Naznetter Sightings at ENC Commencement 2010

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Some pics of Naznetters sighted at ENC Commencement. Also there and seen from a distance, but unfortunately I didn't get to talk to them (sorry!): Mike Schutz, Doug Kitchen, and Mark Metcalfe

There were likely others that I didn't even know about.

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Above: Dennis Scott, Me, Jonathan Twitchell
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Above: The awesome Troxler family (Sarah, Dave, Tim, & Karen)...yes, Dave is really tall...which makes Tim REALLY tall
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Shea, Jocie, & Cole Zellweger

[Shea Zellweger]

For those who did not hear Mike Schutz's final prayer, he missed about 10 opportunities to interject "may the force be with you."

[Jeremy D. Scott]

For those who did not hear Mike Schutz's final prayer, he missed about 10 opportunities to interject "may the force be with you."

Actually, Mike's prayer was one of the only things I DID catch at Commencement. With four kids these days, we sometimes purposely show up late to things.

...but I got pictures!

[Karen Troxler]

I thought Mike's prayer was great and sent a powerful message with which to end the ceremony!

[Shea Zellweger]

I thought Mike's prayer was great and sent a powerful message with which to end the ceremony!

I really enjoyed it- actually, if he'd left off the "dear God" in the beginning, it would've been the best commencement speech I ever heard. But there's just so many sentences you can start with "May the" before the sci-fi nerd in me starts getting anxious :)

[Doug Kitchen]

I missed many of you but here are some pictures that I got.... I think you used the right terminology - sightings rather than a naznet meeting.

Tom Nees the speaker:
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Dennis Scott
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Dave Troxler
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Karen Troxler
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Mike Schutz (excellent prayer! I was listening too, not just taking pictures)
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[Dennis M. Scott]

Mike's benediction was the best I've ever heard. I even accused him of not writing it! He promised to post it.

[Dennis M. Scott]

Another naznetter present was Melissa DeBono.

[Dave McClung]

I miss being the photographer at those events. Thanks for taking my place.

[David Troxler]

I miss being the photographer at those events. Thanks for taking my place.

You are missed as well. But Doug and Jeremy did a great job with photos, along with about several thousand other cameras and photographers.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Mike's prayer was the best I've ever heard. I even accused him of not writing it! He promised to post it.

Mike, I hope that you will post it. I could only hear parts of it...and that you prayed in the name of something weird..."Triune God" or something...don't you think that's kind of odd? The way you said it with authority was...well...almost like it was our first article of faith or something.

[David Troxler]

BTW- Jeremy, your post above makes us sound like we're the successors to the Flying Wallendas.

"And now, the amazing, really, REALLY tall....."

[Mike Schutz]

Mike's prayer was the best I've ever heard. I even accused him of not writing it! He promised to post it.

Define "write." ;)

[Mike Schutz]

Benediction offered at the Commencement of Eastern Nazarene College, May 15, 2010

Almighty God,

We are blessed to participate in your creation - where every ending promises a beginning.
Now is such a time. To those who are graduating today - Go now and may passion inspire you,
May injustice motivate you, May hope comfort you, May peace surround you, May love permeate you, May gratitude overwhelm you.*

And may the Spirit of Christ sanctify you.

God, deliver these graduates, and all of us,

from the cowardice that dare not face new truth, from the laziness that is contented with half truth. and from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth. **

And as these graduates go may they find the right questions to ask, may they give more than they have received, and may they know the depth of God’s love and grace, now and in the days to come.

Go now in peace. Embrace the Gospel of Christ, and Engage the world.

Live simply, gently, at home in yourselves and in God’s creation. *

Act justly., love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

May the kingdom of God be more evident because of the work you do.

May the Love of God that overcomes all differences, that heals all wounds, that puts to flight all fears, that reconciles all who are separated be in us and among us now and always. *

In the name of the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - Amen.



* Sections of the prayer marked with * were paraphrased from the benediction offered by Rev. Joanne Sanders, Stanford University, 2004
** From the Oxford Book of Prayer, #377. Oxford University Press, 1985.

[Mike Schutz]

My family at my daughter's graduation form ENC.
My daughter Carissa, my son Luke (just completed his freshman year) and my wife Esther.

[Mike Schutz]

My daughter Carissa with my friends Karl Giberson (with whom she worked as an intern at BioLogos, and is employed this summer) and Paul Nyce. Karl has been much discussed here on Naznet.