But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people”.
Luke 2:10 (NRSV)
News
Scott Kieffer, assistant professor of health and exercise science, has been named a fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine. This is an honor given to a handful of professionals each year after review by a national credentialing board. Congratulations to Scott for this prestigious honor.
Larry M. Lake, associate professor of writing, was interviewed Dec. 9 on SmartTalk on WITF-FM as part of a program on changing attitudes toward mental illness. It is archived on WITF’s website. On Nov. 20, HuffPost Live, an online news service, featured Lake and Valerie Lemmon, assistant professor of psychology, in a live webcast discussing the stigma of mental illness and the ways communities can encourage and sustain affected individuals and families. These media appearances are results of Larry’s essay “Comfort Food” which appeared on Slate.com in November.
Jenell Paris published “Bereavement and Religion Online: Stillbirth, Neonatal Loss, and Parental Religiosity” (co-authored with Janel Kragt-Bakker) in the “Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.” She also published “Experimenting with Sin” in “Good News Magazine” and “Teaching Faith Dimensions of Cultural Diversity” in Best Practices in the Integration of Faith and Learning for Adult and Online Learners (Cynthia Tweedell and Cheryl Fleming, eds.).
Matthew Roth, department of English, has poems appearing in the current issues of “Mt. Hope Magazine” and “Rock and Sling.” On Nov. 7, he gave the keynote lecture on Robinson Jeffers for Harrisburg’s “Big Read,” at the Midtown Scholar.
The Messiah College Student Wind Quintet performed two half-hour sets of festive holiday music on Dec. 10, the first in the Eisenhower Commons and then at Café Diem in Murray Library. The quintet includes Audrey Springer (flute), Leah Bergstrom (oboe), Mary Grace Friedell (horn), Kevin “Shagg” Nitz (bassoon) and Hayley Wilderotter (clarinet). They are coached by music faculty member Jill Marchione. If you would like Christmas music in a lobby of your building next year, contact mharcrow@messiah.edu for information.
Messiah 411
Aughinbaugh Art Gallery Faculty Exhibition on display through Jan. 29
The Aughinbaugh Gallery is proud to present the artwork of our full and part-time faculty. Please be sure to find time to experience the magic that is the “language of our feelings, our frame of mind; indeed, even of our devotion and our prayers.”
“Self Assigned: Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition” runs through Jan. 29. Artists’ talk and reception is Thursday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Aughinbaugh Gallery.
25 percent off all Oakes Museum store items
Ready to do some holiday shopping? Our museum store is stocked with quality books, puppets and geological specimens for all ages. We will also have some unique items for a special purchase price. We will be open for shopping Thursday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Take a study break and get your holiday shopping done! Contact oakesmusuem@messiah.edu or ext. 2431 with any questions.
Messiah College Guitar Ensemble to perform at Library Dec. 13
On Friday, Dec. 13 the Messiah College Guitar Ensemble will be playing Christmas music in Café Diem at the Library at 12:30 p.m. Come, grab a coffee and listen to this popular ensemble! And don’t forget that you can shop at the annual Friends of Murray Library Christmas book sale as well!
College Guitar Ensemble to present concert Dec. 14
The Messiah College Guitar Ensemble will present its annual December concert on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the High Foundation Recital Hall under the direction of Randall Zwally, director of guitar studies and senior lecturer in music. The ensemble will be joined by guest performers from the Mechanicsburg Middle School Guitar Ensemble directed by Elizabeth Preston. Messiah student, Chelsea Rosenberger, will perform a featured vocal solo in a piece that combines the two ensembles. The concert will include performances on electric, acoustic, classical and 12-string guitars and will have a Christmas theme. This is the seventh year that these two groups have collaborated in this way. The concert is open to the public and admission is free. For more information, contact the department of music office at ext. 3310.
Reminder to RSVP for Employee Christmas Luncheon
To ensure that we prepare adequately, please send your RSVP to the Employee Christmas Luncheon to human resources by Friday, Dec. 13. The RSVP card, located inside your invitation, is also your entry into the raffle drawing. Please note that you must be present to win. We’re looking forward to a time of fellowship, fine food and festive entertainment!
Note: Doors will open at 11:50 a.m. this year to ensure the program begins on time. Please contact Heather Ryan, human resources, at hryan@messiah.edu or ext. 2289 with questions.
Important information from the payroll office
With the closing of the college over Christmas break , the payroll office is notifying you of the modified payroll deadlines needed to assure proper and timely payments for all employees. Please see the attached document for details. It is important that we receive these forms by the due dates listed.
Reminders from accounts payable
The accounts payable office would like to remind you that there will be no check run the week of Dec. 23. Our last check run is Dec. 19; requests are due to accounts payable by Dec. 13. The first check run of 2014 will be Jan. 3; requests are due to accounts payable by Dec. 24.
ALL TAX REPORTABLE PAYMENTS such as rents, royalties, officials and referees, honorariums, prize and awards and performers for 2013 must be paid to the recipient by Dec. 19 to meet IRS calendar year-end 2013 tax reporting compliance. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Campus Budget Forum Jan. 7
The annual Campus Budget Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7 in Alexander Auditorium (Frey 110) from 2-4 p.m. There will be a presentation by David Walker, vice president for finance and planning, and a Q&A session. Following feedback from governance groups, College Council is scheduled to vote on the FY15 parameters on Jan. 23.
The forum is open to all employees and attendance is encouraged. It is especially important that members of the personnel committees and other governance groups that review and recommend budget parameters attend. The slideshow presentation will be posted on the finance website immediately following the forum and can be used to assist governance groups in their discussions.
One-on-one meetings with Health America representative offered
Due to the recent concerns raised about Health America, we have asked Strategic Account Manager Jean Enders from Health America to be available for one-on-one meetings so that employees/faculty can meet with her privately to discuss individual issues. The next opportunity to meet with Jean is Wednesday, Jan. 8.
If you are interested in meeting with Jean individually, please contact Su Deitch at sdeitch@messiah.edu or ext. 7085 to schedule your time as soon as possible. It is very important that you bring any documentation (such as Explanations of Benefits, provider bills, letters, or any other supporting documentation) to the meeting so that she is able to better assist you. Please contact Su Deitch if you have questions.
Change to the Retirement Matching Guidelines
As noted in the President’s Campus Update Oct. 3, the College’s enrollment challenges have made it necessary to reduce expenditures in FY14 by approximately 3.75 percent. As a result, the College has decided to exclude all supplemental income from the retirement plan. This means that starting on Jan.1, employees will not be able to contribute a portion of their overload/supplemental income to the retirement plan and the College will not be providing a retirement match on overload/supplemental compensation.
Supplemental income is any income outside of an employee’s regular base salary. Specific examples include overloads, overtime wages, stipends and additional income earned through hosting programs such as camps. The retirement plan, including the College’s matching contributions, remains the same for regular wages.
This change will be temporarily implemented Jan.–Dec. 2014. Review of any permanent changes to this benefit will be included in the College’s comprehensive benefits review schedule to begin this spring.
Please feel free to contact Amanda Coffey or Su Deitch with questions regarding this change.
United Way Pledge Drive exceeds goal
Thank you to all those who participated in this year’s United Way pledge drive. Employees committed a total of $36,702, once again surpassing our target. The United Way and its partner programs are grateful for the ongoing support of the Messiah College Community.
Corporate Partner Merit Scholarships available
Harrisburg Academy is excited to be partnering for a third year with Messiah College to offer merit scholarships to children of full-time Messiah College employees. These Merit Scholarships are annual, renewable tuition scholarships of $10,000 per student. Applicants must be new students applying to the Academy for enrollment in 5th through 11th grades. Please see attachment for the 2014-15 Corporate Partner Merit Scholarship application. All materials are due by Feb. 1, 2014. For more information, please contact Jessica Warren, director of admission and marketing, at warren.j@harrisburgacademy.org.
Campus Ministries connection
Advent
As we close the semester in the Advent season, we anticipate Christmas break. It is an illustration of waiting for the Lord. The Psalmist (27:14) challenges us, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” So we read scriptures, pray, sing, retell the story, light candles and celebrate joyously all a part of actively waiting on the Lord. On a large scale the prayer of the Westminster Confession (33.2) rings true, “Keep me vigilant to work against evil and injustice, and yet hopeful for all people, trusting that your justice never fails and your mercy is fresh each day.” Advent is that tension of hope anticipated but not yet realized.
Classifieds
Job Opportunities:
Graphic Design/Prepress Technician. For additional information and to apply, please see https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/2930; College Press Receptionist. For additional information and to apply, please see https://jobs.messiah.edu/hr/postings/2927. Job-related questions may be directed to Dwayne Magee, director of printing and mail services, at dmagee@messiah.edu.
Part-time Administrative Assistant, Diversity Affairs. For additional information and to apply, please see https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/2911. Job-related questions may be directed to Bernardo Michael, Special Assistant to the President & Provost for Diversity Affairs at bmichael@messiah.edu or Joan Malick, Executive Assistant to the Provost at jmalick@messiah.edu.
Wanted:
Digital camera— I am looking to buy a used digital camera—one that is in good condition and easy to use. Contact Helena Cicero at ext. 2431 or hcicero@messiah.edu.
For sale:
Halex Fooseball table: 32 in. high × 24 in. wide table (33 in. wide with handles, width included.) $25. If interested, contact pseibert@messiah.edu for picture.
Apple iPad 3 —32GB, black, Verizon Wi-Fi and cellular, only slightly used. $500. Contact baumen@messiah.edu.
Disney Cars 2 Geotrax® World Grand Prix race set ―Includes three remote control vehicles; the European track set, including the Big Ben action set and a track extender pack. All in excellent condition. Asking $50. For more details, including photos, contact cgross@messiah.edu.
VW Eurovan camper — Gas stove, refrigerator, heater, plus two beds and electric and water hook-ups. Asking $19,500. Contact rstevick@messiah.edu for more details.
