February 13, 2014

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Psalm 36:5 (NRSV)

News

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Robert Pepper as the director of the newly approved graduate programs in business and leadership (offering graduate certificates in leadership and management, MBA and the masters in strategic leadership). Rob earned a B.A. from Messiah College in 1992, holds an M.S. from Shippensburg University and a PhD in organizational leadership from Regent University. Rob has served in several capacities at Messiah College since 1993, including residence hall director, head women’s lacrosse coach and director of student involvement and leadership programs. In addition, he has served as an adjunct instructor in management and business, general education and in the master’s in higher education. Rob was instrumental in the planning and building of the Larsen Student Union, the creation of the student leadership development model, the initiation of the Into the Streets Program and served on the Common Learning and Graduate Programs Task Forces. Most recently he has given exceptional leadership to the development of graduate admissions and enrollment management in his role as director of graduate and nontraditional enrollment. Pepper will transition to this new role in the Spring of 2014 as we develop these new programs. A search to replace him in his current role will begin this spring. Please join me in congratulating him in this new role.
John Addleman, associate provost for graduate and nontraditional programs

“Luminosity” is the brilliant new work that Mike Harcrow and the Messiah College Brass Choir, in conjunction with Murray Library, commissioned from composer Anthony DiLorenzo for the opening of Parmer Hall. Luminosity is now available at Art of Sound Music, and a sound file can be found here. The recording is by BrassCross, the large faculty-student brass ensemble at Messiah College, conducted by Brad Genevro. “Luminosity” was recently released on the Messiah College compact disc “Stained Glass Windows” Klavier label K11198 (also available on NAXOS) and it is the title track on the exciting, soon-to-be-released BrassCross CD.

Messiah 411

Upcoming Wellness Workshop

Mark your calendar now for February’s wellness workshop on “Mindfulness and Stress: How to Use Your Head to Your Advantage.” The workshop is part of the wellness program’s emphasis on stress management this spring. It will be led by Phil Lawlis and Krista Cochran on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 12:15-1 p.m. in Parmer Cinema. Come and learn more about how you can develop the practice of mindfulness and the important role it plays in helping to manage stress.

Representative from O’Neill National Theatre Institute on campus Feb. 25-26

Maggie Kate Coleman, college relations representative from the O’Neill National Theatre Institute, will be on campus Feb. 25 and 26 to introduce students to the opportunity to study with their program. If you would like to meet with her or would be interested in having her speak to your class(es), please contact Wendy Lippert in the intercultural office at ext. 6089 or wlippert@messiah.edu.

O’Neill National Theatre Institute offers students an intensive learning experience in the U.S. Additionally, students travel internationally for two weeks each semester to England in the fall to study with Complicite and to Russia in the spring where they study at the St. Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy.

Please let interested students know Maggie Kate will be hosting an information session on Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. in Larsen 237.

Passport processing on campus Feb. 27

Representatives from the Cumberland County Court House will be on campus Thursday, Feb. 27 to process passport applications. Applicants need to bring their photos, documents: birth certificate, driver’s license PLUS A PHOTOCOPY OF THE DRIVER’S LICENSE (non-PA residents also need to bring their Messiah ID along with a photocopy of their ID), completed application and fees to the Eisenhower Commons between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Applications can be downloaded here. Please contact intercultural@messiah.edu if you have questions.

President to host “Open Door” day Feb. 28

President Kim Phipps will host an “Open Door” day on Friday, Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet individually with students and employees on topics that are important to them. “Open Door” is an opportunity for you to speak with the president in her office on the second floor of Old Main. The president’s conference room adjacent to her office is used as a waiting room.  A schedule for these dates and times may be found on the president’s webpage . Please call the president’s office at ext. 5220 if you have any questions.

Uncommon Marriage simulcast with Tony and Lauren Dungy March 1

Tony Dungy is returning to Messiah College on the big screen along with his wife, Lauren Dungy. Tony and Lauren Dungy have together known the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. They fell in love, built a family and made sports history when Tony became the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl. Yet they’ve also gone through difficult, relationship-testing setbacks, including job loss and devastating personal tragedy.

In a culture where it seems harder and harder to make marriage last, what has kept the Dungys strong through it all? In Uncommon Marriage, Tony and Lauren share the secrets that hold them together, revealing what they’ve learned so far about being a good husband or wife; getting through times of loss, grief or change; staying connected despite busy schedules; supporting each other’s dreams and goals; and helping each other grow spiritually. The Dungys will offer encouragement and practical advice to equip marriages to survive tough issues and flourish with joy, purpose and partnership—in other words, to be marriages that are truly uncommon.

The live simulcast will be held in the High Foundation Recital Hall on Saturday, March 1 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Ticket Office by calling ext. 6036 or online. Only 65 couples can attend this event. Invite some friends and get your tickets soon!

Representative from International Studies Abroad (ISA) on campus March 3

Ethan Talbott, representative of International Studies Abroad (ISA) the organization which hosts Messiah’s study abroad programs in Chile and France will be on campus March 3 to talk to students about these exciting options. If you are interested in meeting with him or would be interested in having him speak to your class(es), please contact Wendy Lippert in the intercultural office at ext. 6089 or wlippert@messiah.edu.

The representative will be hosting an information session at 4 p.m. in Larsen 237. Please encourage interested students to attend. Visit here or here or to learn more about these programs.

Live webinar with Robert Hellman planned for March 11

The Career Center and the office of alumni and parent relations are pleased to announce a live webinar with nationally known career expert Robert Hellman. This event will take place on Tuesday, March 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Parmer Cinema. Robert’s topic is “Become the Perfect Candidate: Tap into the Hidden Job Market.”

The webinar is ideal for any student who is entering the job market after graduation. Alumni are also welcome to join the webinar (remote access is available for alumni not living in the local area). More information, including registration, can be found here. Please help us promote this opportunity by publicizing this event in your classes or during your interactions with students and alumni.

“Laughter Is Medicine” wellness initiative

According to researchers, laughter is not just good for the soul—it’s good for the mind and body as well. In light of the wellness program’s emphasis on stress management this spring, we are initiating “Mirthful Mondays.” For six consecutive Mondays (beginning Feb. 17), we will be sending out a “Mirthful Monday” email newsletter with humorous video clips, jokes, etc. We’re hoping you’ll find a few minutes during the day to read it and/or watch the clips. But we need your help to pull this off. Beginning today, if you have a favorite joke or funny video clip, send it to Doug Miller at dmiller@messiah.edu. We’ll screen them and include the funniest (realizing that humor is often in the eye of the beholder) on the newsletter each week. (Please be sure anything you send is public domain.)

Register now for phase IV of the “Messiah Goes to the World Cup” physical activity program

Employees who regularly exercise get wellness points by joining the program titled “Messiah Goes to the World Cup.” So far more than 100 employees have participated this year and have collectively accumulated over 24,000 miles! For every 4,800 miles (the distance form Grantham to Brazil) we symbolically “send” another men’s soccer player to the World Cup. So far five players have been sent.

Employees receive 30 wellness points for participating in a six-week phase (or a maximum of 60 points for two or more phases). All it takes is recording your workout minutes or miles each week online, and meeting the goals at least five of the six weeks. Here are the weekly goals for each program:

Walk: 100 minutes or five miles per week

Run: 50 minutes or six miles per week

Swim: 60 minutes or two miles per week

Cycle: 60 minutes or 12 miles per week

Exercise: 60 minutes per week

You can register now for the next six-week phase which begins on Sunday, Feb. 16. Click on the link below to register, and if you’re a first-timer, email your Café Well screen name to HAPA_Wellness@cvty.com.

WALK IV RUN IV CYCLE IV SWIM IV EXERCISE IV

Employee meal plan available

Employees may now participate in a meal plan.

Cost: $150 per semester

Receive a 10 percent discount on all purchases in Lottie Nelson Dining Hall, The Falcon, The Union Café, Café Diem and the Hut. Unused meal plan dollars are forfeited at the end of the semester.

Payment Options:

Cash, check or credit card—pay in full when you select the plan

Payroll deduction—Six payroll deductions of $25 per pay

Stop by the dining services office with your employee ID to sign up. More information can be found here.

Investment change explanation

The plan’s investment committee recently met to review the performance of plan investment choices. If an investment choice does not meet the established minimum standards, the committee reviews other alternatives with similar investment objectives to discuss possible replacement options. This important notice is to inform you that Messiah College Defined Contribution Retirement Plan will be making changes to the plan’s investment options as outlined in the attachment. This change is scheduled to go into effect the week of March 31. See attachment for complete information.

Campus Ministries connection

We are considering Polarities of Reconciliation in the current chapel movement. Today, Teaching Pastor Bruxey Cavey from The Meeting House in Toronto spoke. Elective chapels will be held Thursday. We are in the midst of Black History month. Often reconciliation is considered in black-white terms. However, the ministry of reconciliation given to us as Christians (II Corinthians 5:18) includes ethnic concerns but goes beyond that rubric. It impacts our relationship with God and therefore how we live in relationship to ourselves and to each other.

Here is the concluding prayer from Tuesday’s chapel: “God of everlasting love, we confess that we have been unfaithful to our covenant with you and with one another. We have worshiped other gods: money, power, greed and convenience. We have served our own self-interest instead of serving only you and your people. We have not loved our neighbor as you have commanded, nor have we rightly loved ourselves. Forgive us, gracious God, and bring us back into the fullness of our covenant with you and one another. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

Classified

Job opportunities:

Campus Events has an immediate opening for the full-time position of Campus Events Worker I – High Center. For additional information and to apply, please see https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/3064. Job-related questions may be directed to Scott Zeigler, Campus Events Manager, at szeigler@messiah.edu.

The Career Center has an immediate opening for the full-time position of Administrative Assistant. For additional information and to apply, please see https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/3059.  Job-related questions may be directed to Christina Hanson, Director of Career Development, at chanson@messiah.edu.

For rent:

Apartment —Two bedroom, 1,000 sq. ft., beautiful country estate apartment in Mechanicsburg. Newly renovated with new kitchen with new cabinets, counter top and appliances. Apartment has washer/dryer hooks ups. Off-street parking. No pets allowed. Water, sewer, basic cable and internet included in rent. Tenant is responsible for electric and trash. Credit and reference check is required. $849/month. For more information contact Susan Mayernick at smayernick@messiah.edu or see link.

Free:

Junk wood — We replaced our stairs and there are about twelve boards that are pine and painted on one side. Porch pick-up at 2709 High Street in Grantham. Contact Rhonda King at rking@messiah.edu.