Category: Dean’s Commentary

Meet Me in Louisville

If you’ve never been to a General Convention of The Episcopal Church, I strongly encourage you to make Louisville a part of your travel plans in the summer of 2024. While this year’s convention was incredibly scaled back due to COVID-19 precautions, the polity of the Church still met to conduct its business, and the […]

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The Ministry of Hospitality

As I begin my senior year at VTS, I am reminded of the importance of the ministry of hospitality. We at VTS are known for it! Spending the last few days welcoming juniors as they arrive in ones and twos, lending a hand with moves, meeting international students at the airport, my heart is full […]

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Contemporary Praise and Worship at VTS

The music at VTS has always been spectacular. I say “always” like I haven’t only been here for two years, but for the two years I’ve been here, the music has been spectacular. For someone who did not grow up in the Episcopal Church, or any sort of Liturgical-leaning denomination, the music has been a […]

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Welcome and Welcome Back

“You are a chosen people, royal priest, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.” – 1 Peter 2:9 Welcome and welcome back!  I pray that we are all entering this new semester refreshed, renewed, and revived.  I am thankful for the traveling mercies bestowed upon us as we make our way back to […]

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New Musical Setting of the Eucharist Commissioned for Bicentennial

When Dean Markham and Dr. Barney Hawkins approached me about writing a new musical setting of the Ordinary for the Bicentennial, I was still on faculty, but subsequent retirement provided a lot of time to compose. Early in the process I felt led by the Spirit to base the composition on early American hymn tunes […]

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Chapel Sacristan Team

Yesterday morning, 53 students and faculty gathered at St. Cyprian’s Labyrinth for the first worship service of the morning. Despite the August heat (and an invitation from Dr. Strout to wear comfortable clothes), I chose to wear my usual Sacristan uniform of cassock and cross. No, I’m not a glutton for punishment; rather, I knew […]

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How Does Chapel Art Add to Worship?

To me, art is movement. It’s fleeting, it inspires a flow of emotion, ignites the sight with color and texture, brings forth lessons, remembrances, and perspective, and allows you to step into the moment before you. The intention with chapel art is similar. The gospel and the feast day often inspire the theme of the […]

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Musical Highlights at VTS 2022-2023

When in our music God is glorified… it is as though the whole creation cried Alleluia! (Hymn 420) Welcome to a new academic year filled with glorious sacred music! Notable choral services in the fall semester include the Alumni Convocation Evensong on October 11, sung Compline offered by our Schola Cantorum on November 29, and […]

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A New Year of Worship

It is wonderful to welcome our incoming students to VTS. Each year, we are blessed to have faithful and talented students join us from not only across the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion but also from other traditions as well. Each brings such valuable gifts to our community. The chapel department is excited to […]

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TryTank Recent Experiments

While this week we have taken a tour of our strategic priorities, TryTank is also experimenting in other areas. Here are some of our recent experiments:   We created a Holy Week experience where 838 people received multiple texts a day in real time (based on their time zone) following the last days and moments in […]

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