Encounters
Exploring the Psalms with Jewish Scholars This fall four Jewish scholars were invited to lecture on the Psalms. Dr. Marvin Wilson, professor of biblical and theological studies, worked with Gordon’s Center for Christian Studies to coordinate the series. “The Psalms, or ‘hymnbook’ of ancient Israel, has had profound influence in shaping the thought and worship of Judaism and Christianity,” says Wilson. “The earliest church sang Psalms; Christianity began as a movement within Judaism. . . . Personal, candid, and often intense, the Psalms have universal appeal—the classic biblical expression of the human quest to know God amidst a troubling world.”
Photo Kristin Bollier ’12
255 Grapevine Packs the Pews Alysa Obert ’11 and Amanda C. Thompson ’11
Shelves in the lobby of A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel were crammed with canned food, and the pews inside were packed with Gordon students, alumni, friends and family whose donated cans had purchased admission to the new Homecoming variety show, 255 Grapevine.
Three New Coaches From NBA to Fighting Scots
Tod Murphy, former NBA player, came from the University of California (UCI) at Irvine. Murphy says, “After six years as assistant coach I’m ready to be head coach, and Gordon has amazing talent and quality discipleship.” A Lifelong Goal on the Lax Field
Warren Shumate ’05 loved playing lacrosse as a student—All-Conference, All-New England, captain and male Athlete of the Year. He coached lacrosse in Virginia while teaching but says, “Returning to Gordon and coaching Christian young men is a lifetime career goal.” Digging and Diving on the Court
Ruth Rosentrater, new women’s volleyball coach, coached at the State University of New York at Oswego, interned with the NCAA and was assistant athletic director for marketing and promotion at Oswego. “I’m looking forward to challenging the team to grow as athletes and women of God,” says Rosentrater.
255 Grapevine claimed the time slot formerly filled by faculty talent show nodroG, which will now take place in spring. The new event was the brainchild of theatre professor Norm Jones and theatre/English major Amy Laing ’11, who was also stage manager of the show. Laing said she hoped the show would have “audience involvement and form . . . a stronger sense of community between departments.” 255 Grapevine’s 14 acts and 100 performers pulled the audience in like no Gordon show had before. Talents ranged from country music to Broadway farce to a four-person piano face-off modeled after the popular Guitar Hero video games, with props provided for audience participation in each. Noni Mason ’93 and her husband, Jared, choreographed one of the main attractions, “Stomp,” which invited the crowd to click their pens in time with the beat. Assistant professor of music Michael Monroe’s four Piano Heroes played the 1812 Overture on two grand pianos. “We asked you to bring cans,” said Monroe. “But we forgot to ask you to bring cannons.” Instead, the audience was given brown paper lunch bags and cued to inflate and pop them when the theme sounded. The beloved Dr. Marv Wilson told everyone about his wild goose chase after a Gordon van was stolen in New York City. “How good it was to come home to 255 Grapevine,” he said. Jennifer Hevelone-Harper ’92, history professor at Gordon, shared her experiences as a student and as a faculty member at 255 Grapevine. Two days after the show Laing was still beaming. “I am so happy with the way it went,” she said. “It was fun and created the sort of community experience we were looking for.”
255 Grapevine www.gordon.edu/255grapevine