Celebrating a truly big check in support of the Chair of Anglican Studies are, from left, Seminary President Philip D. W. Krey, Episcopal leader Amanda Smoot, the Right Rev. Dr. Frederick Houk Borsch, holder of the Chair of Anglican Studies, and Director of Development Pastor Glenn Miller.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 30, 2004) - Anticipation comes in many forms. During an exciting afternoon and evening the seminary community observed the anticipation of Christ with a traditional service of Advent Vespers, featuring a Bach Cantata. And members of the community paused beforehand for a festive dinner for major gifts donors to acknowledged generosity that has endowed a Chair of Anglican Studies at the seminary, and brought a capital campaign for a new Learning Center to practically the halfway point. Visitors also toured an historic collection of bibles that is part of the Krauth memorial Library collection.

The special Advent season of the church year was awakened literally and spiritually in the lives of the community tonight with a jam-packed congregational gathering for the service of Advent Vespers at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill Section.

Thirty-six seminary choir members under the direction of Seminary Musician Mark Mummert and accompanied by an 11-piece orchestra presented in stirring fashion "Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Wake, Awake for Night is Flying") by Johann Sebastian Bach

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Soloists were Professor Pamela Cooper-White, soprano; Kenneth Garner, tenor; Jonathan Oehler, Bass-Baritone. Choir members were Elizabeth A. Brunton, Virginia J. Cover, Jessica L. Davis, Andrena T. Ingram, Margaret Lynn B. Kobb, Sarah E. Lang, JoAnna M. Novak, Paulette K. Obrecht, Stephanie K. Pope, Erika L. Strobel and Emilie E. Theobald - sopranos; Marsha K. Anderson, Karyn D. Bodenschatz, Kathleen E. Brennan, Annemarie Hartner, Brenda C. Jack, Sandra I. Jones, Shirley L. Keiter, Jennifer Kingstorf, Carol A. Rowehl, Molly E. Wilson and Theresa M. Youngblut - altos; Jane M. Marston, Joseph L. McGarry, Mark E. Parker, L. Justin Wheeler and Richard S. Yost - tenors; Timothy A. Cook, William R. Kroeze, Peter J. Perella, Joshua A. Wilson (Psalm 62 soloist) and Steven P. A. Woyen.

The orchestra members were violinists Christine Cottle (soloist), Jennifer Bolcar, Jean Shook and Millie Bai. On viola was Marka Kasker Simmons. Eric Coyne was on violincello. Timothy Ressler was on contrabass. Oboists were David Schast (soloist) and Nancy Gaspari. On English horn was Mary Ellen Corwin and the organist was Mark A. Anderson.

Left, Library Director Karl Krueger shows part of the Library's Bible Collection to visitors. Right, Krueger shows a 1516 edition of the New Testament by Erasmus that is part of the Krauth memorial Library's collection of historic Bibles.

Anticipation theme for dinner

Student Body President Lura Groen: "Your gifts to the Leadership Fund make it so much easier for us." Student Body vice President Richard Yost: "Your gifts to the building are a testimony to the confidence and trust all of you have in us as as future teachers." President Krey: "We couldn't be here without you."

Anticipation was also a highlight for a dinner and presentation for major gifts donors to the seminary's "Building in Faith for People of Faith" capital campaign in support of the seminary's campus renewal and other activities.

The occasion began with a presentation on historic Bibles in the Krauth Memorial Library collection. Library Director Karl Krueger took visitors through the collection. He noted the Bible's first printing using movable type was accomplished by Gutenberg in the 1450s.

A highlight of the dinner was the acknowledgment of a generous $778,000 gift from the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania making possible the endowment of a Chair of Anglican Studies at the seminary. The gift brings the total amount provided by the diocese to the seminary to $1.9 million, surpassing the original $1.5 million objective. The Right Rev. Dr. Frederick Borsch, formerly Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, holds the chair. Borsch offered prayer at the dinner.

Among the dinner highlights were presentations by three seminary students.

Student Body President Lura Groen thanked the donors for their support of the seminary's Leadership Fund. "Your gifts make it easier for students to afford a seminary education and reduce the debt they incur by attending seminary," she said. Groen, a Lutheran from Washington, D.C., spoke both of the season anticipating the arrival of Christ and the anticipation of seminarians excited about the prospect of soon assuming roles as professional leaders in the church.

Student Body Vice President Richard Yost talked about gratitude for gifts to the anticipated Brossman Learning Center. He noted the critical times facing the church and said "those of us who have been taught here will be called upon to be teachers of the faith where we serve. Your gifts for this building are a testimony to the confidence and trust all of you have in us to be teachers in your parishes and the congregations of the church."

Episcopalian Amanda Smoot talked about a shaping course she had taken at the seminary on the preliminary agreement that was superseded by "Called to Common Mission," an agreement between Lutherans and Episcopalians. "There is great learning and joy for an Episcopal student here," she said. "It was here that I first learned not only about Lutheranism but what it means to be an Episcopalian. She said the Chair of Anglican Studies is a visible sign of the kind of unity in Christ denominations are beginning to claim.

Other presenters include Seminary President Philip D. W. Krey, Development Director Glenn Miller, and LTSP Foundation President Larry House. The trio noted, in expressing profound gratitude to the gathering, that the capital campaign, begun about two years ago, had a goal of raising $20 million "over five or six years." But at this early point in the campaign, just shy of $9 million has been reached with about $6.5 million of that total in the form of current pledges and gifts.

Pastor Glenn Miller noted that a combination of big and small gifts "have brought us to this point." Dr. Philip Krey expressed thanks to the seminary trustees, the LTSP Foundation Board, the seminary's President's Council, the staff and faculty. "We truly could not be here without you," he said. Dr. Addie J. Butler, who chairs the seminary's Board of Trustees, brought inspired greetings to the gathering before the dinner began.