Wesley Journal October 2018: Gazing Upward

A new school year is well underway here at Wesley and while Reading Week may have provided a much-needed respite for many of us, we will shortly find ourselves again seeking quiet moments of calm and opportunities for reflection between the bustle of classes, work, internships, student life, family life, and social life. Being located as we are in Washington, DC, many of us have felt the high-tension political climate that surrounds us seeping into our own stress and, being a United Methodist seminary during this time of uncertainty in the Church, we may find it difficult to find renewal in the places of worship where we serve or attend. We live in interesting times and that can make the already challenging work of theological education an overwhelming process. For this edition of the Wesley Journal, we have chosen to focus on one of the more contemplative spaces on campus, the Oxnam Chapel, and more specifically, the clerestory windows which depict the well-known Armor of God verses from Ephesians 6. The passage encased in these windows is rich and challenging. We have gathered together not only perspectives on these verses but also thoughts on how they connect to aspects of our lives here at Wesley. Contributions to this edition of the Wesley Journal include: 

It is our hope that by collecting reflections on these windows, we will be able to help readers see with new eyes the symbolism in the windows and the verses that they depict, so that, whether you have a few minutes to yourself to sit in the chapel and meditate or whether you allow your mind to participate in a little bit of holy, creative wandering during a gathering in the chapel, you have a new appreciation for the space. The full PDF version of the Journal is available for download by clicking here.

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