CRCDS 2024 Baccalaureate Service

OUR MISSION

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School forms students in theological and multi-religious studies to serve, care and advocate for all peoples and the earth.

OUR VISION

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School will be faithful to its distinctive Christian identity as the institution becomes a seminary of and for the community, committed to practices of peace, service, and justice.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Prelude: "Revive Us Again" (lyrics page 5)

Welcome

Rev. Jacqueline J. Nelson Director for Student Support Services and Coordinator for Spiritual Care

Call to Worship

Rev. Cindy Rasmussen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Public Theology & Eco-Justice in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Professorship and Director of the Program for Anglican Studies

We thank you, O God, for the gift of this evening. For this beautiful space, for the warm hearts that greet us.

We thank you, O God, for the accomplishments of the students gathered here to worship You.

For songs and prayers that inspire, comfort, confound, and shape us.

We thank you, O God, for the many blessings in our lives and in our world. May we lift our voices in thanks, as we worship You.

Adapted from Beth Merrill Neel’s blog, “Hold Fast to What is God” Used with permission Invocation

Hilary Jerome Scarsella, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Ethics & Theological Studies in the Gosnell Chair of Christian Ethics Director of Gender, Sexual, and Racial Justice (GSRJ)

Scripture Readings

Old Testament: Isaiah 43:18-21

Qhamora Kimbrough Registrar and Senior Recruitment Officer

New Testament: Revelation 21:1-6

Patricia Finnerty Reference Librarian

2024 BACCALAUREATE

Introduction of the Speaker

Reflections from the Class of 2024

Courtney Wiley-Harris, D.Min. Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Gloria Winston Bonita Bates

Rebeka Fergusson-Lutz

Erik Burling

Jonathan Staples

Joel Wilbur

Hymn: "Great is Thy Faithfulness" (lyrics page 5)

Baccalaureate Address

“How Do You Sing the Lord’s Song in a Strange and Foreign Land”

Rev. Dr. Keith A. Russell, CRDS ‘67 Former President and Distinguished Sr. Professor of Ministry Studies at New York Theological Seminary, former President at American Baptist Seminary of the West (now Berkeley School of Theology), Faculty Affiliate at CRCDS

Celebration of Holy Eucharist

Rev. James. C. Simmons Pastor, Baber AME Church

Hymn: "Let Us Break Bread Together" (lyrics page 5)

Charge to the Graduates

Sending Prayer

Doxology

Rev. Angela D. Sims, Ph.D. CRCDS President

Rev. Jacqueline J. Nelson

Congratulations Class of 2024

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

Bonita Bates

MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Erik D. Burling

MASTER OF DIVINITY

Rebeka Fergusson-Lutz

Joel Donald Wilbur

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

Tina Baker

Aaron Martin Best

Cathy Woods Bristow

Joseph Daniel Clemmons, II

Alet Alecia Haywood

Edna M. Silburn-Lyons

Jonathan Ruben Staples

Melissa A. D. Stewart

Annie Laura Suggs

Andre J. Welch

Gloria A. Winston

2024 BACCALAUREATE

Hymn: Revive Us Again

We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy love, for Jesus who died, and is now gone above.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again.

We praise thee, O God, for thy Spirit of light who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again.

We praise thee, O God, for the joy thou hast giv’n to thy saints in communion, these foretastes of heav’n.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again.

Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory, hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again.

Hymn: Let Us Break Bread Together

Let us break bread together on our knees. Let us break bread together on our knees.

Refrain:

When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees. Let us drink wine together on our knees. [Refrain]

3 Let us praise God together on our knees. Let us praise God together on our knees. [Refrain]

Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

2024 BACCALAUREATE SPEAKER

Rev. Dr. Keith A. Russell, CRDS ‘67

Former President and Distinguished Sr. Professor of Ministry Studies at New York Theological Seminary, former President at American Baptist Seminary of the West (now Berkeley School of Theology), Faculty Affiliate at CRCDS

The Rev. Dr. Keith A. Russell has been engaged in urban ministry in New York and beyond since 1967. He joined the NYTS faculty in 1978 as Dean of Parish Ministry Programs while serving as a pastor in Brooklyn. In 1982 he was elected President of NYTS and served in that post until 1992. After retiring as President, he directed the D.Min program and continued teaching and preaching until 1997.

In 1997, Dr. Russell was elected President of the American Baptist Seminary of the West (now Berkeley School of Theology) in Berkeley, California. He served as President and Professor of Pastoral Theology at ABSW until 2008. On his retirement as President he was elected Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology.

In 2008 Dr. Russell returned to NYTS to administer the Doctor of Ministry program and to serve as Professor of Ministry Studies. In 2015 Dr. Russell was appointed as Distinguished Senior Professor of Ministry Studies. In 2022 he retired from his teaching duties at NYTS but continues to teach and preach in the New York City region and beyond. In 2023-24 he served as a faculty affiliate member at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School working with Doctor of Ministry students.

In addition to his work in the academy, Dr. Russell has also engaged in urban ministry as a pastor in the Bronx, Albany, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.

Thank you for joining us this evening to honor the Class of 2024.

We are especially grateful to Rev. James Simmons and the members of Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church for their hospitality and hosting this service.