Last weekıs Christmas Festival brought a host of different speakers to Boe Chapel for the morning chapel talks.

"Appreciation for Everyday Events" was the topic the talk given by David Croom, Œ00 on Monday, Nov. 27. He talked about the daily gifts that we take for granted, pointing out that students are so busy with school, especially now with finals looming, that we forget to think about things like our friends, the sunrise, our family, or the trees. "If we knew they werenıt going to be here tomorrow we would pay more attention," he said.

He quoted from Matthew 6:25, Matthew 11, and James 1, emphasizing how we are all Godıs creations, and that He is more than willing to take our burdens from us, and that every perfect gift comes from above. He also used his grounding thought of "in 50 years it wonıt matter if I got an A on that test."

Croom thought of his speech topic towards the end of the summer, before having to worry about being bogged down by tests and classes. His background as a student fueled his writing, and he signed up to give a senior chapel talk to share his wisdom with everyone.

Croom grew up in Montevideo, MN, in a religious Lutheran family. He went to church every Sunday, and said religion was "not right in my face, but definitely present in my home." He became more grounded in his faith after coming to St. Olaf, and found it provided stability in college. "Iıve grown a lot, and hope I still am," he said.

Interim President Martin Marty spoke about the role of a teacher and the place of the church of faith in our school. The reading was Mark 12, and in both translations Jesus is called "teacher." He remembered that whenever his two St. Olaf alumni sons and alumna daughter-in-law talked about St. Olaf times, they always thought of the teachers. Things like friends remained unmentioned the way most things people take for granted do. He questioned the congregation, "Can you think of five sermons youıve heard in your life? I donıt think I can remember five Iıve given. But then, can you think of five people who have touched you with the hand of God? Itıs easier, isnıt it?"

He spouted the mission statement of St. Olaf, which emphasizes the dedication of this institution to education above all things. He related this to two main points taken from the scripture: "1) Jesus is said to Œbelong to the truth,ı and I love that idea of Œbelongingı to the truth. 2) Jesus favors no one. Thatıs important to a college, to not discriminate on any level." He then shared an anecdote about his dissertation advisor, who was also one of his friends. The advisor had a scary prayer taped onto his desk, which began, "Lord, grant me the courage to flunk my best friendŠ"

Marty thinks this was an important topic to cover. "If we want to do what this place wants to be, we must be a college of the church, but not a church. A college is about the search for truth."

Marty has been on the Board of Regents at St. Olaf for 12 years (and has never missed a board meeting), and is recently retired from teaching at the University of Chicago. He has spoken on over 600 campuses around the country, and has never repeated a sermon.

Music teacher Andrea Een took the lectern on Wednesday, reading poems under the running theme of Poetry in Faith. She read her own works as well as pieces from Rumi, Anna Kalienska, and W.S. Merwin.

A large part of her poetry is inspired through her connection with God. Her first poem was "Sotto Voce" about the birth of her son, and her epiphany that the birth of a child is a true miracle and gift from God. Another, "This Morning," was from when she went through a hard time, and was suddenly struck by the grace of God in the ordinariness of every day.

Other topics included trees ("Trees At Night"), and societal problems such as acceptance of homosexuals ("Litany For Motherıs Day"). Her second-to-last poem, "Still Center," was about the power of communion in struggle between the pull of the world against the pull toward the search for God.

Een has written a book of poetry (available in the bookstore) and is a one of the Northfield Women Poets. Here she teaches violin, viola and Hardanger fiddle; and has played violin with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra.

"Itıs nice to get feedback," she said of the compliments she received afterwards. "Poetry, even in a reading, is a rather solitary activity or action. You donıt get the immediate reward of applause that you do in performing."

Pastor Jennifer Koenig and Susan Bauer performed three dance pieces Thursday in the series "Hymns Embodied." Bauer began with a history of the tradition of dance in the church and what itıs expressing. She clarified that there was no literal meaning in the dance, that the congregation should "interpret through your own vicarious participation." The two lithe forms wore matching loose gowns in burgundy and green, and sported matching haircuts as well.

The second reading was from Jeremiah, where the themes are the promise of Zion, the day of reckoning, and Godıs constancy giving shape to the time. Pastor Benson re-read the passage as the pair again moved about in sync; an excerpt from what they performed at Sundayıs service.

The first dance was actually choreographed by Bauer in 1991, and is part of their liturgy repertoire. She was a dance major at Macalester, which was not common at that time, and did her graduate work in dance as well. She has been teaching at St. Olaf ever since, for the last 24 years. She even taught Koenig when she was a student here. Koenig was in a modern dance company for three years after graduating in ı87, and did dance in church plus some independent work for a choreographer while she was in Seminary.

The two have done various projects in the years theyıve known each other. There is a lot of collaboration in their choreography. "Weıve worked long enough together that we play off each other, but we have very different styles. We complement each other, especially when working with students, because Jen has the eye for details, whereas I look more at the whole picture."