ANTS Student E-News Wednesday February 21, 2007

In this message:

NEW

- Sending Articles to Student E-News
- UU Chapel
- Baptist Fellowship Sponsored Spring Retreat
- Cafe To Be Open Friday
- Put Your Faith Into Action

REVIEW

- SACRED CHOICES, SACRED TIME, SACRED SPACE
- Peace Fellowship Meetings/Peace Week Planning
- PREPARE/ENRICH Counseling Programs
- The 79th Annual Academy Awards LIVE
- Reminder from the Registrar's Office
- Amplify Their Call!
- T Passes Have Arrived
- Welcoming Transgender People within the Communities of Faith
- Sacred Circle Dance - Spring Schedule
- Spiritual Journeys - Tuesday, February 27
- Mandala Meditation Group - Begins February 27
- Compassionate Visit II - Saturday, March 3
- A Path Beyond Faith and Despair: Religion, Environmental Crisis, and Spiritual Life - March 22, 2007
- Purim Celebration
- Opening Church Doors and Hearts to People of All Abilities
- Promotion Committee Seeks Mobley Feedback
- New Pass/Fail Deadline
- Costas Consultation on Feb. 23-24, 2007
- Student Association Elections - Call for Candidates
- Evening Compline Worship Service
- Ecology and Justice Matters Symposium

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Sending Articles to Student E-News
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Do you want to include your event or news in Student E-news? Please send all news items in publishable form to enews@ants.edu, or complete the news form at: http://www.ants.edu/eventform.htm

We require that all notices be in finished, publishable form and in plain text format.
Do not include PDF flyers or Word files. We do not publish them.
We may review and edit your notice for length, spelling and grammar, and inaccuracies.

Please do not send your notices directly to Karen Brockney. We are using the enews@ants.edu mail account for all news, since that account is accessible by both our news editors, Karen and Jason Bachand.

Thanks for your consideration.

ANTS E-news
Karen Brockney and Jason Bachand
enews@ants.edu

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UU Chapel
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Feb. 22, 2007
Darrick Jackson
"Till We Reach That Day"
What does it mean to be a diverse congregation?

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Baptist Fellowship Sponsored Spring Retreat
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Fri. Apr. 13 - Sun Apr. 15, 2007
begins 3pm Friday
Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, MA

Baptist Fellowship is sponsoring Spring Retreat at Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, MA - open to all.

Join the Baptist Fellowship for a spring weekend retreat at the Benedictine guest house at Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, MA. Approximately 30 min. south of the ANTS campus, we plan a restful, relaxing weekend after the busy Easter Season, as a time to refresh, relax, renew and re-connect with friends. You can take part in the Liturgy of the Hours with the monks at the Abbey, take a walk on the beach, or just curl up and read or chat with friends.

Attendance open to all - Baptists, and those who want to hang out with the Baptists! Cost is $60 per night, meals included. Scholarships available. Contact Carol Hayward, chayward@ants.edu ASAP for registration - space limited to 15.

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Cafe To Be Open Friday
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Dear Community Members,

Due to the storm we had on Feb. 14 Liz Bostwick was not able to make it to the cafeteria, as you know. For those of you on the full meal plan she will be preparing lunch and dinner on Friday, March 2 to make up for the meals you missed. Although Liz wanted me to extend an apology to you on her behalf, I know you join me in being glad that Liz turned back in the storm rather than risking her safety.

Nancy Nienhuis
Dean of Students and Community Life

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Put Your Faith Into Action
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On Saturday, April 14, a group of ANTS students, faculty, staff, family, and friends will join together to put our faith into action! Please join us to help work on a Habitat for Humanity home currently under construction in Lawrence, MA.

You do not need to have any construction experience. The tasks we perform could vary from using hammers and nails to painting and cleaning. You must be at least 16 years old. Tools are provided.

We will also have a brief presentation about affordable housing and its affect on low-income families, especially children. We plan to visit a Habitat homeowner family for a brief discussion with them about how having a safe place to live has changed their lives.

The Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate is a faith-based organization located in Lawrence, MA, and has built more than 55 homes in the last 17 years, mostly in Haverhill and Lawrence. The Habitat program is not a "hand out" but a "hand up" to low-income families who buy their homes at no profit and finance their mortgages with no interest. The families also work at least 500 hours on their homes as "sweat equity."

Come join us for a wonderfully fulfilling experience and an opportunity to learn more about the needs of our sisters and brothers. It's a great chance to reflect and learn – and put your faith into action!

Habitat for Humanity Building Day

Saturday, April 14

8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Lawrence, MA (details to follow)

We will try to arrange car pools depending upon response

Please contact Julia Steer to sign up

Jsteer45@comcast.net

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SACRED CHOICES, SACRED TIME, SACRED SPACE
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April 19, 2007
9am-6pm
Peck Room

A retreat for ministerial and rabbinical seminarians, to explore our lived experiences of reproductive choices through worship, ritual, journaling and shared creativity.

More details to be posted soon. Space is limited. To begin the registration process, please submit a short paragraph outlining your interest in attending to cemerson@ants.edu.

Sponsored by the Seminarians for Choice Fellowship at ANTS.

Contact: Carmen Emerson
Email: CEmerson@ants.edu

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Peace Fellowship Meetings/Peace Week Planning
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As we head into Peace Week (March 12-16) we are going to meet each Thursday from 5-6:00 in the cafeteria (or small dining room if available). That is:
Feb. 22
March 1
March 8

The next meeting 2/22 is when we have to finalize the offerings for the week so we can create the publicity and make final arrangements. We have some great events planned already, so mark your calendars.

Cynthia Knowles
cynthia@iecc.com

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PREPARE/ENRICH Counseling Programs
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Saturday, March 24, 2007, 9:30am-4:30pm

Peck Conference Room (in lower level of Worcester Hall),

Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Community of Andover Newton Students (UUCANS)

Come join the Reverend Robin Zucker as she teaches seminarians, clergy and counselors to use a series of respected, religion-neutral counseling programs when working with couples. This workshop will enrich ministry options for clergy and laypeople and expand therapeutic options for counselors.

You will receive:

- Comprehensive Counselor Manual*€"step -by -step instructions for administration and feedback of the Program.
- 5 Inventories for premarital and married couples at all stages of life.
- Building a Strong Marriage Workbook*€"exercises for couples to complete.
- Complimentary Scoring of one set on our new Online System*€"use it for yourself or a couple you are working with, a $29.95 value.

The cost is $170 per person. Please bring brown bag lunch. Coffee and pastries provided.

Additional Information and registration: http://www.flowingforce.com/prepare_training.htm

Rev. Robin Zucker: flowingforce@comcast.net

Leslie Becknell
Leslie@LeslieBecknell.com
www.ConversationthatMatters.com

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The 79th Annual Academy Awards LIVE
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It's the time of year you've all been waiting for! The 79th Annual Academy Awards, LIVE on Sunday, February 25th at 8pm. Come join us for a viewing on the projection screen in Sturtevant. "Little Miss Sunshine" is up for four Oscars. "The Departed" is up for five. "Babel," with seven nominations, is nominated twice in the same category. Which movie will take home the most Oscars? Is Will Smith going to receive his first Oscar, or will Peter O'Toole finally take the award after his eighth nomination? Find out, LIVE, this Sunday! There will be refreshments provided, but please bring your own favorite Oscar snacks, and please bring a non-perishable food item for the food pantry. For those of you who don't want to watch the entire show, there will be games going on throughout the night as well. Join us for a wonderful time starting at 7:30 this Sunday!

Evn Tomeny

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Reminder from the Registrar's Office
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To all M.Div. students -

Once you reach 45 credit-hours, you must schedule your mid-program review. Failure to do so will result in your not being allowed to register for the next semester.
Information packets regarding the mid-program review are available from the bin on the wall outside the Dean's Office, Worcester 106.

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Amplify Their Call!
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More than forty prospective students are packing their bags, saying their prayers, and heading to the Hill for this year's Conference on Ministries, Friday and Saturday March 2-3, 2007. We need your help to make their time at Andover Newton a success.

By volunteering for the Conference on Ministries, you not only get the satisfaction of meeting incoming students before they ever appear in the Funny Book, but you are also welcome to join us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. We'll even reimburse you for mileage and tolls. And it's fun, too!

There are many ways to help, so choose one, two, or ten of the options below and e-mail Peg Carroll or call (mcarroll@ants.edu or 617-964-1100 ext. 294) to let us know what you'd like to do.

- Help make beds and set up rooms in Appleton Chase and Farwell on Thursday, March 1 in the afternoon or evening.
- Blow up balloons and put up signs on Thursday, March 1 in the afternoon.
- Pick up participants from the airport or train station on Thursday, March 1.
- Take a shift staffing a table in Sturtevant on Thursday, March 1 between 6-11 p.m., greeting prospective students as they arrive, passing out keys, and helping them settle into campus.
- Hang up balloons on Friday morning, March 2.
- Lead a campus tour from 10:30-11 a.m. on Friday, March 2
- Lead a housing tour from 2:30-3 p.m. on Friday, March 2
- Offer to have your on-campus room or apartment shown during the housing tour (2:30-3 p.m., Friday, March 2)
- Speak on a panel about self-care in seminary on Friday, March 2 from 4:15-5:00
- Ask your spouse, partner, child, or other close friend or family member if he or she would be willing to speak on a panel titled "Companions on the Seminary Journey," designed especially for the families and friends of prospective students on Friday, March 2 from 4:15-5:00
- Join the fun on Friday, March 2 at 7 p.m. playing games in Sturtevant Hall or watching a movie in Stoddard Hall

But that's not all! As the Conference on Ministries ends on Saturday, another group of prospective students will be arriving. About 15 young men from Morehouse College will be visiting ANTS as their first stop in a tour of seminaries in the East. They will be spending Sunday afternoon exploring Boston, and hope to bring current ANTS students with them to show off the city's best places. If you're interested in joining them, e-mail Darrick Jackson (djackson@ants.edu).

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T Passes Have Arrived
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T Passes are in. Please pick yours up at the Housing Office before March 1.

Amelia O'Dowd
Housing Coordinator
voice: 617-964-1100 x261
fax: 617-965-3528
email: AODowd@ants.edu

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Welcoming Transgender People within the Communities of Faith - Thurs., Feb 22
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Thursday, February 22, 2007
>From 2:30-5pm
Stoddard Hall

with
Leanne McCall Tigert & expert panel

Refreshments will be served

Please join our discussion.
We are hoping to create an informative and caring conversation regarding welcoming Transgender people in the communities of Faith. Our forum will consist of expert panel dialogue as well as an open discussion. We invite all to come, listen and share.

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Sacred Circle Dance - Spring Schedule
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February 25, March 25, April 29, and May 27

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
In the Meetinghouse

SUGGESTED DONATION:
$8.00 per person
$4.00 for ANTS students

Sacred Dance and the Labyrinth are both meditative tools for encountering the holy. Simple repetitive steps and beautiful music create a sense of inner peace, much like a mantra quiets the mind by offering a focus. Sacred dance on the labyrinth offers another way to engage the whole body while inviting the mind and spirit to go deeper. Simple steps, patiently taught, no dance experience necessary.

Led by Eileen Chodos. For more information call Eileen at 617-527-0168.

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Spiritual Journeys - Tuesday, February 27
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4:30-5:45 p.m.
at the President's Home

Guest: Sarah Drummond, Director of Field Education & Assistant Professor of Ministerial Leadership

Six times during the academic year President Carter invites a member of the Andover Newton faculty to come to his home to share his or her personal spiritual journey with students. This popular informal gathering has given our students a chance to sit around the president's living room and hear about the formative moments in the lives of those gifted scholars who make up the Andover Newton faculty.

The President opens his home at about 4:30PM and at 4:45 or so the guest faculty member begins to share. At the end of about 20-30 minutes students and other guests are free to ask questions. The program usually ends about 5:45 PM. All Andover Newton students are welcome to attend.

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Mandala Meditation Group - Begins February 27
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Tuesdays, 6-8pm, February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27
FHS Center: Third Floor Sturtevant, Room 31

Presented by the FHS Visual Arts Ministry
Facilitated by Joy Honen (Resident Teaching Artist)

Come explore the healing and integrative nature of mandala creation. Mandala, which means "circle" or "sacred wholeness" in the Sanskrit language, is a circular creation that can be drawn, painted, collaged or even danced. Mandala art has been used in nearly every place and time in the history of the world as a means of personal growth, spiritual transformation, healing and as a way to connect to earth's energy and the wisdom of nature. Both in their creation and as a focus for meditation, mandalas point us to a center within each of us by which everything is ordered. Mandala creation within this small group will strive to be safe, centering and creative.

No previous artistic experience is necessary.
We are all made in the image of a creating god.
$10 fee to cover the cost of materials.
Limited to 5 participants who can commit to being at all five sessions

Advance sign-up requested with Joy at joyful_i_am@yahoo.com.

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Compassionate Visit II - Saturday, March 3
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March 3, 2007
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Peck Room

ANTS and the BTI are sponsoring a session, the Compassionate Visit II, on Saturday, March 3, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Peck Room on the campus of Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA.
This session is free and open to the public.

There are two goals for this session:
1) to initiate visits to the sick, dying or shut-ins and their families or to make existing visits more productive
2) to initiate dialogue between health care professionals and the spiritual leaders of our communities.

To that end, the Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Hindelang, Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor and Staff Chaplain at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and Dr. John R. Siberski S.J., M.D., board certified in internal medicine, psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry with primary interest in dementias, particularly Alzheimer's Disease, and end-of-life issues, will be presenting information drawn from their years of education and experience with the hope of making each of us better informed, better visitors.

For more information and if you have specific questions/issues you would like to have addressed by either Dr. Hindelang or Dr. Siberski, or if you need additional information,
please contact

Iris Brough
781-837-3612
brough@trysb.net

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A Path Beyond Faith and Despair: Religion, Environmental Crisis, and Spiritual Life - March 22, 2007
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7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
March 22, 2007
Stoddard Hall

Roger S. Gottlieb is Professor of Philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is the author or editor of fourteen books and more than 100 articles on political philosophy, environmentalism, religious life, the Holocaust and disability.

He is editor of six academic book series, contributing editor to Tikkun Magazine, and is on the editorial board of Capitalism, Nature, Socialism: A Journal of Socialist Ecology and Worldviews: Religion, Nature, Culture.

His two most recent books are A Greener Faith: Religious Environmentalism and our Planet's Future and The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology.

More info: http://www.ants.edu/community/events/2007/032207earthwitness.htm

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Purim Celebration
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Open to HC students and faculty
March 4, 2007
1:00 - 4:00
Meetinghouse

Celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Contact: Van Lanckton
Email: vlanckton@comcast.net

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Opening Church Doors and Hearts to People of All Abilities
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Monday, February 26 and Tuesday, February 27
Noon to 2 pm
Small dining room

Do the people sitting in the pews of your church reflect the full spectrum of ability and disability found in the general population? Accessibility is not just a "bricks and mortar" issue, but includes overcoming invisible barriers to full participation by people of all abilities.
All members of the ANTS community are invited to stop by and learn more. A short, heartwarming film on the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in four faith communities will be followed by a brief discussion facilitated by members of the Justice Matters class. You will leave with information and resources that will enable you to open this discussion in your own church or field ed site.
This is an informal, drop-in program that will be continuously running during lunch time on both days – bring your lunch or a cup of coffee and join us!

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Promotion Committee Seeks Mobley Feedback
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To the ANTS student body:

On behalf of the Promotion Committee charged with overviewing the possible promotion of Associate Professor Gregory Mobley, I want to invite and strongly encourage you to send letters of feedback detailing your experience with Professor Mobley's teaching and presence at ANTS. Letters should be mailed or delivered to Jennifer Shaw in the Office of the Faculty (Worcester Hall 101). Please send your letter before Wednesday, March 7. If you prefer to email your letter, you may email it to me: mboulton@ants.edu .

This is an invaluable part of an important process: please take part!

Sincerely,
Matthew Myer Boulton
Member, Mobley Promotion Committee

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New Pass/Fail Deadline
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The new Pass/Fail deadline is Friday, February 23.

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Costas Consultation on Feb. 23-24, 2007
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The 2006-2007 Costas Consultation on Global Mission, "Mission and Reconciliation in the Korean Church," will be held on Feb. 23-24, 2007.
More information available: http://www.bostontheological.org/

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Student Association Elections - Call for Candidates
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Filing Deadline: Monday, February 26th

Your Student Association will be holding elections to fill open offices for the remainder of the 2006-2007 academic year. The elections will be held from March 5th - 8th. We are in need of candidates to fill the following offices:

Executive Officers:
-Vice President
-Secretary

Elected Representatives:
-Student Life Chairperson

Think you might be interested in running? Check out the elections procedures and office descriptions in the Handouts section of the Student Association Group in ANTS Connect: Election Procedures 2006-07 Spring.pdf

Letters of intent to run should be emailed to the SA President, Len Hayward, at LHayward@ants.edu. These letters should include a brief paragraph about your involvement on campus and your goals should you be elected.

Letters of intent to run are due Monday, February 26th. Any questions? Email Len Hayward (LHayward@ants.edu).

Len Hayward
SA President and Chair of the Elections

Contact: Len Hayward
Email: LHayward@ants.edu

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Evening Compline Worship Service
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Tuesday, Feb 27th
9-9:30 PM
Meetinghouse

Please join Professor Burrows and friends for Compline.
We will close the day as the monks at Glastonbury Abbey do, praying the psalms in contemplative service.

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Ecology and Justice Matters Symposium
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Friday, February 23rd, 2007
1:00-4:30pm
Worcester Hall - Peck Conference Room
Tickets $10
Presented by Dr. Barry Taylor, Luke Taylor and Elsa Powel

A Message From ANTS Ecology Minister:

Hello dear ANTS community. It's been a while since we last communicated with you via enews. I hope you had a terrific first semester. We have been working hard to continue developing a new structure for the Ecology Ministry, a structure that will allow the school to better express its commitment to a green and sustainable campus. During this second semester we will be able to bring more campus activities for you and we hope you'll enjoy them.

The first one is a great symposium which is coming up in just a couple of weeks. It is being sponsored by ANTS Ecology Ministry and The Pachamama Alliance. The Symposium is titled: "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream." I truly recommend this one. You will be able to clearly see the connections between the current state of western consumption, environmental sustainability, world poverty & ecomonics, social justice and spiritual fulfillment. And, if you are like me, you will come out from this symposium shaken but with a renewed sense of community and purpose. We already have 50 people enrolled. Please don't wait till the last minute to make up your mind! Tickets are $10 per person. If you need financial aid, please call me on my cell phone at 617-872-8275 or email me at ccabrera@jackconway.com We hope to see you at the Symposium! (Please see attached flyer).
m

ANTS E-news
Karen Brockney and Jason Bachand
enews@ants.edu