Greetings, Wartburg Seminary Community! It is that time again: time to begin another academic year; time to begin a new phase of life in your educational formation; and time to return to the Castle for Prolog Week. On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, please know that we have been actively preparing for your arrival, and we can’t wait to welcome you home. It is time to come together, and for this time, we give thanks to God.
You know, of course, the first verse of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” But how many of the following examples can you recite?
a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up;a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to throw away;a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace.
In this time, as we come together, we do so knowing that we are at different “times” in our lives. Some of us mourn the loss of loved ones, and weep with exhaustion, sadness and frustration. Some of us come embracing, joyful and exultant, anticipating the renewal of friendships and community. Some of us are ready to throw out some of the burdens we carry, dropping those heavy stones and leaving them where they lie as we walk into the future. And some of us come with a needle and thread, ready to stitch together a new wineskin for a new day. Please know that whatever “time” you bring to our life together, you are welcome at Wartburg Seminary. God holds all of us together in God’s loving arms, and we live each hour of every day under the shelter of God’s wings.
I am grateful that once again God is calling us together in this time, and that the Holy Spirit invites us into the exciting work she is doing in and through us at Wartburg Seminary and beyond. May we share together in times of building up, healing, laughing and silence. Now is the season; now is the time. See you soon!