Pineapple WelcomesB Y N A T H A N

This issue:"Pineapple Welcomes"

by Chaplain Albert

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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER PAGE 01

Dates to Remember

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Helpful Links

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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER VOL. 15 , NO. 20 • JANUARY 27 , 2021

CONT'D ON P .2

Sympathies, Concerns, and Congrats

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Spending the majority of my life in and aroundChicago, I was surprised by many things when Imoved to Rhode Island. Yes, Rhode Islanders havequite the accent, they eat ‘pizza’ that is just crusttopped with marinara sauce (no mozzarella!), theydrink ‘coffee milk,’ they prefer Dunkin Donuts toStarbucks, and since the state is so small, manypeople refuse to drive to neighboring townsbecause it seems like too long of a trip. One particular thing that I found interestingwas the number of pineapples in Rhode Island. Idon’t mean the availability of the fruit in grocerystores or at restaurants. I mean the number ofpineapple sculptures and home decor. Pineapplesare everywhere in Rhode Island, which was notthe case anywhere in the Chicagoland area. Outside of my place of work, there were twodecent size stone pineapples on each side of themain entrance. You see them as door knockers onmany of the historic homes and buildings. As youenter the Italian neighborhood in Providence,there is a giant pineapple sculpture suspendedover the road. It was alarming, mainly because Idid not trust the physics involved in keeping astone pineapple the size of a car hangingprecariously over the road on which I traveled.

The Chaplain's Corner is a newsletterpublished by the Spiritual Life Center(SLC) at the University of Lynchburg.

We share campus concerns and updates,spiritual life events and activities, and

words for the journey. If you have a joy or concern you'd like toshare, reply to this message, email the

SLC office - spirituallife@lynchburg.edu, orcall 434.544.8348. We only share withyour permission. Current and previous

issues are on the SLC page of theUniversity website -

www.lynchburg.edu/spiritual-life.

Pineapple Welcomes (cont'd) I remember finally asking a local Rhode Islanderwhy there were so many pineapples around thestate. “Oh,” he said, “It’s a symbol of welcome.” Thiswas also peculiar to me, because if you know thestereotype of Rhode Islanders, they are not knownfor being warmly welcoming. So, the pineapple is a symbol of welcome andhospitality. But, it’s also a symbol that reminds usthat we are welcome, and can show up, as we are.With doubts, wounds, fears, insecurities, joys,secrets, happiness, or hopes. Although we don’t have a large stone pineapplehanging over the Dell, I hope that as you return tocampus, you are reminded that this place is one ofopen, inclusive, and warm welcome and embrace.Welcome, home. You’ve been missed.

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SPIRITUAL LIFE SERVICESare live- streamed via our

YouTube Channel

DATES TO REMEMBER

Week long celebrat ion ofDr . Mart in Luther King , J r .

January 25-29

Daura Museum Exhibi t (Afr icanAmerican Folk Art Exhibi t f romthe Daura Museum Col lect ion)

Ent i re Month of JanuaryKnight-Capron Library Dr . King ’s Exhibi t (Poet ,

Phi losopher , and Preacher ) andResource L is t

TONIGHT! Jan . 27 , 7 :30 p .m.Hopwood Auditor ium

MOVIE NIGHT: Brother Outs iderStream on Vimeo

Password - Rust inLynchburg

January 28 , 5 p .m.Snidow Chapel to Bel l Tower

UNITY MARCH

January 29 , 7 p .m.Bal l room & Vir tual

KAHOOT NIGHT

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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER PAGE 03

Sympathies, Concerns, and Congrats

The family, friends, and former colleagues of TerryMorris (retired, Environmental Services), who diedon January 21, 2021. Link to obituary.

Our sympathies are extended to:

For a list of regularly scheduled fellowship groupmeetings, go to the

Spiritual Life webpage and click on “SpiritualOrganizations on Campus."

Like us on Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/LynchburgSLC

H elpful Links on LinkTree at - SpiritualLifeCenter

Good Trouble: Uniting our Dreams and

Voices for Justice

Danielle Racke (ClaytorNature Study Center) onthe birth of her daughter,Amelia Leigh Racke, onOctober 21, 2020. Ameliaweighed 7 pounds, 2ounces and was 19.5 incheslong.

Congratulations to:

January 31 , 4 p .m.

Conversat ions with theChapla ins ( for Students )

L ink