Pepperdine University Spiritual Life Podcast

Transcript: Welcome to writing as a spiritual practice.  Whether you consider yourself a writer or rarely take the time to write things down, writing can be a helpful place for us to get in touch with the deeper longings within our hearts. Writing can help us process complex emotions and help us express meaning to the lives we are living. Author Henri Nouwen says “...Quite often, a difficult, painful, or frustrating day can be redeemed by writing about it. By writing, we can claim what we have lived and integrate it more fully into our journeys. In this way, writing can become lifesaving for us and sometimes for others too.” Let’s begin writing. Take some time right now to express your inner thoughts on paper. Think back on the day-- what experiences or people were life-giving, and what experiences or people were life-draining? What brought about consolation or desolation, feelings of nearness to God or distance from God? Connection to yourself and others, or disconnection from yourself and others? Don’t be afraid to write out whatever comes to mind. Don’t manage how you write, or what you write-- feel free to bare your soul before God who “knows all things” and “holds all things together” for you. Express your sorrow, burdens, joys, and hopes freely.  If it’s helpful, imagine Hagar’s interaction with God in Genesis 16. Find yourself in the questions God asks Hagar, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?”  “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” As you answer these questions, know that Hagar’s declaration of God extends to you, “You are the God who sees.” God sees you and is with you. Amen.

Seaver College Chamber Choir sings "O Come O Come Emmanuel" as part of a collection of Christmas carols released to join people together during the 2020 holiday season. Directed and Produced By: Ryan Board,  Professor of Music, Pepperdine University Veni Emmauel HymnAttributed to J.M. Neale  O come, O come, Emmanuel,And ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appear. Rejoice, RejoiceEmmanuel shall come to thee,O Israel O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheerOur spirits by Thine advent here;Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice, RejoiceEmmanuel shall come to thee,O Israel O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,Unto your own and rescue them!From depths of hell your people save,And give them victr’y o’er the grave. Rejoice, RejoiceEmmanuel shall come to thee,O Israel O come, Desire of nations, bindIn one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,And be Thyself our King of Peace Rejoice, RejoiceEmmanuel shall come to thee,O Israel

Seaver College Chamber Choir sings "Silent Night" as part of a collection of Christmas carols released to join people together during the 2020 holiday season. Directed and Produced By: Ryan Board,  Professor of Music, Pepperdine University   Silent Night  Silent night, holy night,All is calm, all is brightRound yon virgin mother and child.Holy infant, so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night,Shepherds quake at the sight;Glories stream from heaven afar,Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!Christ the Savior is born,Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night,Son of God, love’s pure light;Radiant beams from thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord at thy birth,Jesus, Lord at thy birth. Silent night, holy night,Wondrous star, lend thy light;With the angels let us sing,Alleluia to our King;Christ the Savior is born,Christ the Savior is born.

Seaver College Chamber Choir sings "Angels We have Heard on High" as part of a collection of Christmas carols released to join people together during the 2020 holiday season. Directed and Produced By: Ryan Board,  Professor of Music, Pepperdine University Angels We have Heard on High Angels we have heard on highSweetly singing o'er the plainsAnd the mountains in replyEchoing their joyous strainsGloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee?Why your joyous strains prolong?What the gladsome tidings be?Which inspire your heavenly songs?Gloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo! Come to Bethlehem and seeHim whose birth the angels sing;Come, adore on bended knee,Christ the Lord, the newborn King.Gloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo! See Him in a manger laid,Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,With us sing our Saviour's birth.Gloria in excelsis Deo!Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Seaver College Chamber Choir sings "Angels We have Heard on High" as part of a collection of Christmas carols released to join people together during the 2020 holiday season. Directed and Produced By: Ryan Board,  Professor of Music, Pepperdine University The First Noel Traditional English/French Carol (?)   The first Noel the angel did sayWas to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a starShining in the east, beyond them far;And to the earth it gave great light,And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel. And by the light of that same starThree Wise Men came from country far;To seek for a king was their intent,And to follow the star wherever it went. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel. This star drew nigh to the northwestO’er Bethlehem it took its rest;And there it did both stop and stay,Right over the place where Jesus lay. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel. Then entered in those Wise Men threeFull reverently upon the knee,And offered there, in his presence,Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel.

This podcast, hosted by Pepperdine University Chaplain, Sara Barton, discusses how people in the Pepperdine community, along with friends and guests, are finding and joining God's good work in the world. Podcast 1 features Andrew K. Benton, President of Pepperdine University.  Andrew K. Benton, President of Pepperdine University reflects on his call to Pepperdine, his intimate prayer life and sacred practices of finding God, and how his Christian faith influences his role as President. Andrew K. Benton has served as the seventh president of Pepperdine University since 2000 and continues to lead Pepperdine to prominence among the nation's top universities. A lawyer by training, President Benton regularly teaches courses within the University and is deeply involved in the lives of students—often being called "the students' president."

This podcast, hosted by Pepperdine University Chaplain, Sara Barton, discusses how people in the Pepperdine community, along with friends and guests, are finding and joining God's good work in the world. Podcast 2 features Pastor Albert Tate, founding Pastor of Fellowship Monrovia. Pastor Tate, Founding Pastor at Fellowship Church Monrovia, discusses starting a multiethnic, intergenerational church, the value of finding God in and through community, faith deconstruction and religious cynicism, and going after greatness in service of one another. Albert Tate is the founder and lead pastor of Fellowship Monrovia. From Sweet Home Church of Christ Holiness USA in Pearl, Mississippi to Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, Albert Tate has been preaching the Gospel to people of all ages and races. Hearing the call from God, Albert and his wife LaRosa planted Fellowship Monrovia a Gospel-Centered, Multi-Ethnic and Intergenerational church in January 2012.

Dr. Tabatha Jones Jolivet and Dr. Chris Collins discuss their new book, White Jesus: The Architecture of Racism in Religion and Education. The conversation centers on racism, higher education, and spiritual life. Drs. Jolivet and Collins share their vulnerable experiences while choosing the book’s cover and invite us to draw deeper as a community. Dr. Chris Collins is a graduate of Pepperdine, Oklahoma Christian, and UCLA.  He works at Azusa Pacific U and is a member at the Camarillo Church of Christ. His Dad is a preacher and Mom is an educator, and he has three brothers.  He has been married for 12 years to Kristy, who currently works at Pepperdine and they have two kids: Mateo (6) and Adela (3.5).     Dr. Tabatha Jons Jolivet is a graduate of Pepperdine and Claremont Graduate University.  She worked at Pepperdine for more than 20 years and is presently a faculty member at Azusa Pacific University.  She worships with a house church community along with her parents - father, Dr. Ira Jolivet, a retired Pepperdine faculty member and preacher; and mother, Marcy Jolivet, a preschool teacher. Tabatha has two brothers; a daughter, Shelby (who also works at Pepperdine); 4 nieces and 2 nephews.