This June, forty middle school and high school youth spent time at Augsburg for the third annual Collaborative Urban Vacation Bible School. They explored faith, community, and vocation while learning more about college. Ian McConnell (Augsburg alum, current Luther seminary student, and youth ministry intern at Redeemer Lutheran Church in N Mpls.) created a video to share about the experience. Enjoy!
2015 Urban VBS
On June 9-10, over 40 middle school and high school youth from Lutheran congregations in Minneapolis will be at 
Augsburg to explore faith, community, and vocation. This Collaborative Urban Vacation Bible School also provides meaningful college exposure to the diverse group of students, and utilizes a leadership track for high school students.
Augsburg to explore faith, community, and vocation. This Collaborative Urban Vacation Bible School also provides meaningful college exposure to the diverse group of students, and utilizes a leadership track for high school students.
The theme for the 2015 Collaborative Urban VBS is “Walk the Neighborhood.” Drawing from both John 1 and Colossians 1 (texts below), we understand that God took on human form in Jesus and walked the neighborhood. As disciples of God, and out of abundant gratitude for God’s gifts of love, grace, and forgiveness, we also walk our neighborhoods. During this year’s VBS at Augsburg College, young people will walk the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, work to identify their roles as being the visible image of an invisible God, and have fun participating in interactive workshops, games, and worship experiences!
Two specific Bible passages will help guide the “Walk the Neighborhood” theme. The bolded passages are added for extra emphasis. Both passages are taken from “The Message” translation of the bible.
John 1: 1-2, 14
“The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own yes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”
Colossians 1: 15-21
“We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes tot he church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and— leading the resurrection parade— he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe— people and things, animals and atoms— get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured from the cross. You yourselves are a case study of what he does.”
2015 Vocation of a Lutheran College Pre-Conference
Women’s Way of Leading: Exploring the Call to Lead
Monday, July 20, 12pm – 5pm at Augsburg College
Led by Kathi Tunheim (Gustavus Adolphus College) and Susan Hasseler (Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD)
As we look forward to significant turnover in executive leadership in higher education in the next few years, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen gender diversity in leadership in Lutheran colleges and universities. Considering the ways in which we can support women’s success in higher education leadership at all levels, from department and division heads to the presidency, is one of our essential tasks as we explore the vocation of a Lutheran college.
The objective of this VOALC 2015 pre-conference session is to promote women’s leadership development at ELCA colleges and universities. In this session the participants will:
- Explore state-of-the-art leadership development strategies for women in higher education.
- Engage with current ELCA women in leadership, including a president, vice-president, and a division leader, in an interactive panel discussion.
- Create an individual development plan for your own career.
Schedule
12:00-1:30pm Lunch Introductions. (Table Conversations)
1:30-2:15 pm Recent Research on Women in Leadership in higher education (Short presentation)
2:15-2:30 p.m. Break
2:30-3:30 p.m. ELCA Women Leader Panel including question and answer session
3:30-4:15 p.m. Professional Development plan writing time for the participants; discuss in small groups
4:30 p.m. Closing and adjourn
4:30-5:00pm Break
Registration for ELCA faculty and staff for the VOALC Pre-Conference is handled by the ELCA Churchwide Office. Questions about registration may be directed to Vivian Chen, 612-330-1334 or voalc@augsburg.edu
Vocation of a Lutheran College Conference information