Upcoming Events

Kelso Lecture and Community Conversation on Race and Faith and the Metro-Urban Institute Conference: To Whom Are We Neighbor? Churches and Communities Engaging in Anti-Racism Work Across Generations

With Starsky Wilson / March 17-18, 2023 / Lecture: In-Person and Online, Conference: In-Person

"There is at work in the soil a mystery
by which the death of one seed
is reborn a thousandfold in newness of life."

-Howard Thurman

Those of you who have been reading these newsletter reflections for any portion of the past nine years know the rhythm—"It’s March, so she’ll probably be talking about her garden!"

The promise of pulling out the cell trays, the heat mats, and the grow light; the excitement of picking seeds out from the catalog (even if I have enough to plant a small farm stored in my refrigerator!); the careful mixing of the seed starter mix and planting the seeds; these are the rituals that make the Pittsburgh winter tolerable and hope tangible.

My spiritual director advised me to keep a small container of dirt near my prayer chair. Each day during the winter, she said, run your fingers through it and ask: What do I want to grow? What needs to be buried? While the transformation of seed into plant is a glorious mystery, soil itself is no slouch; it is made of things that have died as it provides the conditions for new life. Attending to the soil and not just the seedlings has been good Lenten practice.

What do you want to grow? What in your life needs to be buried?

As we turn our attention to the final quarter of the academic year, we’ll be touching base with you to see where you’re at, what sparks your imagination these days, where we can support you in your vocation as it grows and changes and goes through its own seasons. And stay tuned for updates to our Henderson Summer Leadership Conference schedule. We need to reschedule it, and we promise you’ll be the first to know the details once they are confirmed!

Wishing you springtime sprouts,
Helen Blier
Director, Continuing Education

P.S. Are you dreading when the loan pause ends and you begin paying back your loans again? Are you the parent of a student who is either getting ready to or currently attending college? Are you just fascinated by all things financial aid related? Join us for a webinar March 29, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. ET. PTS Associate Director of Financial Aid Ryan Jensema will breakdown student loans, repayment, and other items related to financial aid. To register, e-mail coned@pts.edu with FINANCIAL AID in the subject line!

Explore Your Vocational Calling—Online Information Session

Join the Pittsburgh Seminary community March 30, 2023, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET to learn about the Seminary's hybrid program and explore your vocational calling.

During the 60-minute Zoom session, you'll learn more about our degree and certificate programs, the Seminary's hybrid learning modality (launching this fall), and financial aid available to students. Register here.