Ongoing Growth in Faith Opportunities
& Design Your Own Activity...

Spirituality & Grief--A group was formed during the fall semester for those undergoing grief experiences from significant personal losses, such as the death of family members and close friends. The group meets regularly with a spiritual director/facilitator to explore their ongoing journey through grief. If interested, please contact Pr. David L. Miller to determine if there room for additional participants in this group.

Note: Additional GiF groups like this one can be formed around grief or other pastoral needs you are experiencing. Please contact Pr. David L. Miller (dmiller@lstc.edu) if you have an idea for a group that could address your needs and those of others in our community.

Global Women’s Bible Study--This group focuses on growing in knowledge of God, other women, and oneself through study of the Bible and other sacred texts, cultural activities, fellowship, a yearly retreat and fun. It is open to all women connected to the seminary community. The interfaith group meets once a week from 7:00-8:30 pm. One GIF credit is available to LSTC students who participate regularly. Two GIF credits are granted if one participates throughout the year and attends the annual retreat. The contact person is Linda Wimmer (lwimmer@lstc.edu), 773/947-9970.

LSTC choirs--One GIF credit is granted for regular participation throughout the school year in either the Chapel Singers or Gospel choir. This credit is granted for only one year of participation, even though students may participate in choirs during several years of their seminary program. Check choir rehearsal schedules on the LSTC calendar, or contact the cantor to the seminary community, Daniel Schwandt, who directs the Chapel Singers, or Patricia Bartley, who coordinates Gospel Choir activities.

Spiritual Direction--The Spiritual Friends program provides all LSTC students with the opportunity for ongoing spiritual direction, typically provided by an off-campus pastor or lay spiritual director. There is no cost to the student. The needs and desires of the person seeking direction/companionship shape the conversation, which typically explores aspects of the person’s relationship with God and their ongoing discernment of vocation.

Students make arrangements for entering into a spiritual direction relationship by filling out a Spiritual Friends Match Up form available by e-mailing the director for spiritual formation (dmiller@lstc.edu), or by picking up the form from the table outside the director’s office in Augustana Chapel.

LSTC Students can have a spiritual director funded by the seminary throughout their educational program, but growth in faith credit is granted only for one year. For growth in faith credit to be granted, your spiritual director must contact the director for spiritual formation indicating your involvement in spiritual direction through the year.

Design your own Growth in Faith Activity--You may design your own Growth in Faith project. GIF activities should focus on engaging in relationship with God more than merely on learning about such relationship. Thus, they need to involve opportunities for reflection about how, for example, a way of prayer, a spiritual practice, a life experience, a particular author or classic text invites one into new ways of being and doing, deepening intimacy with God, nurturing commitment to God’s mission.

Group activities focusing on particular needs (see spirituality and grief above, for example) can serve as excellent Growth in Faith opportunities.

Please discuss your ideas and suggestions for Growth in Faith activities with the director for spiritual formation, who must approve the activity for GiF credit to be granted.