Creativity and the Craft of Writing Sermons

with playwright Christina Ham 

February 9, 2018 | 9 AM - 4 PM

While different than developing a play, the craft of writing sermons draws on a combination of creative and focused energy not unlike the careful work of a playwright.

In this one-day session you will learn from renowned playwright Christina Ham how to discover and draw out the kernel of a story to develop writing that is robust in meaning, attention and impact. During the session you will learn (or relearn) creative skills and think about how to apply them to your work as a preacher or writer. The day will include both presentation and experiential learning.

Learn more and register!  

About the playwright:

Christina Ham's plays have been developed and produced nationally and internationally including the Kennedy Center and The Guthrie Theater and many others. Her children’s play Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 was directed by Tony Award winning actress Phylicia Rashad at the Kennedy Center tocommemorate the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Her play Nina Simone: Four Women had its regional premiere at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. Christina is a two-time recipient of a McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting and a Jerome Fellowship from the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis. She is the Program Coordinator for the Many Voices Fellowship Program at the Playwrights' Center where she's mentored emerging playwrights of color for the last ten years. She is a professor of black theater history and playwriting at Augsburg College. A graduate of the University of Southern California and an MFA in Playwriting from The UCLA School of Theater. Christina is a Core Writer at the Playwrights' Center.

Telling the Story in Community: Writing for Reader's Theater

with playwright Christina Ham

February 23, 2018 | 9 AM - 4 PM

Reader's Theater is an excellent way for a faith community to take a sacred text and develop it for use in any setting.

Working with a common text, participants will create a new but true way of telling the same story in a unique way. This workshop will provide participants with the beginning skills for writing a dramatic reading that can be used in worship, education or for community outreach. It will also offer ideas for engaging others from your community to assist in both the writing and performing of the work. The day will include both presentation and experiential learning.

Learn more and register!

About the playwright:

See Christina Ham's bio above.

Prophetic Singing in Challenging Times with Marty Haugen

More info and registration coming soon!

About the composer:

Marty Haugen is a liturgical composer, workshop presenter, performing and recording artist & author from Eagan, Minnesota. 

For the past 30 years, Marty has presented workshops and concerts across North and Central America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim.  He has over 40 recordings and more than 400 separate printed editions available through GIA Publications.A number of his published songs, including "Shepherd Me, O God," "Gather Us In" and "All Are Welcome" are well-known to many religious denominations. Mass of Creation, and several liturgical settings for Lutheran congregations, including Holden Evening Prayer, Unfailing Light (with Pastor Susan Briehl) and Now the Feast and Celebration, as well as a communion setting for the new Evangelical Worship Book (ELW-Augsburg Fortress).

Join us for "Spirited Community: An Interfaith Art Exhibition"

In the Gallery: January 8 - February 16, 2018

Where does community come from? How do we find or create a community? How are we shaped by our communities?

The Jewish Women Artists’ Circle invited Christian artists to explore the theme of community with them. Their artworks were inspired by their studies with Christian, Jewish and academic scholars: Rev. Jean Greenwood, Sister Virginia Matter, Rabbi Harold Kravitz and Professor Riv-Ellen Prell.

In addition to the artist’s individual works and to help build community within their group, two collaborative projects were developed – a tablecloth where the artists were asked to create a placemat to be joined as a border for it and a tea cup was created for each artist with their words on “What fills your cup?”

Join us in this spirited conversation!

*The gallery will only be open until 5 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 8-January 16. Please note that we are also closed for MLK Day. If you have questions please call 651.633.4311 to confirm before you visit.

The Rev. Craig Lemming '17 is a Zimbabwean native and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New England Conservatory, a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, and a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Theology and the Arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. He is the Volunteer Chaplain for Circle of the Beloved - the Twin Cities chapter of the Episcopal Service Corps - working with justice-seeking young adults living together in prayer, simplicity, and kinship with the marginalized.

Have you seen our promo video, featuring inspirational United theology and the arts alums? Click the thumbail to watch and explore more great videos on United's YouTube page. 

 To learn more about Theology and the Arts degree programs at United, click here.