Concordia Blog Cabin

Free Days at the Magic House for 2012

2012-01-19T14:28:00.004-06:00

The Magic House in Kirkwood is one of the top attractions in the St. Louis area. What makes the popular children's museum even better is getting in for free! Here is the current list of free days at the Magic House for 2012:

Free Family Nights 2012 - On the third Friday of each month, two adults and four children per family can get free admission from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

January 20

February 17

March 16

April 20

May 18

June 15

July 20

August 17

September 21

October 19

November 16

December 21

A Food Gem

2011-07-27T00:13:00.002-05:00

One of our wonderful seminary wives, Debbie Hunsaker, was inspired by a friend and has taken on a interesting fun task of blogging about their food pantry eating adventures. Coincidentally, July has been dubbed "no spend month" and she is only using the the things in their pantry. So, the things there would most likely come from the Seminary Food Bank and/or previously purchased foods. Needless to say, if you are wondering how you can survive making meals for your spouse, family, or just yourself while at seminary, then Debbie gives you a quick look into their lives during "no spend month."

If you feel so inclined, check out the Hunsaker Food Pantry Eating Adventures during "no spend month" here:
http://seminaryeats.wordpress.com/

Also Debbie recommends this site for great, tried, and true Family recipes.
http://www.myfamilymealplan.com

Summer School Welcome

2011-06-19T23:00:00.001-05:00

Around the first of June every year a number of students begin their journey of formation into pastors or deaconesses. Students travel from all over the United States and some even come from overseas to receive this training to become professional church workers.

On June 12, representatives from various parts of campus life welcomed this year’s Summer School students at the Second Annual Summer School Welcome Party in the Meyer Meadow. Our hostess and host for the evening were the esteemed Mrs. Meyer and Ferdie. Summer School classes are compiled of Fundamental Greek (10 weeks), Christian Doctrine (2 weeks), Old Testament Overview (2 weeks), and New Testament Overview (2 weeks). The Greek students start their classes first while the remaining three courses begin mid July in an every two week sequence until the end of the summer session. The evening started off with a sprinkling of rain, but things cleared up just in time for the festivities to begin. Rev. Kyle Castens was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening introducing Chaplain Stein for an opening prayer. After prayer, Rev. Castens introduced a few faces from Admissions, Enrollment, the Registrar’s office, and current students that our new community members will be interacting with over the coming months.

The current students in attendance provide a real life link to answering honest questions about what is ahead of them. Yes, Greek is hard. Yes, it will challenge you in ways that you never thought you could be challenged. Yes, life as you know it will change. You will grow with your classmates through study sessions, working out in the gym, and various campus events. The student representatives also serve notice that 10 weeks of Greek is a mountain that is conquerable. In some cases we are the voice of reason when it comes to how important learning the biblical languages is to their formation. Did you know the success rate of formation students who take 10 weeks of Fundamental Greek is 99.1%?

Midway through the night Rev. Castens introduced the “Skipper” who would navigate these formation students through the sometimes stormy waters of Summer Greek. Dr. Jeffrey Oschwald has taken on the task of being that “Skipper” and he quickly provided them with sage advice, “Do stay up late celebrating, there will be work to do tomorrow.”

By my count there were 16 Greek students in attendance. Some brought wives and children as well. At the end of their 10 weeks all will understand various sayings like the following:

“Greek is a thinking man’s language”

“Greek is like drinking water through a fire hose”

“Greek makes grown men cry”

“Parsing will save your life”

“<insert any word here> comes from two Greek words”

There were other things that happen that night like meeting new people, roasting marshmallows, and the kids feeding Ferdie an awful lot of graham crackers.

At the time of this blog posting the Summer Greek students have completed their first week and have nine more to go. At the end of their journey they can and will participate in the time honored tradition of jumping in the campus fountain. If any of the students are reading this just take a gander of some of your predecessors…

Summer Greek 2009Fall Greek 2009Summer Greek 2010Fall Greek 2010

Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley

2011-04-12T15:10:00.003-05:00

Clang, clang, clang went the trolley

Ding, ding, ding went the bell.......

As of April 1, St. Louisians can now hear trolley clangs and bangs navigating throughout Forest Park as part of the latest effort to ease traffic congestion through St. Louis' "Crown Jewel." The trolley route begins at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Metrolink Station. The trolley will run daily from 9am to 5pm, with extended hours until 7pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The trolley will run every 20 minutes making stops at the Visitor's Center, Zoo, Grand Basin, Missouri History Museum, Art Museum, Boathouse, Muny, Jewel Box, Steinberg Rink and the Science Center. A one-day pass is $2 for adults and $1 for children and seniors. Kids 5 and younger ride for free.

Admission Deadline

2011-03-16T14:49:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe that we are getting close to another admission deadline. March 31st is coming up right around the corner, so if you are considering coming to the Seminary this coming summer or fall, please contact me right away. You can e-mail me at castensk@csl.edu, or phone me at 1-800-822-9545.

Rev. Castens

Eagle Days

2011-01-13T11:19:00.004-06:00

Road Trips for Families website selected Eagle Days in St. Louis, MO as one of the Top 10 Winter Festivals in the nation. Eagle Days is scheduled at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge for January 15-16.

The Chain of Rocks Bridge was constructed in 1929 and quickly became part of historic Route 66. Now, one of the world's longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges, it's also the site of Eagle Days. During the winter, the bald eagles come to feed on the Mississippi River, and form one of the largest concentrations of the birds in North America. The bridge is prime viewing area for the majestic visitors. There will also be a live eagle education program, living history demonstrations featuring Lewis and Clark re-enactors, and the always-popular warming tent activities that include art projects for the kiddos. Check out http://confluencegreenway.org/eagledays.php for more information.

Happy Christmas to all the World

2010-12-22T10:39:00.003-06:00

We here at Concordia Seminary pray the Lord Jesus Christ, born for your forgiveness, your life,your salvation, would give to you His peace which surpasses all human understanding. We thank the Lord that we have seen His salvation, and now rejoice:

"Rejoice! Rejoice!"

Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel!"

KDC

Where's Jesus?

2010-12-21T13:22:00.002-06:00

The title of this blog post is not intended to be a theological one. If it were, the answer would be straightforward. However, this question may be a little more difficult to answer. Take a look at the link below and you will see the meaning of the question.
http://respublica.typepad.com/respublica/2010/12/a-manger-but-no-baby.html

KDC

"Why Would Anyone Want to be a Pastor?"

2010-12-16T08:34:00.002-06:00

The question posed in the title of this post is that of a recent interview I had with KFUO radio. I thank KFUO for the opportunity to talk about the very important role of encouraging men to become pastors. Of course the title only addresses half the question. One could also ask, "Why would anyone want to become deaconesses?" That question is addressed as well. I certainly enjoyed the casual, candid nature of the dialogue. If you click on the title you will be able to hear the full interview. I hope you find it helpful as you consider the Office of the Holy Ministry or the Diaconate.

Green and Gold(en) Opportunity

2010-12-15T10:57:00.003-06:00

If you have just one day to spare but would like to get a sense of how Concordia prepares a man for the pastoral ministry or a woman for the diaconate, I would suggest coming to Green and Gold Day on January 7th. This day is designed to present a day in the life of Concordia Seminary. I have enjoyed these days because I feel that we can show a lot about the Seminary in a short amount of time. So, if you are a college student interested in being a pastor or deaconess, and you do not have anything else scheduled on January 7th, please consider scheduling a Green and Gold Day. Will it be life changing? Probably not. However, I also believe you will walk away with a better idea of what Concordia Seminary is all about.

KDC

Picture of the Day

2010-12-14T15:40:00.004-06:00

An image of a warmer time. Not too hot; not too cold.

Taste of the Sem 2011: Together with All Creatures

2010-12-14T13:46:00.002-06:00

Taste of the Sem 2011 is just around the corner. Thank you to everyone who has already registered. If you are a high school student, and you have not yet registered, please consider coming. This event will be one where you can learn more about the fact that God has created us together with all creatures, and still takes care of us. Presentations will be lead by some of CSL's faculty such as Dr. Charles Arand and Dr. Bob Weise. You will also be matched up with a current seminary student so you can learn more about how CSL prepares men for the pastoral ministry. If you would like to register, just click on the title of this blog post, and you will be taken to the registration page.

KDC

The Joys of working in Admissions

2010-12-13T23:21:00.002-06:00

As a student worker you often wonder how much fun you'll actually have at your job. I know that having worked for the admissions office at Concordia Seminary for a year now you never know what to expect. Sometimes there is a heaping load of envelopes to stuff. Other days its kinda low key and relaxed. Like the other day when I happened to walk into the office to find that I was now part of a Grand Plan to take out Kyle Castens with foam Nerf Darts. Needless to say an umbrella was broken, darts ended up in the plants, and Kyle was shown just how prepared seminarians are for Spiritual Warfare! Well maybe not spiritual but at the very least Nerf warfare.

SMP Deadline Approaching

2010-12-13T13:18:00.002-06:00

I want to remind everyone who is a SMP applicant for spring that the deadline is January 7th. This deadline means that all application materials must be submitted, and all entrance exams passed.
Please call me, 314-505-7224, if you have any questions or concerns.

Kyle Castens

Signs of the Season

2010-12-13T11:22:00.003-06:00

Are three pictures worth three thousand words?

8 degrees and Counting

2010-12-13T11:17:00.004-06:00

Well, it is certainly not going to be a scorcher today in Saint Louis. After yesterday's Arctic blast, we found ourselves this morning with very frigid wind chills and a little bit of snow.
Thanks to the Seminary snow removal crews armed with shovels, snow blowers, snow plows, salt, sticks, swords-OK, kidding about the last two- the Seminary grounds are safe.
I do anticipate that later today the several hills of campus will be crowded with children of all ages taking runs at the slopes. Personally, I plan on not breaking anything; bruises, well that's another story.
I pray you are safe and warm where you are. If it is frigid and dangerous where you are, I hope you are at home sipping a warm beverage of your choice.

KDC

Obstacles

2010-10-12T10:56:00.002-05:00

Over the years many have expressed to me obstacles they believe stand between them and Seminary. I would like to know what you feel are such obstacles. I believe knowing these will help us serve you best. Please comment to this blog post or e-mail me at castensk@csl.edu. Obviously our job here is not to remove these obstacles, but to help you and encourage you in the midst of them. The Lord be with you this day.

Still Contemplating

2010-10-11T11:55:00.003-05:00

I hope the people who attended Contemplate read this blog. They really made our visitation event quite enjoyable and I want them to know it. Once again I could see the Lord at work through the lives of people. There certainly was fear and apprehension, and I want them to know that they will be in our prayers that the Lord would give them direction and peace. There was also excitement and great joy. I want them to know that they will be in our prayers that the Lord would give them direction and peace. It all comes down to the fact that the Lord is at work no matter what our emotions or reactions may be.

For some the Lord is at work to lead them to prepare for the pastoral or deaconess ministry. For others the Lord is at work leading them to be His servants where they are. Outstanding! May we all " go home and tell them how much the Lord has done for you (Mark 5:19)."

Takin' It To The Streets

2010-10-06T14:34:00.002-05:00

The City of St. Louis hosts the final Open Streets event Saturday, October 9, from 8am - 1pm. The free event opens city streets to joggers, cyclists, pedestrians and spectators along a route that encompasses Old North St. Louis, the Arch grounds, Citygarden and Busch Stadium. It's designed to encourage residents to take to the streets and walk, bike, run and play. Two activity hubs along the route will feature activities like hula hooping, belly dancing, inflatable bounce houses, freethrow competitions, art, music and more. Call (314)622-4043 or visit http://www.stlopenstreets.org/ for info.

Convention News

2010-07-14T11:23:00.003-05:00

Hey, I know that there is a lot of things going on at the LCMS Convention which often are tense. However, there is a lot of good things occurring and a lot of interesting conversations as well. Click on the title of this blog post and it will take you to some live action, if you have not been there already.
However as the Convention concludes, the NYG in NOLA begins. Come by the exhibit area in the Convention Center and say hello.

Kyle Castens

Summer Days Are Here Again!

2010-07-06T15:38:00.002-05:00

Are you looking for some FREE summer fun for kids this summer? Here are the top things to do with your children in St. Louis without spending any money!

St. Louis Zoo

Admission to the Zoo is always free, but each day during the summer from 8-9am, the Children's Zoo, the Conservation Carousel, the Stingrays at Carribean Cove and other special exhibits are also free. The Children's Zoo has an outdoor playground with slides, bridges and rope ladders. Kids can also get an up-close look at bunnies, guinea pigs and other animals. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, check out Zoomagination Station, a free indoor play area at the Living World.

Grant's Farm

Grant's Farm is another great place to see animals from around the world. The 281 acre farm in South County is home to hundreds of animals, including the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. In the summer, Grant's Farm is open daily except Mondays. Admission is free for everyone, but parking is $11/car.

Children's Garden

Admission is free to the Children's Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Wednesday evenings from 5-7pm. The Children's Garden is designed to teach kids about nature in a fun way. There's a tree house, frontier fort, outdoor classroom and more.

Powder Valley Nature Center

Families can take a hike on one of several paved trails that weave through the Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center. There's also an indoor learning center and special free classes for kids throughout the summer.

Fountain at Tower Grove Park

The fountain and wading pool at Tower Grove Park is a nice place for kids to cool off in the summer heat. There are dozens of pop-jets for children to play in, as well as a large water bowl in the center of the fountain. During the summer, ther fountain and jets are on every day. The wading pool is open Thursday through Sunday.

Magic House

St. Louis' top childrens museum has free admission for families on the thrid Friday of the month from 5:30-9pm.

St. Louis Science Center

Admission to the StL Science Center is free for everyone. On the first Friday night of each month there is also a free Star Party at the Planetarium. Members of the St. Louis Astronomical Society set up telescopes for public viewing outside and there are kid-friendly events inside.

Citygarden

Citygarden is one of the newest attractions in Downtown St. Louis. It's a city park filled with fountains, wading pools, sculpture and more. It's a great free place for kids to play on a hot summer day. Citygarden is located along Market Street between 8th and 10th Streets. It is open daily from sunrise to 10pm.

Wehrenberg Theatres Family Summer Series

Kid friendly movies are shown on Wednesdays & Thursdays at 10am, at nine local Wehrenberg Theatres.

Those Summer Nights

2010-06-02T11:06:00.002-05:00

There is so much to do in St. Louis during the summer months and much of it is free! You can hear some great live music without spending any money. Here's information on free concerts in St. Louis in summer 2010.

LIVE ON THE LEVEE

Three weekends of free concerts under the Gateway Arch in Downtown St. Louis. Headlinders include Common, Clint Black and Silversun Pickups. Plus every night closes with a big fireworks finale.

July 9-10, 16-17, 23-24

JUNGLE BOOGIE

Free Friday night concerts at the St. Louis Zoo. Concerts feature locally known musicians like the Ralph Butler Band, Kim Massie, and Gumbohead.

May 28 - June 8

TWILIGHT TUESDAYS

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to the north lawn of the Missouri History Museum for performances by Boogie Chyld, PowerPlay Band and more. Concerts start at 6:30pm.

April 27 - June 8

WHITAKER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Outdoor concerts held each Wednesday night for ten weeks in the beautiful Missouri Botanical Gardens. Garden admission is free after 5pm. The concerts start at 7:30pm.

June 2 - August 4

LAUMEIER MUSIC + MOVIES

Laumeier Sculpture Park offers a full evening of free entertainment starting with a concert by a local musician, then a family friendly movie. Music begins at 7pm. Movies are at 8:30pm.

June 4, 11, 18 & 25

PARTIES ON THE PLAZA

Parties on the Plaza are held from 5pm-8pm on the third Wednesday of the month at the Old Post Office Plaza in Downtown St. Louis. Each event includes live music plus food, drinks and giveaways.

May - September

GATEWAY FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

Classical favorites from the world's great composers performed on Sunday evenings at 7:30pm at Brookings Quadrangle on the Washington University campus.

July 11,18, 25 and August 1

MUSICAL MONDAYS

The Compton Heights Concert Band performs Mondays in Tower Grove Park. Guest performers include tenor Hugh Smith and 9-year-old trumpet prodigy Geoffrey Gallante.

July 4 - August 9

CARONDELET SUMMER CONCERTS

A wide variety of musicians perform Sunday evening concerts at 6pm in Carondelet Park in South St. Louis.

June 6 - August 22

SOUNDS AT THE STATION

Enjoy a free concert the third Thursday of the month by the Lake Stage at St. Louis Union Station. Concerts are from 5pm to 8:30pm.

April - September

Open Streets

2010-04-29T14:52:00.002-05:00

Open Streets combines elements of your neighborhood block party, a day at the gym, and a relaxing weekend morning. It's a chance to exercise, an opportunity to people watch, and a great time to enjoy our region's wonderful spring weather.

This first of four events opens five miles along Locust and Lindell Streets for you to enjoy. That's right, CAR-FREE city streets!

Open Streets is a FREE community event. You're invited to take to the streets to walk, bike, skate, visit other neightborhoods, rediscover the city and experience the Great Rivers Greenway's Bike St. Louis routes.

Three activity hubs located along the length of the route host a variety of fun activities - aerobics, zumba, hula-hooping, yoga, walking tours and safety and health demonstrations.

Open Streets will be held this Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 8am - 1pm.

The Time for Applications

2010-02-18T08:20:00.002-06:00

It seems as though the application process for the 2010-2011 academic year just began yesterday ( was actually May 1st). Now we have come to the time where we can see the application deadline, March 31st, in sight.
However, you may be wondering what this application deadline really means. Well, I would like to take a moment to explain how we are currently interpreting it.
In order to receive the greatest amount for financial aid and the greatest chance for on-campus housing, all application materials must be received by March 31st. This deadline also insures that the applicant will be completing the entrance exams on time (April 30th).
However, this deadline does not mean we will no longer accept an application after this date. In actuality the opportunity to submit an application will exist up to June 3oth.
As always, if you are now considering the Seminary for next year I urge you to complete the process by March 31st. For those of you, though, who may be making this decision a little later, please give me a call because your window of opportunity is not closed.
My number is 314-505-7224.

Kyle Castens

George Was Here

2009-12-22T14:31:00.003-06:00

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?

2009-12-18T08:27:00.005-06:00

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

2009-12-16T16:19:00.004-06:00

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!!!

2009-12-10T13:54:00.003-06:00

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

2009-12-09T10:53:00.003-06:00

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

2009-10-23T10:40:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-08T09:09:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-02T08:39:00.005-05:00

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

2009-10-01T11:03:00.003-05:00

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

2009-09-30T13:54:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-17T12:52:00.002-05:00

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

2009-09-02T14:44:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-20T15:26:00.006-05:00

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?

2009-08-04T16:09:00.005-05:00

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

2009-07-09T13:43:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-07-07T10:43:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-07T08:36:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-06T08:53:00.007-05:00

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

2009-06-29T15:27:00.010-05:00

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!

2009-06-26T15:56:00.003-05:00

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

2009-06-25T13:07:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-23T13:29:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-06-19T14:15:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-06-19T10:37:00.003-05:00

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

2009-06-18T22:45:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

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