Westminster College Office of Faith and Spirituality to Host Spiritual Emphasis Week

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Westminster College's Office of Faith and Spirituality will host Spiritual Emphasis Week Sept. 19-23 at various locations on the Westminster College campus. All events are free and open to the public.

The theme for the week is "Everybody Belongs Somewhere" and comes from the movie "Blue Like Jazz." The movie is based on the book by Donald Miller and includes reflections chronicling the author's growing understanding of the nature of God and Jesus, and the need and responsibility for an authentic personal response to that understanding.  The College will show the movie in Mueller Theatre on: Sept. 21 at 10:30 p.m., Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 23 at 3 p.m.

The week will also feature three guest speakers:

Jason Santos, associate pastor at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church, will speak Sept. 19 at 9:30 p.m. in Berlin Lounge. Santos is the author of A Community Called Taize: A Story of Prayer, Worship and Reconciliation. His writing has appeared in several youth ministry journals.

Louis Lipps, former Pittsburgh Steeler, will speak Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel. Louis was drafted by the Steelers in the 1984 NFL draft. He was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year at season's end and was also named to the AFC Pro Bowl Team for that year. Lipps retired from the Steelers in 1993. He will be sharing his faith journey and football stories.

Bob Goff, founder and chief executive officer of Restore International, will speak Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel. Restore International is a non-profit organization which was established to address the atrocities and injustices committed against children. Goff is a partner in the Goff & DeWalt law firm, located in Washington. Additionally, he serves as the United States Honorary Consul for the Republic of Uganda.

Additional events include:

JD Eicher '09 and Joy Ike will be in concert Sept. 21 at 8:30 p.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel. Opening act is Susan Davidson Randall '10.

Eicher is the front man for JD Eicher and the Goodnights, which has opened up for well-known acts such as Coldplay and Bryan Adams. The band recently released their album "Shifting."  Eicher will be performing a solo acoustic set.

Ike is currently based out of Pittsburgh. She has been compared to artists Norah Jones, Fiona Apple and India Aire. Her most recent album, "Rumors," was released in May 2010.

Randall, a Butler native, graduated with a degree in music education from Westminster and currently teaches music at Burchfield Primary school. She just released her album "Steady Me."

The Office of Faith and Spirituality will host a tailgate party Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. by the scoreboard in Burry Stadium. The Westminster Titans football team will take on St. Vincent at 7 p.m.

The week will end with a Roman Catholic mass at 7 p.m. at Wallace Memorial Chapel.

Spiritual Emphasis Week is being funded by the Galloway Family. Arlis Orr Galloway, an alumna from the Class of 1963, is the daughter of Westminster's ninth college president, Dr. Will W. Orr. Mrs. Galloway and her husband, Peter, live in North Carolina.

Contact Westminster's Office of Faith and Spirituality at (724) 946-7117 or click here for additional information.

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