"Augustana Day" at The College

Shrimp here, with a little something to divert you from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Say "Augustana, Rock Island" and some in the ELCA grow quite misty-eyed. They are thinking of the old Augustana College and Seminary, Dr. Conrad Bergendoff, and all the "wonderful things" of the Augustana Synod, the home of most Swedish-American Lutheran across the USA and Canada until it merged in 1962 with the United Lutheran Church in American to form the Lutheran Church in America and the Seminary was shipped off to Chicago. Things just haven't been the same since. "Ahh, Augustana! Now, that was a Lutheran Church!"

So, with the announcement of "The First Annual Augustana Day" that has appeared in the mailboxes of pastors in the general area of Augustana College, we can expect those of Augustana heritage to be momentarily wistful, as they set the messiness of this week's Churchwide Assembly aside.

Well, at least until they read it.

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The First Annual Augustana Day*
*A gift of Augustana College to our colleagues in the ministry of the ELCA, sharing the richness of the college in a way that will nourish your ministry

Thursday, October 8, 2009
Westerlin Residence Center Lounge
Augustana College

Learning From Islam

 9:00 a.m.  Welcome
Steven C. Bahls, Augustana College President

 9:15 a.m.  Why Christians Need Muslims.
Exploring what makes Islam and Christianity unique, along with our deep connections.
Dr. Jason Mahn, Augustana College Religion Department

 9:45 a.m.  Islam 101.
Everything you've always wanted to know about Islam but were afraid to ask.
Imam Saad Baig, Islamic Center of the Quad Cities

10:30 a.m.  Break

10:45 a.m.  Learning from the Sufis how to love God.
Resources for faith from Jelalludin Rumi and other Sufi mystics.
Dr. Cyrus Ali Zargar, Augustana College Religion Department

11:30 a.m.  Lunch

12:30 a.m.  How to begin pursuing interfaith connections where you live.
Models of interfaith relationships that have worked in the Quad Cities, at Augustana College, and elsewhere.
Dr. Lisa Zaynab Killinger, Palmer College, Davenport, Iowa

 1:15 p.m.  ELCA rostered leaders as college recruiters!
An unabashed pitch for encouraging your youth to consider Augustana.
W. Kent Barnds, Vice President of Enrollment, Augustana College

 2:00 p.m.  Departure

The program, including lunch, is completely free of charge to all ELCA rostered leaders. We do ask you to RSVP by October 1, please, so that we may have adequate materials and food available. Please RSVP via e-mail to Connie Huntley, Augustana College Campus Ministries, conniehuntley@augustana.edu or by calling her at 309/794-7213. After you contact Connie Huntley to reserve your space at this event, she will send you directions to Westerlin Residence Center and instructions for parking.

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Ya, sure. Just what our pastor is looking for from Augustana College: "Learning from the Sufis how to love God."

Pastor Svensson, do you have any suggestions for a Lutheran College for our Shirley?

Shrimp out.