Eastern Mennonite University

University Chapels (archive)

“Solutions to the International Debt Crisis: Winning a True Global Biblical Jubilee” – Eric LeCompte

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Eric LeCompte is hosted on campus by the Washington Community Scholars’ Center.

The global economy has become interconnected and increasingly faces global crisis. Which fast must we seek now? We must renew our call to Jubilee, work towards equity between local and global communities, cancel unjust debt, and create mechanisms and guidelines to cultivate right relationships. One way to do this is to continue to work in the global Jubilee movement – with past successes in unjust debt cancellation for the world’s most impoverished, and winning reforms to the international financial system, the Jubilee USA network is working for solutions to the international debt crisis and a real jubilee. Learn about the global jubilee movement and current efforts to enact transformed lending practices, tax justice, and an implementation of what an international bankruptcy court could do to pave the way towards eradication of poverty. Engage with these complex issues and be ready to join the Jubilee movement for global economic justice!

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Eric LeCompte is the Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network and represents a civil society coalition of 75 US member organizations, 200 faith communities and 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee USA Network has won critical global financial reforms and more than 100 billion dollars in debt relief for the world’s poorest countries so the money could be reinvested in social infrastructure. Following the tragic 2010 Haiti earthquake, Jubilee USA Network worked with The Administration, US Treasury and a bipartisan coalition in Congress to cancel the 1.2 billion dollars of Haitian debt.

Eric leads a network that includes relief, environmental, human rights and religious organizations and he currently focuses on development in relationship to the international debt crisis. The 75 member groups include The AFL-CIO, American Jewish World Service, The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, The leadership of Catholic Religious Orders and The Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Churches.

He serves on expert working groups to the United Nations Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and The United Nations High Commission on Human Rights. Eric has 15 years of experience working with faith based organizations to impact global policy on poverty, conflict and human rights.

Eric is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, where he received degrees in Peace Studies and Sociology. He was named a Pax Christi Ambassador and he is the former National Council Chair of Pax Christi USA.

“Student Voices for Peace”

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Consider various perspectives on peace as students offer portions of their speeches for the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical contest.  The speeches will be given in their entirety on Monday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in University Commons 211-212.

Jamila Witmer “His Dream is our Command: Breaking Stereotypes through Integration”

Rose Byler “Living into the Tension: Social Services and Systemic Change”

Thomas Millary “Pluralistic Realm: Toward a Theology of Peace”

Sarah Schoenhals “Justice from Generation to Generation”

Joel Nofziger “Confession as a Restorative Practice in the Church”

Taylor Weidman “Dissimilarity is Hope”

Julia Schmidt “Holding Dignity in the Community of Faith”

Solitude, Compassion and Hope: Lessons in Esperanza – Tim Leaman, MD

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Through stories, biblical scripture and reflections on his work as a family physician at Esperanza Health Center in Philadelphia, Dr. Tim Leaman offers reflections on solitude, compassion and hope. (I Kings 19:1-18)

“Is Genesis a Fence Barrier to The Cross?” – Sigmund Brouwer

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Sigmund Brouwer, author of Who Made The Moon?, discusses harmony and conflict between the truths of science and the truths of the first chapter of the Bible, and what it means for your own faith journey.

The great scientist Galileo Galilei was also a man of deep faith, whose political troubles began because he boldly stated, “Since no two truths can contradict one another, the position of Copernicus and the Bible must be perfectly harmonious.” To Galileo, truth was not divisible. To Galileo science and faith did not contain conflicting sets of truth.

Galileo, however, lived long before humankind could fire satellites into the outer reaches of the solar system, long before scientists could unravel the mysteries of genetics. Does his position still hold?

Sigmund Brouwer is the best-selling author of 19 novels, including Flight of Shadows and The Canary List. The research and writing of his non-fiction title Who Made The Moon? was inspired by the same question posed to him by his daughter as a three-year-old.

“Seek the Peace of the City: A Volunteer’s Journey in NY” – Megan Grove

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

Megan Grove, 2011 graduate of EMU, shares reflections from her experiences in Mennonite Voluntary Service. This chapel also includes a time of sending for students participating in spring break Y-Trips and other forms of outreach.
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In September 2011, Megan moved to New York City where she now serves with Mennonite Voluntary Service as a Research and Policy Associate at the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center. Megan puts her skills to use by writing reports, partnering with community organizations that represent low-income and marginalized New Yorkers, and assisting non-profit attorneys.

“Ordinary Women as Agents of Social Change” – Dorca Kisare Ressler

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Dorca Kisare Ressler, International Student Services, and the International Student Organization lead in this chapel to recognize International Women’s Day with scripture and reflections on ordinary women as agents of social change.  Dorca Kisare Ressler serves as Director of International Student Services at EMU.

“Inspiring the Future” – Esther Nizer

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Join Esther Nizer, president of the Harrisonburg area chapter of the NAACP, to consider “Inspiring the Future” and moving forward. This is the second chapel planned by Black Student Union as part of Black History Month.

Spiritual Life Week Chapel: “Saved? For What?” – Shaun Groves

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

The good news of the Bible is not only about what we have been saved from, but also what we have been saved for – something to do with God’s plan to provide for the poor.

Shaun Groves is a singer/songwriter, speaker, blogger, husband, daddy and friend. He feels and thinks deeply and laughs easily and he’s helping Christians discover what they were saved for, and being a voice for children around the world who are desperate to  be saved from poverty.

“The Quiet in the Land” – David Kline

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Who are and what is the quiet in the land? David Kline offers his perspective.

David Kline is an Amish farmer, naturalist, and writer. He and his family farm 120 acres and operate a 45-cow organic dairy near Mt. Hope, Ohio, that blends older traditional methods with newer technologies in a manner that is environmentally friendly and profitable. This lifestyle supports not only families and caring communities, but also a people comfortable with themselves.

David is the author of three books, Great Possessions (1990), Scratching the Woodchuck (1997) and Letters from Larksong (2010), and is an editor for Farming Magazine, a quarterly publication supporting small-scale and profitable family farming.

Farming Magazine sprung from a desire to give a voice of hope to small-scale farmers across the nation and foster a strong connection between farm families and urban-dwelling families who desire delicious wholesome food. The magazine also celebrates the joys of farming well and living well on an ecologically conscious scale. The magazine is created in the spirit of stewardship for the earth and regard for its inhabitants.

In this chapel address, he discusses Norman Rockwell’s “County Agent” painting.  Chapel concludes with an announcement about the Student Life department’s Screen-free Sabbath initiative, including a humorous video featuring a discussion between all of EMU’s Presidents.

Mental Health & Suicide Awareness – Pam Comer

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Sometimes in a suicidal situation we ask Where is God? Pam Comer, Director of the Counseling Center, and leaders of CoachLink, help us explore answers to this question through reflection, ritual and an original song performed by EMU student, Grace Engle.  Listen for announcements about the February 23 workshop on Suicide Awareness: What to do when you are concerned about someone you know and the March 31 four-campus event Walk for Hope: colleges unite for depression and suicide awareness