: Anheuser-Busch Tour Center at Lynch & 12th Streets, St. Louis


For those of you who enjoy driving around the city, searching for the best individual homeowner holiday light displays, there certainly are plenty of these miraculous displays in & around St. Louis! Some of my favorites include:

Lavernell Lights
6429 Lavernell Ct.
St. Louis, MO 63116
Hours: 4:30pm - 11pm (Sun - Thurs) & 4:30pm - 12am (Fri & Sat)
www.lavernelllights.info
Radio station: 107.1 FM
They are collecting canned goods for St. Vincent DePaul.

My Winter Wonderland
730 Avondale Dr.
St. Peters, MO 63376
Hours: 5pm - 9:30pm (Sun - Sat)
http://mywinterwonderland.com
Radio station: 107.1 FM
They are collecting canned goods for FISH of St. Charles.

Never Enough Lights
601 Calamar Ct.
O'Fallon, MO 63368
Hours: 5pm - 10pm (Sun - Thurs) & 5pm - 11pm (Fri & Sat)
http://neverenoughlights.com
Radio station: 107.1 FM
All donations will go to the Hope Ministries Food Pantry.

Lights for Christ
610 Saint Jovite St.
St. Charles, MO 63304
Hours: 5:30pm - 10:30pm (Sun - Thurs) & 5:30pm - 11:30pm (Fri & Sat)
www.lightsforchrist.net
Radio station: 106.1 FM

Geoff's Christmas Lights
1337 Mckinley Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
Hours: 5pm - 10pm (Sun - Thurs) & 5pm - 12am (fri & Sat)
www.gtechdesign.com
Radio station: 89.5 FM
They are collecting canned goods and donations for Backstoppers.

Whitehirst Light Show
Whitehirst Ct. E
St. Charles, MO 63304
Hours: 5:30pm - 10:30pm (Nov 25 - Dec 31)
http://whitehirstlightshow.webs.com
Radio station: 107.1 FM
All donations will go to FISH of St. Charles (canned goods or monetary donations).

No Slowing Down

It has been a very busy few weeks here on campus, and there is no sign of slowing. The Seminary community welcomed guests to both Contemplate and Green and Gold Day. We pray the Lord lead these men and women as they continue to contemplate the possibility of coming to the Seminary.
We have also had the privilege to host a city wide Lutheran schools cross-country meet. Over 20 schools and hundreds of runners participated in this race which wove its way through the hills, trees, and buildings of campus.
As if all of this activity is not enough, Oktoberfest made its appearance in the quad. Although the weather was damp and cool, the food and fellowship were as good as always.
In the next weeks we also look forward to more guests on campus for a Lutheran schools soccer final, and Concordia Seminary vs. Concordia University-NE basketball game (Please come and root for the team of your choice).

Kyle Castens

Fall Harvest

October weather in St. Louis can't be beat. Plenty of sunshine, warm but comfortable days and crisp cool nights make getting outdoors a must. And, once the leaves start to change colors, a day at a pumpkin patch or road trip through the surrounding countryside on the way to a family-owned farm/orchard is a great way to spend a day. Here are some top picks for a pumpkin patch adventure this October:

Eckert’s Family Farm – Millstadt, IL
Sunday-Thursday: 9am-6pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am-10pm

Rombach Farms – Chesterfield, MO
Tuesday – Sunday: 9am-5pm

Thies Pumpkin Farm – Maryland Heights, MO
Monday – Saturday: 9am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm

Centennial Farms and Orchard – Augusta, MO
Monday – Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Stuckmeyers Farm Market – Fenton, MO
Monday – Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-4pm

Valley Farms – Foristell, MO
Daily: 10am-dusk

Lakeview Farms – O’Fallon, MO
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am-5pm

Bunker Farms – St. Louis, MO
Friday: 4pm-12am
Saturday: 9am-12am
Sunday: 10am-10pm

Relleke’s Pumpkin Patch – Granite City, IL
Daily: 9am-6pm

Pumpkins Galore – Wright City, MO
Daily: 9am-6pm

Pin Oak Farms – New Haven, MO
Saturday: 10am-5:30pm
Sunday: 12pm-5:30pm

Great Godfrey Corn Maze - Godfrey, IL

Friday: 6pm-10pm

Saturday: 11am-10pm

Sunday: 1pm-dusk

Taste of the Sem Registration Open

Taste of the Sem is not too far off in the future, January 16-18. In fact registration for this event began on October 1st. If you are a high school student, or know a high school student, interested in pastoral ministry, please consider this event.

The theme for this year's event is "Here I Stand." Three of our professors will be leading guests through a discussion of the Lutheran Reformation, and its impact on church and world. Also during this event, guests will each have a seminary student mentor who will take them to the field education congregation, and out to lunch afterward. On Monday, the guests will have the opportunity to attend classes.

Each evening of the event will end with various sports tournaments.

If you have any questions concerning the event, please call me at 314-505-7224.

Kyle Castens

Service Ended

Yesterday as I drove away from campus, I noticed that demolition had begun on a building that has served Concordia Seminary well. Located at the intersection of Seminary Place and San Bonita, this building has stood as a home for professors, staff, and students for many years.
Now that its service has ended, it is good to see that it is being disassembled rather than demolished. Plank by plank, and brick by brick the building is coming down. As I watched the progress, it seemed remarkable to me that such good stewardship is going into this effort. The building's remains will not be wasted; they simply will be built into something else.

Kyle Castens

The Christian Community: A Gift

This morning the Concordia Seminary Community began its conversations revolving around the book "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I have to say I took more away from this morning's conversation than I thought I would.
I left Werner Auditorium realizing that I understand much less of what community means than I thought I did.
Community is defined as God's gift for the present time; a gift enjoyed for the here and now. This good definition helps us better understand our time here at Seminary. I have often cautioned people to not see the Seminary as a hoop one must just jump through to get into the parish. However, with all good intentions I also have described the Seminary as a means to an end. It is true that this place is a place one comes to be equipped for something that lies beyond it. However, we must never neglect what goes on here, and that is community now. Wow!
I want to thank the Lord working through Professors Herrmann and Schmitt, and of course Bonhoeffer, for this proper view and definition of community.

A New Travel Season

A new Academic Year brings with it another season of travel for the admissions counselors at Concordia Seminary. Rev. Kyle Castens and Rev. Paul Philp will be traveling throughout the country. Each of these counselors has already started travel for the fall. As we come to your college campus, campus ministry, congregation, high school, or another location near you, we hope that you will be stop by and visit. We look forward to meeting each and everyone of you, getting to know you, answering all of the questions which you may have, and of course talking about pastoral and deaconal formation at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. If you would like to see when we will be in your area just click here.

Welcome One and All

Summers are always a little quiet around here at Concordia Seminary (except for the summer Greek students, and their victory splash). There is nothing quiet about the campus today, though. 123 new students are becoming oriented to the ways of seminary education. What a sight it is to see all of these faces which will be prepared to serve in the Lord's church. We especially thank the Lord for giving these students the interest to be here.
These new students will continue with orientation and registration through Friday, but there is some real fun planned for Saturday . Saturday is Field Day. This day has always been a good opportunity to play a few games, and build some new friendships ( and strengthen old ones) before the school year begins. The day will be filled with softball, football, firetrucks, and BBQ. Finally, on Sunday, the campus community begins its 171st year with the opening worship service at 4pm. You are welcome to join us at this service to begin the year with the Word of the Lord.

Annual Greek Fountain Dive

Students entering Concordia Seminary must learn Biblical Greek. For those students who have not learned Greek prior to coming to the seminary, Greek is offered in a summer intensive class. Today, those students taking the class in the Summer of 2009 took their qualifying exam. Once the class learned that they had passed they proceeded to the fountain for the Annual Greek Fountain Dive. The class jumped into the fountain to celebrate, played with some water toys, brought along at least one of the next generation of students for an early dive into the fountain with dad, and of course made sure that Prof. David Lewis didn't miss out on getting wet! This ritual will be repeated in November after those who finish Fall Greek pass their exams - likely on a much colder day! If you would like to participate in the Annual Greek Fountain Dive in 2010 contact the Admissions Office for enrollment information. We would love to be posting your picture right here next year!

How Do I Study for Entrance Exams?

Some have asked about what is available to study for the Seminary's entrance exams in Greek, Hebrew, Old Testament, New Testament, and Christian Doctrine.
The two best resources I can recommend are:
1. a resource list found at www.csl.edu, the exact link is http://www.csl.edu/Admissions_Pastoral_ELCE.aspx

2. iTunesU, which houses the actual courses, is an excellent resource. Please go to http://itunes.csl.edu/, and you will find everything you need to pass these entrance exams.
Also, if you would like to see a list of books that would be helpful to read before coming to Seminary, please shoot me an e-mail at castensk@csl.edu, and I will send it to you.

The Lord's peace to you,

Rev. Castens

SMP Entrance Exam Deadline

I just want to offer a quick reminder that if you have applied for the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program, the deadline to pass the entrance exams is July 31st.
Please keep this date in front of you. If you have any questions, please post a comment.

Kyle Castens

Seminary Scholarship!

We all know that financial assistance is essential when it comes to higher education. There are a lot of sources of aid when one does come to the Seminary, and now there is one more that I have been made aware of. This scholarship is through the Logos Bible software corporation.
Please click on the title of this blog post to learn more about what Logos has to offer.

Summer Old Testament, New Testament, and Doctrine

If you are signed up to take one of the courses mentioned in the title of this post, this post is for you. I have included below the times and place that you will need to register for these courses (P1,P2,P3). If you have any questions, please add a comment to this post and I will respond momentarily.

July 13 Monday Registration for Terms C and P-1, 10:30-11:30 am, Pieper 103
Terms C and P-1 classes begin with afternoon sessions
July 24 Friday Terms C and P-1 end after classes
July 27 Monday Registration for Terms D and P-2, 10:30-11:30 am, Pieper 103
Term D and P-2 classes begin with afternoon sessions
July 31 Friday Term II ends after classes
AUGUST
August 7 Friday Terms X, D and P-2 end after classes
August 10 Monday Term P-3 registration, 10:30-11:30 am, Pieper 103

Vocatio: All Said and Done

Wow, what a week!! Vocatio is now over, but we have much to look back upon. I pray that all of the high school youth and counselors who joined us, got a lot from this event. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" ( Galatians 2:20)is the Word of the Lord that guided us through this event. Professors from each discipline of theology demonstrated how this verse plays out in one's daily life.
We had great opportunities for the Service of Word and Sacrament, as well as many times to reflect on what it truly means that "Christ lives in me."

In addition to our time on the Seminary campus, we also ventured out to get a sense of the local St. Louis flavor, and the history of our church body.
Sunday took us to Forest Park, the nation's largest city park and site of the 1904 World's Fair. Our time in the park included a cook out, and the geocaching! What an adventure!
On Monday, we ventured to historic Perry County, and learned much about the Saxon immigration. Dr. Gerry Bode led us in a great discussion of what the contributions of these men and women mean to our church today. If you are a history fan, even if you are not, you will enjoy a visit to Altenberg and Frohna, Missouri. The curators are great and they will give you a great taste of Lutheran history.
After receiving a better understanding of our Lutheran heritage, we were not done yet. Our team of youth broke into groups, and we repaired log cabins, planted a sorghum field, built a chicken yard, and painted tables. I slept well that night!
We also took in a tour and a show at the Muny, the nation's oldest and largest outdoor theater.
On the last night we thought we would do a little singing of our own with some karaoke. Do we ever have talent!?!?
I want to say how much I enjoyed each and every one of you who attended Vocatio. Thank you for your feedback, and we will work hard to make the event even better next year.

Kyle "Maverick" Castens

Museum Mania

The 2009 May issue of Delta Airlines in-flight magazine (Delta Sky Magazine) lists the City Museum in St. Louis at #6 among “30 Must-See Museums.”

Imagine if you let engineer-artists, free to create whatever they want, be spontaneous, take risks and play. And imagine a museum that figures people won't mind getting really dirty or rather wet during their visits, and you have St. Louis' City Museum.

City Museum dares visitors to test their limits by climbing five stories through a giant steel slinky suspended in midair, or eschewing the stairs in favor of sliding several stories down a narrow chute instead, or standing on the wing of a jet airplane five stories high. Screams of fear are heard here almost as often as shrieks of delight.

"The museum is a happy hybrid of solid grown-up engineering skills and childlike raw creativity," said Elizabeth Parker, City Museum director. "Our staff of artist-engineers, welders and construction experts builds totally on impulse. They build whatever they want to build, whenever they want to build it. The museum changes on a daily basis due to the staff's spontaneous and constant bursts of creativity."

Conceived by sculptor Bob Cassilly, the museum's creative director, City Museum occupies the former International Shoe Company headquarters. "Virtually everything inside the building was created from recycled industrial and commercial refuse, much of it donated," said Parker. "The entire museum is itself a work of art."

You really have to see the museum in person to believe it. The museum is open seven days a week, with Fridays & Saturdays staying open until 1am. Try riding the rooftop Ferris wheel surrounded by the starlit sky and the 360 degree view of the nighttime downtown skyline!

Laura Moehlman – Life Transitions Coordinator

The Heat Is On!

Saint Louis, Missouri is experiencing a heat wave. The last several days have been the warmest (no hottest) of the year! Saturday is supposed to be 98 degrees! The meteorologists are promising a cool down on Sunday. A cool down of just a few degrees. This is summer in St. Louis, after all. Many people, myself included, wish that cooler weather would come. However, the heat of a St. Louis summer is not in fact a bad thing. This heat has a way of reminding of the blessings our gracious God bestows upon us.

God's blessings come to us in many forms. In the midst of a heat wave God's blessings may come to us in the form of Air Conditioning, a pool to refresh ourselves in, perhaps even a sprinkler to run through. One of God's greatest blessings is the gift of our Baptism. God has washed us in the cleansing flood of Holy Baptism and placed His Name upon us. By doing so, He has spared us from the unbearable heat of eternal death! The heat of these days reminds us of God's great blessing in sparing us from heat which would truly be unbearable and offering to us rather His grace and the hope of eternal life in the New Creation - where the weather will always be wonderful!

Indenpendence Day 2009

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Independence Day in St. Louis means parades, music, fireworks and fun. There are dozens of places throughout St. Louis to gather with family and friends to celebrate all things American. Of those dozens, here are my top recommendations on where to spend your 4th of July 2009 in the St. Louis area:

1. Fair St. Louis
Fair St. Louis festivities are July 3 & 4 on the Arch grounds and St. Louis Riverfront. The Fair opens Friday night at 6 p.m. and again at 11 a.m. on Saturday after the VP Parade. Most visitors plan their day around the free concerts and fireworks. The Counting Crows and Train are this year's headliners. And of course the Fair's fireworks display is not to be missed!

July 3, 2009

6 p.m. - Fair opens

8 p.m. - Counting Crows

9:15 p.m. - Fireworks

July 4, 2009

11 a.m. - Fair opens

1 p.m. - Nat & Alex Wolff

8 p.m. - Train

9:15 p.m. - Fireworks

2. Webster Groves Community Days
Community Days is a four-day celebration featuring a carnival, BBQ, parade and fireworks. It's truly an old-fashioned event, held July 1st through 4th at Memorial Park.

July 1 & 2, 2009

4 p.m. - Festival opens

July 3, 2009

2 p.m. - Festival opens

9:30 p.m. - Fireworks preview

July 4, 2009

10 a.m. - Parade

11 a.m. - Festival opens

9:45 p.m. - Fireworks spectacular


3. St. Charles Riverfest
Riverfest is held each year in Frontier Park on the banks of the Missouri River, and includes a bluegrass music festival, carnival rides, a parade and two nights of fireworks.

July 2, 2009

4:00 p.m. - Food booths open

4:30 p.m. - Bluegrass Music Festival

July 3 & 4, 2009

10 a.m. - Parade (July 4 only)

12:00 p.m. - Food booths & carnival open

9:20 p.m. - Fireworks


4. Alton's Mississippi River Fireworks Festival
Alton's Mississippi River Fireworks Festival is held at Riverfront Park. There's food, live entertainment and a big fireworks display, set against the beautiful Clark Bridge.

July 3, 2009

5 p.m. - Grounds open

9 p.m. - Fireworks


5. Fireworks Over the Confluence, Grafton
In Grafton, the fireworks display is over two great rivers, right at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois. Grafton's festival also includes live music, children's games and food and drink specials from Grafton area restaurants.

July 4, 2009

All day

Fireworks at dark


6. Hertiage & Freedom Fest, O'Fallon, MO
The two-day celebration features an impressive line up of nationally known musicians, including Craig Morgan, Chris Young, Gavin DeGraw and Sister Hazel. Of course there's also a parade, a carnival, plenty of kids activities and tons of food. To top it off, the festival ends each night with fireworks.

July 3, 2009

7 p.m. - Craig Morgan

9:00 p.m. - Chris Young

10:15 p.m. - Fireworks

July 4, 2009

9:30 a.m. - Parade

12:00 p.m. - Festival opens

4:00 p.m. - Elevation: U2 Tribute

6:15 p.m. - Sister Hazel

8:30 p.m. - Gavin DeGraw

9:45 p.m. - Fireworks


7. Fourth of July Celebration, Ellisville
The event in Bluebird Park keeps with solid traditions, with vendors selling hot dogs, brats, ice cream and other favorite festival foods. There's also a special Independence Day ceremony with the Ellisville Police Department, followed by live music and fireworks.

July 4, 2009

6 p.m. - Celebration begins

7 p.m. - Independence Day ceremony

9:30 p.m. - Fireworks


8. Rockin' on the Landing
Top local bands will be playing on outdoor stages from noon until 9 p.m. Street vendors will be selling all kinds of food or you can always stop in at one of the Landing's many restaurants. This is also a great location to watch the fireworks from Fair St. Louis.

July 4, 2009

Noon - Live music begins


9. Gateway City BBQ Festival
Few things are more American than bar-b-que and live music! The Old Rock House is known for its live music and there will be plenty of it during the festival from bands like Paint the Earth and That '80's Band.

July 3 & 4, 2009

2 p.m. - People's Choice BBQ competition (July 4 only)


10. Fireworks Over Chesterfield
The City of Chesterfield is hosting its annual 4th of July celebration in the parking lot at Chesterfield Mall. There will be activities for the kids and food for sale, but you can also bring your own eats. The evening will end with a traditional fireworks display.

July 4, 2009

6:30 p.m. - Smash Band performs

7 p.m. - Children's entertainment begins

9:30 p.m. - Fireworks

Laura Moehlman - Life Transitions Coordinator

Summer Content Courses Right Around Corner

If you need to take one of the basic courses in Old Testament, New Testament, or Christian Doctrine, remember that these classes begin with Christian Doctrine in less than 1 month. This class will run from July 13 to the 24th. The course to follow is Old testament which will run from July 27th to August 7th. The final course is New Testament which will run from August 10-August 21.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and I will answer them right away.

Kyle Castens

When Will I Hear?

If you have been expecting to hear something from the Admissions Office, and want to know when that word will come, please do not hesitate to call us. Our toll free number is 1-800-822-9545.
Some of you are still awaiting word on your admission status. The Admissions Committee will meet again at the end of this month, so expect to hear word in the near future.

When is Chapel?

As I sat down to write this post, the bells of Luther Tower started ringing to call the campus community to chapel. This time of the day is the most significant one for us here at Concordia. It is here we receive and take in the good things the Lord so richly offers. Whether we feel it or not, we are changed for the day.
So, post interrupted, I went to chapel. I thank the Lord for His Word delivered to us today from Psalm 1, and the strong proclamation of that Word by Dr. Glen Nielsen.
I want to encourage you as you come to visit us here on campus, please join us for chapel. Chapel is every morning at 9:40am.
Many of you may remember that years ago chapel was broadcast on KFUO radio. Although that broadcast no longer occurs, you can hear the chapel sermons on iTunesU.
Also know that if you come to campus around chapel time, you will not find us in our office; we will see you in chapel.

Here I Stand

Alright,I realize it is June, and it may be a little early to announce this, but "Taste of the Sem" is already planned for January 16-18, 2010. The theme for next year's "Taste" is "Here I Stand." Our high school guests will take a extremely in-depth look at the Lutheran Reformation.
Three of our professors will engage the guests in this topic by looking at the reformation from an exegetical, systematic, and historical perspective. Exegetically, the professor will lead guests through the translation of portions of Romans 3 from Greek. Systematically, the professor will lead a discussion of phrases such as "sola fide, sola Scriptura, and sola gratia," and why these are so important to us as Lutherans. Historically, one of our professors will discuss how this event, since it did not occur in a historcial vacuum, has had an impact upon both Church and world.
Registration materials and more information regarding this event will be sent out to churches in September.
Kyle Castens

Free Movie-Mania

During the summertime you can find numerous free movies playing in various locations throughout the city of St. Louis. Local movie theatres, city parks, and even farmers markets are typical places that show movies, free to the public. My particular favorite sites are those in which I can bring my entire family (dog included), pack a picnic dinner, and sit on my own lawn chair amongst 100s of other excited movie-goers. During the month of June, Laumeier Sculpture Park is hosting a weekly event entitled, "Music + Movies Series." Every Friday night in June, Laumeier will feature a different band and movie combo, starting at 7pm. The event is located outside which means you can bring your own seating and your own food; although, food can also be purchased there. Last Friday night, my husband and I packed up the lawn chairs, grabbed a blanket, filled the picnic basket, and snagged a prime spot on Laumeier's amphitheatre lawn. During the concert portion of the evening (7pm), we were able to roam around the park admiring all of the giant sculptures. We noticed a lot of people were passing the time by playing with a Frisbee, or walking through the woodsy nature trails, or playing in the children's sculpture garden (the more hands-on exhibits). Once the sun set around 8:45pm, the movie The Great Outdoors began. We had such a good time and I would recommend this event to anybody! Below is a schedule of the Music + Movies Series for the upcoming weeks:
June 12, 2009
7pm: Arvell and Co.
8:30pm: Kung Fu Panda
June 19, 2009
7pm: Ticket to the Beatles
8:30pm: Jurassic Park
June 26, 2009
7pm: Bored of Education
8:30pm: The Sandlot
In addition to Laumeier Sculpture Park, there are many other venues that offer free movies throughout the summer months. For example, Wehrenberg Theatres Summer Series offers free movies on Wednesday & Thursday mornings, and the Frontyard Features Series shows free movies at various locations in the evenings. Check out both websites: www.wehrenberg.com and www.fyfstl.com/calendar.php
Laura Moehlman - Life Transitions Coordinator and Free Movie Fanatic