2012-2013 Events
2012-13 Scott Center Events
Reunion Chapel Service
Sunday, June 9, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Mead Memorial Chapel
Ecumenical Christian service led by Chaplain Laurie Jordan ‘79. Music by the Alumni Reunion Choir, led by Emory M. Fanning, Professor Emeritus of Music and College Organist. Be a part of the Choir!
What Should I Do When I Grow Up? Spirituality and Vocation
Wed., April 17, 2013
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Carr Hall Lounge
How do spirituality and faith intersect with vocation, occupation, and even choice of major? Join us to talk about the process of discernment, about being called by God, and about how to incorporate the things you love with the God you love and serve. All are welcome as we explore together. Discussion led by Sarah Lusche ‘13 and The Rev. Andy Nagy-Benson of the Congregational Church of Middlebury, with College Chaplain Laurie Jordan.
A pizza dinner will be provided.
Bread for the Journey Christian Prayer Services and Dinners
Spring dates:
Jan. 8 and 22
Feb. 19
March 5 and 19
April 2 and 16
5:30-7:00 p.m
Freeman International Center Annex
We will begin in candlelight with a brief service of evening prayer in the Christian tradition, led by Chaplain Laurie Jordan. We will share a simple family-style meal together following the service. No RSVP necessary.
Holocaust Heroism and Remembrance Day Commemoration
Sunday, April 7, 2013
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Mead Memorial Chapel
Join us in Mead Chapel for a service of commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.
Co-sponsored by Middlebury College Hillel, The Addison County Jewish Congregation: Havurah, The Middlebury Area Clergy Association, and the Chaplain’s Office.
Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, March 31, 2013
6:00-6:30 a.m.
Alumni Stadium (Athletics Center Kenyon Lounge in case of rain)
Ecumenical Christian service led by Chaplain Laurie Jordan. All are welcome.
Spirituality and Divestment
March 20, 2013
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Carr Hall Lounge
How do spirituality and faith inform the divestment debate? This is a meeting designed to bring God, stewardship and creation to the conversation.
Come discuss with members of the Middlebury campus and the wider community. Led by Sarah Lusche ‘13 and Reverend Andy Nagy-Benson of the Congregational Church of Middlebury, with College Chaplain Laurie Jordan.
A pizza dinner will be provided.
Passover and Easter: A Meal of Redemptive Symbols
Monday, March 18, 2013
6:00 p.m., Atwater Dining Hall
A dinner featuring both traditional Easter and Passover foods, with commentary from Chaplain Laurie Jordan and Rabbi Ira Schiffer. All are welcome to attend, but space is limited. RSVP to Ellen McKay, emckay@middlebury.edu
Sponsored by The Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, Hillel, Newman Club, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and the Christian Orthodox Association.
Water, Trees, Life: A Global Perspective on Healing Our Hurting Planet
Roger Hoesterey, Director of Strategic Development, The Eden Projects
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
7:00 p.m., Robert A. Jones House
Powerful solutions lie at the nexus of conservation, faith, and social justice.
Roger Hoesterey will discuss current work by the Eden Reforestation Projects to reduce poverty in Ethiopia and Madagascar by employing indigenous people to replant degraded watersheds, and the moral calling from all the world’s major religions to care for the planet.
The Eden Projects is dedicated to the pursuit of solutions to the problems behind environmental destruction that are major contributing causes to extreme poverty and oppression in impoverished nations.
As Senior Vice President and Division Director West, Roger also oversees The Trust for Public Land’s conservation programs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii and Alaska. During Roger’s time at TPL, the states he directs have conserved over a half million acres of forest, watersheds, ranches, and park land.
An affiliated program of “The Politics of Freshwater: Access and Identity in a Changing Environment,” presented by the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs, March 14-16, 2013.
Chaplain’s Forum “Just Desserts” Series
The Chaplain’s Forums allow for informal conversation among students, faculty and staff about questions that matter in our lives. Desserts will be served.
March 6, 2013
6:30-7:45 p.m.
Ross Commons House, 26 Blinn Lane
Bring your ideas on the top five ideas, concepts, or practices from your own religious or faith community that you consider to be most unique.
January 10, 2013
7:00-8:15 p.m.
Wonnacott Commons House, 115 Franklin St.
We’ll discuss meditation in religious traditions. Wonnacott Faculty Head Jonathan Miller-Lane will lead the group in a short meditation.
Emerging Leaders Retreat
February 23-24, 2013
Bishop Booth Conference Center, Burlington
Emerging leaders of student spiritual and religious life organizations will travel to beautiful Rock Point for an overnight retreat. Chaplain Laurie Jordan and Associate Chaplain Ira Schiffer will facilitate conversations centered around leadership development, multi-faith programming, and best practices.
Lodging is dorm style; all meals and transportation will be provided.
Please RSVP by February 18, 2013 to Ellen McKay, emckay@middlebury.edu. Please let us know if you prefer vegetarian meals.
Diversity in Muslim Identity
Thursday, February 21, 2013
7:00-9:00 p.m.
McCullough Social Space
This event is organized by the Islamic Society of Middlebury College (ISMC). The aim of this event is to promote an authentic depiction of the varied faces of Islam and to show the diversity and the pluralistic nature of the world’s second-largest religion. “Diversity in Muslim Identity” encompasses facets such as culture, music, architecture, science, history, environment, poetry and more. The presenters and panel members will consist of ISMC members and professors. The hope is that this event will be informative and will introduce the true characteristics of Islam to the broader Middlebury community.
This event is open to all students, faculty, staff, and off-campus community members.
Ash Wednesday Services
February 13, 2013
5:00-5:45 p.m.
Mead Memorial Chapel
Chaplain Laurie Jordan will lead an ecumenical Christian service, holy communion, and imposition of ashes.
Exhibit Trip: “RACE: Are We So Different?”
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013
ECHO Center in Burlington
The Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life and the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity will co-sponsor a trip to the ECHO Center in Burlington on Thursday, January 24, to see the exhibit, “RACE: Are We So Different?”
From the ECHO website: Developed by the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota, RACE: Are We So Different? is the first nationally traveling exhibition to tell the stories of race from the biological, cultural, and historical points of view. Combining these perspectives offers an unprecedented look at race and racism in the United States. The exhibition brings together the everyday experience of living with race, its history as an idea, the role of science in that history, and the findings of contemporary science that are challenging its foundations.
The cost of transportation and admission will be covered for students.
Mini-vans will leave from Adirondack Circle at 11:00 a.m. and will be back in Middlebury by 3:30 p.m.
Space is limited. Please RSVP to Ellen McKay at the Scott Center, emckay@middlebury.edu.
Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas
Sunday, December 9, 2012
4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Mead Memorial Chapel
Lessons & Carols for Advent and Christmas, an annual traditional program combining choral music, congregational singing and the biblical texts of the season, takes place on Dec. 9 in Middlebury College’s Mead Memorial Chapel. Chaplain Laurel Macaulay Jordan ‘79 will officiate at this celebratory community service. George Matthew Jr. will ring in the service with selections on the chapel carillon; Emory Fanning, professor emeritus of music, will play the organ, and the Middlebury College Choir, directed by Jeff Buettner, will perform.
There will be two services, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Both are free and open to the public. Donations collected for local charities.
For God’s sake, Let’s Focus on the Earth!
by Richard Cizik, President of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
Friday, November 2, 2012
12:15 p.m.
Robert A. Jones ‘59 House conference room
Richard Cizik has been recognized as a leader in bringing evangelical Christians together with scholars and policy-makers in the search for common ground on a host of national and international challenges, including climate change, civil liberties, economic justice, and national security. He served for ten years as Vice President for Governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, the top staff position of the organization, a post he left in 2008 after enduring years of political opposition from the Religious Right. An interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air” in which he expressed support for civil unions, climate change, and political collaboration with the newly-elected Obama Administration, led to a national uproar within the movement and over one-hundred top evangelical leaders defecting to a “New Evangelical” agenda.
In 2007, Cizik formed a group of scientists, including nobel laureate Eric Chivian and Harvard Professor Emeritus Edward O. Wilson, along with leading evangelical pastors and professors, to together release a groundbreaking document entitled the “Scientist and Evangelical Call to Action.” In 2008 he was named to TIME Magazine’s list of “TIME 100” most influential people.
Sponsored by the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, with generous help from the Rohatyn Center for Global Studies, the Academic Enrichment Fund, the Department of Religion, the Franklin Environmental Center, the Program in Environmental Studies, Newman Club, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Visit by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
For more on the visit, see the 2012 Dalai Lama site.
Do spiritual and religious traditions offer guidance that inspires action? His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet and winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, will explore this thought-provoking subject when he visits Middlebury College to deliver two lectures ― one to the campus community and another to the public ― on Oct. 12-13, 2012.
Middlebury faculty, staff and current undergraduate students may attend his talk, “Educating the Heart,” at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12. His lecture at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, “Finding Common Ground: Ethics for a Whole World,” will be open to the public. Tickets for both events, which will take place in Nelson Arena, are now sold out, but a live stream will be available.
The theme of his visit, “Cultivating Hope, Wisdom, and Compassion,” encompasses both of his lectures. According to Middlebury College President Ron Liebowitz, the purpose of the talks is to help people explore resources for hope, optimism, and cooperation, while challenging them to lead lives of courage and engagement.
This will be the Dalai Lama’s third visit to Middlebury; he participated in symposiums at the college in 1984 and 1990.
Fall Family Weekend Events Sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office
Hillel Shabbat Services
Friday, October 5, 2012
5:30 p.m.
Jewish Center at Freeman International Center
Fall Family Weekend Chapel Service
Sunday, October 7, 2012
10:00 a.m.
Mead Memorial Chapel
Ecumenical Christian worship service led by Chaplain Laurel Macaulay Jordan ‘79.
Fall Family Weekend Hillel Bagel Brunch
Sunday, October 7, 2012
11:00 a.m.
Jewish Center at Freeman International Center
What is a Dalai Lama and Who is the 14th Dalai Lama? The Buddhist Historical Context.
Friday, October 5, 2012
12:15-1:30 p.m.
Dana Auditorium
Professor of Religion William Waldron explains the uniquely Tibetan Buddhist institution of the Dalai Lamas—what a Dalai Lama is and what makes the current one so remarkable—in the context of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist history.
“Buddha Prince Backstage”
Film Screening. Discussion and Workshops with Markell Kiefer ’96.5, Tyson Lien ’98, and Tenzin Ngawang
Sunday, Sept. 30
7:30 p.m.
Dana Auditorium
Join director Markell Kiefer ’96.5 and performer Tyson Lien ’98 in a screening of the film, “Buddha Prince Backstage,” a documentary of the creation and staging of their outdoor walking play “The Buddha Prince.” The play celebrates the extraordinary life and teachings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and tells the story of his early life in a free Tibet and his subsequent escape into India. First performed on the occasion of the His Holiness’s visit to Minneapolis in 2001 and again in California (2004) and New York City (2005/2009), it draws from both eastern and western artistic traditions and a diverse cast of physical actors, dancers and musicians tell the story with song, dance, mask, puppetry, clown, and traditional Tibetan musical instruments.
Master of Tibetan music and dance Tenzin Ngawang will present workshops in traditional Tibetan music (1:00-3:00) and dance (3:30-5:30) on Sunday afternoon prior to the film screening.
On Monday, join Join Markell Kiefer (‘96.5) and Tyson Lien (‘98), creators of The Buddha Prince, as they share their process of Original Theatre Creation and Collaboration in a workshop from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Markell and Tyson have been involved in developing over thirty new plays over the last decade and have collaborated with a diverse assembly of individuals and organizations from around the world. Together they run TigerLion Arts, their production company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more info visit www.tigerlion.org.
Pre-registration is required for the three workshops, and space is limited. Priority will be given to current Middlebury students. Please contact Ellen McKay emckay@middlebury.edu for more information and to pre-register.
Supported by generous contributions by The Academic Enrichment Fund, The Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, the Office of the Dean of the College, The Rohatyn Center for International Affairs, the Program in Women’s and Gender Studies, and the Departments of Dance, Theater, and Religion.
Slide Lecture: “Portraits of Compassion: Images of Lamas in Tibetan Art”
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012
12:00-1:15 p.m.
McCardell Bicentennial Hall 220
Join Christian A. Johnson Professor of Art History Cynthia Packert in a slide lecture on Tibetan Art.
Light vegetarian lunch will be available.
Middlebury High Holiday Services Schedule
5773
September 2012
ROSH HASHANAH
Sunday, Sept. 16
7:00 p.m. Evening Services at Mead Chapel
Following services: “Apples and Honey” Reception Forest East Lounge
Monday, Sept. 17
9:30 a.m. Shacharit – Morning Services at Mead Chapel
5:00 p.m. Tashlich Service at Otter Creek Footbridge, Marble Works side
Tuesday, September 18
9:30 a.m. Shacharit – Morning services at Havurah House, 56 N. Pleasant St., across from the Swift House Inn
YOM KIPPUR
Tuesday, September 25
6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre at Mead Chapel
Wednesday, September 26
9:30 a.m. Shacharit – Morning Services at Mead Chapel
11:15 a.m. Yizkor – Memorial Service at Mead Chapel
5:00 p.m. Minchah – Afternoon Services and Ne’ilah – Concluding Services at Mead Chapel
7:00 p.m. Shofar Blowing and Havdalah at Mead Chapel
Break-the-Fast to follow at Atwater Dining Hall; reservations required. Contact Ellen McKay at emckay@middlebury.edu.
For more information, please contact Rabbi Ira Schiffer, ischiffe@middlebury.edu
Film Screening: “Kundun”
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
8:00 p.m.
Dana Auditorium
Tibetans refer to the Dalai Lama as “Kundun,” or “The Presence.” Join us in a screening of the epic 1997 biographical film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the life and writings of the 14th Dalai Lama, the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet. Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, a grand nephew of the Dalai Lama, stars as the adult Dalai Lama. Nominated for four Academy Awards.
“OneVoice” International Education Program with activists from OneVoice Israel and OneVoice Palestine
Monday, September 10, 2012
12:15-1:30 pm
Robert A. Jones ’59 House conference room
Lunch will be available
Discontent with the status quo, Onevoice’s Israeli and Palestinian activists have dedicated themselves to working towards change and a better future for their societies. While describing their parallel grassroots peacebuilding efforts in the Palestinian Occupied Territory of the West Bank and Israel, Ahmad Omeir (OneVoice Palestine) and Adva Vilchinski (OneVoice Israel) will discuss their personal motivations for working to resolve the conflict, the unique challenges facing their activism, as well as the way we as Americans can support them in their efforts.
OneVoice activists are engaged in peace and consensus-building efforts, working within their national communities to end the conflict. They are committed to a comprehensive negotiated two-state solution based on the 1967 lines and previous bilateral agreements, that will guarantee an end to the occupation and all forms of violence, resulting in a viable independent Palestinian state living in peace and security with Israel. Through leadership training, public lectures, town hall meetings, and political advocacy these young leaders work to connect the grassroots with elected officials, enabling ordinary citizens to take ownership of the process.
Cosponsored by the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs, Hillel, J Street U, the Islamic Society of Middlebury College, and the Chaplain’s Office.