Rev. Matt Schlimm preaches during evening worship in Goodson Chapel. |
At a Glance
Theme: Getting Our Story Straight: The Covenant History of God’s People
Faculty Speaker: Dr. Thea Portier-Young, assistant professor of Old Testament
Lectionary Texts:
Joshua 24:1-8, 13-24; Psalm 136, I Peter 2:1-10; Matthew 15:21-28
Reflections on the Lecture
Somewhere over the rainbow….the DYA discovers the deeper connections between Old Testament covenant and Christian baptism.
Beginning with God’s covenant with Noah and its rainbow sign, Dr. Portier-Young led the students through the three major covenants of the Torah – Noah, Abraham, and Exodus.
Reminded that covenant is always a two-way partnership between God and God’s people, the students learned simultaneously that Dean Jones was right – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob offers “abundantly far more than we could ask or imagine.”
Whether covenanting with all of creation after the Flood or leading the chosen people through the “Reed Sea” (“Red Sea” for the non-Hebrew scholars), God shows throughout Israel’s story that “God will pay the price for our redemption, for God has chosen us as his own.”
A couple of Dr. Portier-Young's provocative quotes...
“Covenant creates and defines life in community – without covenant there is no community.”
“Covenant community is not self defined or self oriented – it is other defined and other oriented.”
Quotes from students and staff...
As students traveled to their first service site today, Meagan Olson said, “last night I had a dream, I dreamed it was the last day and Dr. Edie was giving a comprehensive final exam covering all the plenaries. Eek, what a nightmare! Thankfully, it was just a dream.”
During today’s worship workshop Elise Erikson-Barrett said, “Will I conform God to my desires and expectations or will I conform to God?”
After spending an afternoon at Croasdaile Retirement Village, Britney Holder shared this thoughtful reflection with her covenant group, “I went out of my comfort zone and I discovered that behind every door was an amazing story.”
A word from the worship workshops...
Worship workshops have been a part of our daily schedule. We have talked about the purpose of worship and how it shapes all that we do. We have had several visitors during the sessions: The Rev. Dr. Phinneus Doddsworth, Blaise Blasé & Brother Spiritual. Here are a couple of their more memorable comments –
As the Rev. Dr. Phinneus Doddsworth lamented what he perceived to be self-centeredness by today’s young people, he said, “Worship should be a school for gratitude I say, even if we have to beat it into those little narcissists.”
Thinking about a recent service she attended, Blaise Blasé said, “We get into church, I haven’t had any breakfast, and the first thing I know we’re singing something about bringing forth the royal diaphragm. I mean, hello, at nine o’clock Sunday morning?!”
What's ahead...
Tomorrow (as you’re reading, today) Dr. John Utz will lecture on Incarnation.
We have a restful afternoon planned that includes nap time – who would’ve thought that 55 teen-agers would look forward to a nap?! Praise God!
< Day 2 | Day 4 >
Duke Youth Academy
for Christian Formation
The Divinity School,
Duke University
Box 90966,
Durham, N.C. 27708-0966
919-660-3542,
DuYouth@div.Duke.edu | 
