September 29: Request for Open-Minded Learning

            In the midst of our studies, we ask for God to open our minds to new ideas and theories. We recognize that our academic pursuits, what we deem important to study, are often hindered by the prejudices of our society. We pray that our community continues to strive for a broader view of the world. May God give all of us the strength to challenge past conceptions and to allow new information to transform our perceptions. We acknowledge that we must sometimes admit past ignorance and misguidance in order to further our learning. We commit ourselves to incorporating new information, perspectives, and collaborators in order to better understand the world God has created.

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September 27: Thankfulness for Academic Discovery

Nobel Conference 2016

              In the midst of great excitement over academic discovery and scientific achievement, we take this time to acknowledge God’s delight in humankind’s progress. We thank God for the professors and collaborators who work together toward breakthroughs. We give thanks for discoveries made by our community and by communities all over the world. We give thanks for progress made in our own field and others. May we show our appreciation to God by using these discoveries to help all people who are in need.

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September 22: Discovery of Strengths in Others

            As we come to accept our shortcomings, we take comfort in the strengths of others. Let us not see others’ gifts as cause for insecurity or jealousy but as cause for celebration. We appreciate our community as an interlocking web of different talents and skills. May God guide us towards those who can help us. May we discover the strengths of our friends and help them to showcase their talents. All the while, we continue to give thanks to God for all the potential that surrounds us in this community.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 20: Discovery and Acceptance of Limitations

             Examination of our shortcomings often swings between two extremes: between despair over our faults and complete denial of them. We ask God for the maturity to honestly identify our limitations. We understand that as creatures we are both imperfect and incomplete, in need of both God and the rest of humanity. May God give us the peace we need to accept our shortcomings. May God guide us in improving the aspects of ourselves that we can improve and in learning to live with what we cannot change. We take comfort in the knowledge that while we have limitations, God also gives us the grace we need to accept them.

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September 16: Discovery of New Talents and Skills

            God created us with great attention and care, meaning we are filled with potential we have yet to uncover. We ask for God’s guidance in discovering and developing new talents and skills this semester. May God continue to provide challenges that allow us to uncover new strengths within us. May God instill us with the curiosity to undertake new endeavors in areas where we have not yet found our gifts. Most importantly, we commit ourselves to using the talents and skills we develop to help the rest of God’s people and to help create a better world.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 14: Discovery of New Friendships

            The beginning of a new semester is filled with excitement and anxiety over the potential of new friendships. May God guide us towards those who will love and support us. May we learn compassion and generosity from Jesus’ example and practice this towards our friends, new and old. We ask God to grant us friendships that not only ease the weight of our struggles, but that challenge us to lead better lives. Ultimately, we place our trust in God to ensure the discovery of new friends in our dorms, our classrooms, our workplaces, and our communities.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 12: Installment of Passion for Learning in Community

            In our world of mass productivity, our education can become a monotonous trek towards a degree. Keeping our goals in mind while we study, we also hope to maintain our passion for learning. We ask God to invigorate our campus community with drive and curiosity. May we find the challenges of our studies fulfilling rather than tedious. May this passion not only lead us towards our goals, but also give us joy and excitement in the daily process.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18