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Minute for Mission: Columbia Theological Seminary
 Students, faculty, and staff enjoy a mid-morning coffee break.
At Columbia Theological Seminary, mid-morning coffee breaks are a tradition. On Wednesdays, when we combine the gathering with Forum, the pick-me-up and refreshment come from more than a cup of coffee or tea.
Students, faculty, and staff — female and male, young and older, students, staff, and faculty — with all our varied colors and ethnicities — come together to freely exchange ideas about and views on a variety of social, political, economic, and theological issues such as hunger, child prostitution, politics and religion, ethnic inclusiveness, and ordination standards. In this setting of collective vulnerability, we seek to navigate honestly together in the name of Jesus Christ through the tumultuous waters of faith.
At these gatherings, we listen to the testimony of those among us who on any given day are clearly living and contending personally with the very issue we are discussing. With attentive support, we speak openly about ourselves and our own struggles to respond to God’s call in our lives. And as we do, there is a freedom, a courage, and a peace in the room that the world cannot give, nor can it take away. The spirit of the crucified and risen Christ is in our midst.
The apostle Paul declared to the church that the word of the cross is a stumbling block to some, foolishness to others, but to those being saved it is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:18–25). Thank God for the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!
—Randy Calvo, Jr., director of Alumni/ae and Church Relations, Columbia Theological Seminary
We give you thanks, O God, for the surprising and healing ways in which you are with us. May our praise of you give rise to your Spirit among us, that in our weakness your strength may be perfected, which is the power of self-giving love. We pray in the name of your incarnate word, even Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Exod. 20:1–17
Spirit
PH 319
Trust and Obey
MH 467
Ps. 19
The Heavens Above Declare God’s Praise
PH 166
1 Cor. 1:18–25
In the Cross of Christ I Glory
PH 84, HB 195, WB 437
John 2:13–22
Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
PH 408, HB 507, WB 642
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
PH 416, 417, HB 433, WB 325
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 84, 150 Ps. 42, 32
Jer. 6:9–15
1 Cor. 6:12–20; Mark 5:1–20 |
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