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Class of
The One Hundred and Seventieth
Commencement Service
Eden Theological Seminary May 15, 2020
Saint Louis, Missouri
7:30 P.M.
Meet Our Graduates
Deborah W. Anderson Alan E. Bailey
Gabrielle Nichole Smith Kennedy
Autumn Dennis Jennifer Einspahr Helen Jacqueline French
Lisa King
Matthew Thomas Helis Phillip Anthony Harris Renee T. Johnson
Mtipe Koggani Emma Landowski Harold E. Long
Magloire Kawang Kevin R. Kelley
S. Jewell S. McGhee Noah McCarn Stephen Nitzsche Lisa Pettis
Tarrah Suzanne Vaupel
Romell Parks-Weekly
Vivian Esi Williams Barbara Burkhalter Schuette
Order of Service
We are delighted that you could join us for Eden Theological Seminary’s 170th commencement. The webinar format of our online ceremony means that you will only see certain people at any given moment. You will get a glimpse of each graduate when their name is called, however. If you are not able to get on the Zoom call, this service will also be streaming on Facebook live, on the Eden Theological Seminary page.
PRAISE PRELUDE Waymaker (Miranda Curtis) Lord,You are Good (Todd Galberth)
Gabrielle Kennedy Paul Vasile, Director of Music
CHOIR PRELUDE Sithi Hallelujah (Zimbabwe) Eden Seminary Choir Paul Vasile
PRELUDE Paul Vasile
WELCOME David Greenhaw, President
OPENING SONG What a Fellowship (E. A. Hoffman) Paul Vasile
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Damayanthi Niles, Professor of Constructive Theology
(Please join in reading aloud even while you are muted.)
Holy and Gracious One, who are we that you have loved us so well?
As we pause at the threshold of a new season of life and ministry, we consider the sufferings of this present time not worth comparing to the glory about to be revealed to us, and our hearts overflow with gratitude when we think of all you have done.
All through these years of learning, as we have reached for understanding and learned to live with mystery, as we have struggled and protested, and practiced how to serve those pushed aside, as we have tended the first fruits of the Spirit so that they might grow in our hearts, through all this you have blessed us time and again.
When we were uncertain, you sent us assurance in the form of friends or strangers. When we lost our way you gently pushed and prodded us back into the contours of your grace. When we threw up our hands, convinced that the world was torn and spoiled beyond repair, even then you were with us, re-working the tender places in our hearts, re-forming hope, re-forming courage, re-forming vision.
And so we declare what we have heard, what we have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands in our lives and in your world: scripture has been fulfilled in our hearing and your kin-dom of shalom has continued to come near, for we have heard the songs of the captives, and have seen the dawning smiles of outcasts welcomed home. We have touched the smooth, fading scars of healing, and have seen the ministry of Jesus, your anointed, go forward despite all the forces of death.
We offer you our humble thanks, and the balance of our days to the cause of your compassion, praying in the name of Jesus who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lights our way.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING Romans 8:18-25 (NRSV, alt.)
As read by volunteers from the graduating class. One: Holy Wisdom, holy Word. Holy Wisdom, holy Word. Many: Thanks be to God. HYMN OF THANKSGIVING “I Thank You, Jesus” (K. Morris) Paul Vasile I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, my Savior God for you brought me, yes you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way. I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, my Savior God, for you brought me, yes you brought me from a might, a mighty long way. You been my father, you been my mother you been my sister, my brother, too…
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Sharon Tan, Dean of the Seminary
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES David Greenhaw, President Susan Stepleton, Chairperson,
Board of Trustees
CHARGE TO THE GRADUATES
David Greenhaw
Susan Stepleton COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SONG OF SENDING “Go On Your Way in Joy, My Friends” (Kerri Meyer)
Paul Vasile
BENEDICTION David Greenhaw
POSTLUDE La Rejouissance from ‘Water Music’ - G.F. Händel
Paul Vasile
Hymns reprinted with permission. One License A-704968.
The Honor Graduate Fellowship
The Honor Graduate Fellowship Award recognizes the graduating Masters-level student who, in the judgment of the faculty, has the greatest academic promise
and potential for further graduate study in theology.
The recipients: JEWELL MCGHEE
NOAH MCCARN
The Gerhard and Marie Grauer Award
Awarded each year by the Faculty to the graduate who holds special promise for pastoral ministry. Academic accomplishment, preaching and pastoral care skills, and promise to fulfill the broad range of pastoral responsibilities are considered in making this award. The award honors Mrs. Grauer and Dr. Grauer, a graduate of Eden and long-time
pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Chicago.
The recipient: GABRIELLE KENNEDY
The Senior Preacher
Selected by the Faculty for excellence in preaching. The student ordinarily preaches at the Brueggemann and Kulenkamp Lectures/Annual Spring Convocation.
The Senior Preacher: RENEE JOHNSON
The Kniker Family Book Award
The Kniker Family Book Award celebrates the call of Charles Kniker as the twelfth President of Eden Theological Seminary and is given
to a UCC student selected by the administration.
The recipient: EMMA LANDOWSKI
AWARDS
Board of Trustees
Kevin Anthony Susan Artt Paul Brady
Deborah Burris Karla J. Cooper Merry Dahms
Jane Zimmer Daniels Jo Hudson
David Luckes Timothy Luehrman Matthew Miofsky Nelson Pierce, Jr.
Pierce, Jr.
Larry D. Richardson Susan Nell Rowe David Sauerhoff Mark Schafale Darlene Sowell
Susan S. Stepleton Noah Tabor
Thomas K. Tiemann Carol B. Walker Stephanie Weiner
Ann Asper Wilson
Faculty
David M. Greenhaw Christopher Grundy
Deborah Krause Kristen Leslie
J. Clinton McCann
Damayanthi Niles Adam Ployd
Ben Sanders III Sharon Tan
Laurel Koepf Taylor
Faculty Emeriti/ae
John Bracke Enoch Olgesby
Martha Robertson
Ruby Schroeder A. Hale Schroer
Karen Tye
Adjunct Faculty
Dietra Wise Baker
Jill Baker
Vince Bantu Marshall Crossnoe
Donna Hawk-Reinhard
Howard G. Kaplansky
Jeffrey T. Moore Paul Stroble
Lerone Martin
Program Directors
Paul Vasile Director of Music
Denise Stauffer
Director of Contextual Education
Rev. Sonja Williams
Associate Dean of Students
Spiritual Directors
Devoree Crist Paul Metzler
Tina Newberry Susan Ulmer
Lisa von Stamwitz
House of Study Directors
Rev. Veronica Richardson Donna Hawk Reinhard
Rev. Kim Shirar Rev. Clint McCann
Rev. Barbara Willock Rev. Michelle Torigan
Rev. Roger Bertschausen Rev. John Allen
Eden Theological Seminary 475 East Lockwood Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63119-3192
Phone (314) 961-3627 Toll Free 1-800-969-3627 www.eden.edu
Congratulations Graduates!
Mission Statement
Eden
Theological Seminary
is called to strengthen
the life of the church by
educating women and men
for ministry,
enlivening critical
reflection on faith,
and supporting
bold Christian
discipleship.
Class of