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Albin Egger-Lienz: Madonna (Mother and Child)
Madonna (Mother and Child), painting by Albin Egger-Lienz, c. 1922; in a private collection.
© Fine Art Images/Heritage Images—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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A Reflection from the University Chaplaincy
How can word
become flesh?
Belly. Bone.
Tongue—the feel
in the mouth a word
rolling around. Word,
not a kiss not the thing
itself—a name. The arch
of a foot. Your face
in my hands, just
a name. Blue sky lolling
beyond the window
frame—eyes open.
Just a way of looking.
Begin with a change.
“Conversion” by Marci Johnson, as found in Light upon Light,
compiled by Sarah Arthur, 2014, p. 18f
Dear Tufts Community,
This week many Christians mark the beginning of Advent, a month-long season in the liturgical calendar leading up to Christmas. While Advent (literally, “coming”) is meant to focus prayerful reflection on Christ’s second coming at the end of time, many believers tend to focus primarily on Christ’s first arrival as a baby at Bethlehem. The Gospel of John says, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (1:14). The poem above is a meditation on this divine event, known as the Incarnation. It names the particular flesh that Jesus became with details like “belly,” “arch of a foot,” and “Your face in my hands.” I imagine these words being thought by Mary, Jesus’ mother, as she cradles her newborn in her arms. She gazes upon her child, likely exhausted as a new mom, while also filled with wonder about this miraculous gift.
We too can look upon life's gifts with wonder, while also feeling exhausted by life's demands and challenges. We can slow down and notice the details of earthly existence we might easily take for granted. In the beauty of Nature, "Blue sky lolling beyond the window" as we take a break from our screens for a few moments, and in the beauty of our bodies—faces and foot arches and eyes open to one another in loving attention—the Divine becomes the mundane, and the mundane Divine, every second of every day. Our awareness of these things can make us more resilient as we weather our stresses and struggles.
What "divine details" are holding your gaze right now? How might you change your way of looking out onto the world to better catch sight of these daily miracles? I invite you to come see and hear these details expressed in a wonderful way tonight at Pax et Lux, as students representing our multifaith communities and diverse cultures at Tufts offer stories and performances that "incarnate" their traditions in a beautiful way. Join us!
Blessings,
Dan
The Reverend Daniel Bell
Protestant Chaplain
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Thank You for Supporting the Tufts Chaplaincy
Thanks to all alumni, faculty, staff, students, and parents who made a gift to the University Chaplaincy on Giving Tuesday! Through your generosity, we raised $6700 to support our distinct Chaplaincies as well as the University Chaplaincy's Music Program. Together, we are building a legacy of music, peace, and light at Tufts University.
With deep gratitude,
Elyse Nelson Winger
University Chaplain
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Pax et Lux: A Multifaith Winter Celebration
Wednesday, December 4th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at Goddard Chapel followed by a reception at Cabot Hall of Flags
The University Chaplaincy and Interfaith Ambassadors invite you to Pax et Lux! Translated from Latin, Pax et Lux means peace and light, and is a winter celebration honoring the multicultural and multifaith traditions of the Tufts community. We warmly welcome you for an evening of performances and stories from a variety of Tufts student organizations in the spirit of ushering in peace and light. This will be followed by a catered reception with a DJ. Contact chaplaincy@tufts.edu with any questions.
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MLK Student Voices Award: Accepting creative submissions now!
Tufts' annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration offers the Tufts community a time to participate in the ongoing university commitment to racial justice by honoring what we learn from the past, listening deeply to current voices of change, and celebrating a future of Beloved Community at Tufts and beyond. Each year, we invite student voices — through essays, poems, spoken word, songs, art, or performances — to be a part of our community celebration.
Interested undergraduates and graduate students are invited to submit creative responses here for this year's Student Voices Award as part of the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration coordinated by the Africana Center, Tisch College of Civic Life, and the University Chaplaincy for the 2025 Celebration, which will take place on January 30, 2025. We ask submitters to connect to the "Where Do We Go From Here" speech given by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967, and celebrate where the ethos expressed in his words is alive on our Tufts campuses. Submissions should focus on this specific quote:
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Where Do We Go From Here (1967)
For the 2025 Award, submissions should respond to one or more of these questions:
How does this quotation still apply or resonate with you today? What new interpretations would you make today?
What does it mean to you at this time of your life? Where does it show up for you at Tufts?
What is the relationship between power, love, and justice to you?
How does your medium represent the lack of love, power, and justice in the context of the quote?
Individual and group submissions are welcome. Submissions must be original work but can have been created for another class, activity, or contest. They can be essays, poems, songs, art, and performances; we will accept content in PDF, MP4, MOV, jpeg, and PNG.
A small committee will choose up to three winners based on organization, clarity, creativity, originality, and relationship to the 2025 guiding text. Winners will receive a cash prize and be invited to present at the Celebration on Thursday, January 30, 2025. Winning submissions will also be published on the Africana Center and the University Chaplaincy websites.
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Nominate a senior for the Wendell Phillips Award!
Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 PM on Monday, December 9th, 2024
Each year, one graduating senior is chosen to be the class speaker at Commencement, and the speech takes place during the Baccalaureate Ceremony. Established in 1896 and named for Wendell Phillips, the speech is intended to deliver a message to inspire the graduating class and all who are gathered to reflect on how a Tufts education, and specifically the experience of the graduating senior class, might help make the world a better place through constructive civic engagement.
Faculty, staff, and students may nominate seniors to apply to be the Wendell Phillips Speaker, and seniors may self-nominate. Nominees will be invited to apply by Monday, January 13, 2025 with a resume and a recorded speech. Applications are reviewed by the Committee on Student Life (CSL), who will invite finalists to audition at an open forum in March before selecting the winner. This award also carries a cash prize of $900. The University Chaplaincy hosts the final audition, and coordinates the speaker’s participation in the Baccalaureate Ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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Religious and Philosophical Events and Gatherings
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Our events and weekly gatherings are open to everyone in the Tufts community. You can find a calendar and descriptions of our regular events on our website. If you have an idea for a gathering or event, please contact the University Chaplaincy.
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Lunch and Learn with Chaplain Khan
Thursday, December 5th at 12:00 PM in the Interfaith Center Lounge
Our first Lunch and Learn is an opportunity for everyone who is interested to get to know Chaplain Khan and for him to get to know members of our community. Students can come with questions, for the sake of hunger (for knowledge or food), or fun conversation over lunch. This event is for graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff. There will be a similar event in the spring on the Boston Health Sciences campus to make it more convenient for our community members across the river. Email khan_asfandyar.shairani@tufts.edu with any questions.
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Christmas Comes Early: A Party!
Friday, December 6th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Interfaith Center
All are welcome to celebrate the Advent and Christmas seasons - a time of renewing a sense of hope and turning our hearts towards the coming of the Prince of Peace. Hosted by Asian Baptist Fellowship, Daily Flame, Catholic Community at Tufts, C. Stacey Woods Programming Board, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and Protestant Student Association. Join us for dinner, cookie decorating, wreath making, letter writing, and festive music! Email daniel.bell@tufts.edu with any questions.
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A Presentation of Medieval Christmas HymnsSunday, December 8th at 5:00 PM Catholic Mass and 7:00 PM Protestant Evening Worship, Goddard Chapel
Join the University Chaplaincy and Tisch Library Special Collections for one of two special services featuring Manuscript 27, a late 14th century Italian antiphonal, a huge choir book designed for the singing of monastic prayers - in this case, chants for the first Sunday of Advent through Epiphany. At the 5:00 PM Catholic Mass and the 7:00 PM Protestant Evening Worship, members of the Tufts community will sing selections from this antiphonal. Come learn about the origins of familiar Christmas hymns like "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and celebrate this beautiful musical tradition.
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| Partner and Community Programs
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CMHS Animal Assisted Therapy
Friday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 PM
CMHS now offers animal-assisted therapy as well as 15-minute petting sessions. Ellen Yang and Cooper Blue, her Australian Cobberdog (labradoodle), are a certified therapy dog team and are available for appointments at CMHS on Friday afternoons from 1:00-5:00 pm. The 15-minute petting sessions are for comfort and can help you relax and destress. 45-minute clinical appointments with the therapy dog team are also available. Please note that appointments with the therapy dog team cannot be scheduled online. Call CMHS at 617-627-3360 if you’d like to meet with Cooper and Ellen.
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Upcoming Religious Celebrations and Observances
To see more upcoming religious holidays and festivals, including information about seeking religious accommodations at Tufts, please follow the link to the Tufts Mulitfaith Calendar.
Advent
Ongoing through Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Period of four weeks in which Christians prepare for Christmas and meditate on the end of all time. In Western churches, the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year.
Bodhi Day
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Day of commemoration for the Buddha having achieved enlightenment.
Immaculate Conception
Sunday, December 8, 2024
A feast day that celebrates the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was born without sin.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Lady of Guadalupe Day commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary, Mexico’s patron saint, in Mexico City on December 12, 1531.
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Support the University Chaplaincy
Supporting programs at Tufts University in religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life is easy and vital to our work. To donate, please click on the button below. Thank you for your generosity.
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The University Chaplaincy is a dynamic hub supporting religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community. We provide spiritual care, support religious and philosophical communities, educate about spiritual and ethical issues in society and the world, and promote multifaith engagement.
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