Current Issue

Learning and Living God's Word

Looking for opportunities that will take your faith and understanding to the next level? Consider a stint at seminary.

Italian for beginners, golf lessons, intro to upholstery, pilates, Indian cooking, digital photography 101, cake decorating—the list of community classes I’d like to take for personal edification is long enough to keep me cooking, conjugating, sewing, and swinging for years to come. Learning a new skill, delving deeper into a subject, and presenting myself with a new challenge is exciting. And let’s face it, we all strive to be educated, well-rounded individuals.

Attending seminary, I have to confess, has never made it onto my to-do list, although it should. As editor of a Christian publication—and as a Christian—what investment would reap more personal and professional dividends than a seminary education? And unlike golf lessons, seminary could equip me to not only enrich my own understanding and spiritual life but to reach out and share the faith with others.

If the idea of attending courses in theology, literature, ethics, worship, or history piques your interest, read our cover story on page 9 and hear why others—lay people just like you and me—decided to build their theological muscle at seminary. While you can choose from a long list of institutions across the country, the ELCIC operates two seminaries through the synods: Waterloo Lutheran Seminary in Waterloo, Ont., (www. seminary.wlu.ca) and Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon (www.usask.ca/stu/luther). Whether you’re looking for a fun summer course or you’re considering full-time studies, check out our seminary websites, and others, to explore your options.

Also in this issue, as we draw closer to Christ’s birth, many of our contributors have featured Mary, mother of our Saviour, in their columns and stories. We raise her up this Ad-vent season for her steadfast trust in God and joyous spirit of service. May her miraculous story and example remind us all of the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

Lucia Carruthers, Editor