TIME-HONORED
TRADITION: AUGUSTANA SERMONS SHINE THROUGH SENIORS | BY GRETA STEWART
A
t 21 years old, would you have the courage to stand up in front of a group of people and give a sermon and talk about your faith? To say it may put you out of your comfort zone is probably an understatement for many. However, the senior sermon has been an Augustana tradition for more than three decades and one that has become a pillar to the university’s core value of Christian. Campus Pastor Rev. Ann Rosendale ’04 says the senior sermon became a weekly event when former Campus Pastor Rev. Dr. Paul Rohde began his role in 2001. While the senior sermon is not a required part of any class on campus, Rosendale knows firsthand what it feels like to stand at that podium at such a young age and give a sermon to her peers. “I still remember what I preached about and the song that was played. Now looking back, I cringe a bit at what I said and how I said it, but it’s also a chance to see how my theology and preaching has evolved. I was very grateful for the opportunity to practice preaching in a safe and encouraging space. I was thankful to be able to do some working out of my own theology in public, which is a practice that, even now as a more seasoned preacher, I still enjoy because it keeps me both humble and honest,” recalled Rosendale. NO PREREQUISITES REQUIRED Rosendale says it’s important to note that not all students who give a senior sermon go on to seminary. In fact, the vast majority are not pre-seminarians. Most are simply students of deep faith who want to share how their faith informs their life. This is precisely what Augustana hopes to achieve in its mission of “integrating faith with learning and service.” Jack Talcott, a government and international affairs, history and philosophy major, who is also pursuing a minor in Spanish, gave his senior sermon in October 2020 and said, “I remember committing myself to give a sermon after seeing upperclassmen give them when I was a freshman. I started considering it very seriously the summer before my senior year.” The Brandon, South Dakota, native says as a freshman, he looked up to the seniors and thought they had a lot of courage. Talcott said, “I had a solid faith before starting my time at Augie. I was raised in a very strong Christian household and had incredible opportunities to connect with many Christian organizations growing up. However, I have always 22
THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
had a bit of a fear of public speaking, so it’s safe to say I always considered those who spoke in front of crowds to be brave. I especially thought this about those who were vulnerable enough to share their testimonies in front of their peers.” Elizabeth Yoder, majoring in government and international affairs, religion and classics, also gave her senior sermon in the fall of 2020. “Throughout the last four years, I have leaned into questions and doubts more than I did previously. Before coming to Augie, asking questions about God was synonymous with actively looking for answers and concrete evidence for those answers. Now asking questions means sitting with those questions and sitting in discomfort, knowing that even the idea of an answer is elusive. Any sort of ‘answer’ that I find is now rooted in people’s lived experiences instead of concrete evidence,” said Yoder. TELLING THE STORY OF FAITH If a student is new to public speaking, how should they prepare for their sermon? According to Rosendale, students should root their sermon in a biblical text of their choosing. “Many select the common lectionary text (traditionally used by Lutheran, Catholic and other churches) appointed for the week,” said Rosendale. “Others choose a favorite Bible passage or story, one that feels especially relevant to their lives. It should tell God’s story, their story and the community’s story. A good sermon weaves the three together and makes connections between the biblical narrative, the senior’s life and all of our lives. That’s not an easy task.” The campus pastor then meets with the senior a week or
