Fall Issue 3
I love a good blanket. - Rachel Hart
Click here to download a PDF of this issue, along with this week’s Greensheet
We here at the Et Cetera love being able to serve the Regent community with this mixed collection of our thoughts, jokes, ideas, and viewpoints; a place where we can make our voices heard if we feel the need and hopefully to love the world through our writing.
Because we love doing this, I—which is to say, Steven the senior editor—have begun to feel that the name “Et Cetera” doesn’t do a great job of conveying this, and wouldn’t mind having a name for the student paper that better reflected our vision as stated above. I don’t want change for the sake of change, but rather change that lets us think a little clearer about what we’re doing. Because equally, I don’t want to keep something just because we’re not willing to imagine something new. So with all respect to the remarkable Pete Santucci, the editor who turned “The Page” into “The Et Cetera” 25 years ago (check out the last issue of Winter term back in April for the story), I’d like to see if the community has any ideas for what a new name could be.
For all I know, quite a lot of people will hate any option that isn’t the name we’re now familiar with. And if that ends up being the case—fine, it won’t change. But from what I’ve heard, it sounds like enough of you are willing to find out what ideas there might be. So consider the suggestion box open! Send ideas and opinions on this topic to etcetera@regent-college.edu and let’s see where the discussion goes...
New Perspectives on Regent
By Isabel Schulthess
May 2018: “My name is Regula Winzeler and I am a junior high teacher from Edmonton, Alberta. I am looking for a room to rent in or near Vancouver, BC from Sept. 2018- May 2019 while I attend Regent College (located on the UBC campus) to complete the ‘Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies’…”
This was the beginning of an ad which appeared in the Swiss Review (a publication for Swiss citizens living abroad) over two years ago. My husband Heinz and I looked at each other. Did this sound like something we would be interested in? We are experienced homestay parents, having had homestay students on and off for the last 26 years, starting with the children of our friends from Switzerland, later their cousins, friends, etc.
Heinz and I are not the spontaneous types, in true Swiss fashion we think things through – very thoroughly. And there were some doubts: this was a complete stranger and studying Christian Studies, my goodness! Was this some religious fanatic who was going to try to convert us to the Christian faith? We are non-Christians but very tolerant towards people of any faith. Would this work? Throwing all caution to the wind we sent an email back the same day. A phone call and an email from Regula telling us about herself, including pictures, put any concerns to rest. And then she arrived, and she fit right in. Our common Swiss background and her flexible attitude made sure of that.
Her plan was to get the Diploma in Christian Studies in one year and then maybe go back to teaching. Slowly we got introduced to Regent College. And we were in for a surprise! Not knowing much about it, we imagined an old stuffy building where unapproachable professors lectured about obscure Christian subjects and where everyone graduating became an obsessed pastor/minister. So we were fascinated to hear about the diversity of students, their different backgrounds and reasons for studying there. We even got to know some of them and heard about others: the poets (with or without typewriter), the talented photographer, the coffee shop owner, the former triathlete, etc. And we were delighted to hear about the spirit of friendship and community which were cultivated just as much as the high academic standards. Professors were actually approachable, even invited students for dinner!
The first year with Regula went by quickly. Along the way we met her Swiss family and friends from Alberta who all came to stay with us for a few days. We had interesting discussions with Regula about what it meant to be half Swiss and half Canadian, about religion and God of course, about the difference between belief and facts and everything else under the sun. I was fascinated by some of the subjects which came up in Regula’s courses: I learnt to sing the Greek alphabet (didn’t get as far as the Hebrew one though), about the different Bible translation issues and my favourite, the Church of the East.
To our delight Regula decided to continue her studies for another year and so we got to keep her– yeah! A new challenge waited: she became president of the student council - how exciting! We heard about totally new issues, problems and initiatives she was dealing with, always with optimism and enthusiasm. And the saga continues: Regula will be staying a third year to finish her Masters of Arts in Theological Studies. It all started with a small ad and it became a huge success story.
Note from Regula:
Although this isn’t news to many of you, my time living with Heinz and Isabel has been such a gift to me as well. I remember the day I pulled up at their home, with a car jam-packed with all my belongings, meeting strangers who had agreed to take me in. None of us could have predicted then what was to come but the following two years of living together have been one of the most wonderful parts of my time in Vancouver thus far. This past month I moved into a community house but leaving the people who have become family to me, who have consistently encouraged and generously supported me, has been very bittersweet. Although I’m excited for this new chapter, I am so thankful to continue to have Heinz and Isabel in my life and look forward to many more dynamic conversations and collaborative crossword solving when I go ‘home’ to visit for Sunday night dinners.
Dear Crabby
Dear Crabby,
How can I help my roommate remember to mute themselves on Zoom while I’m making tea?
Dear Vicarious Voices in Vancouver,
I would recommend you keep a list of things your roommate has said about the professor in your notebook. The next time your roommate leaves their microphone on, try asking loudly if this is what they meant when they said, “Professor So-And-So does Such-and-Such that I hate.” You may find that this not only mutes your roommate in Zoom, but also will mute them toward you in real life - which may be an added bonus of your endeavours.
Crustaceously yours,
Crabby
One
By Claire Perini
At this point in the term, it can feel like we would all do well to slow the pace down a little. So, I offer you a series of ‘ones’ … not one more thing to do, but an invitation to reorient yourself and offer yourself grace in what you are already doing! I have written this with our incredibly brave incoming students in mind while also hoping it serves as a timely reminder to our returning students, too.
Hold onto one thing about God that you know experientially to be true.
As you embark on the adventure of theological study, you will learn all sorts of new things. At the same time, some of the things you thought you knew (about God, about Scripture, about the church) will be nuanced differently or expanded in fresh ways. This can feel really exciting and sometimes a little disorienting. So, as your heart and mind are expanded, I encourage you to hold on to one thing about who God is that you know experientially to be true. Maybe it is that God provides, or that God heals, or that God is present. Whatever it is, hold onto that one thing as you learn lots of other things.
Make one friend first.
Regent attracts great people – you being one of them! Knowing there are lots of interesting people to connect with can feel energising for some and overwhelming for others. Some of us will feel like there are so many great people to meet that we don’t know where to begin. Others will feel like we aren’t sure we want to begin new friendships at all. Whether introverted or extroverted, I encourage you to make one friend first. I assure you, you won’t end up with one friend by the time you finish at Regent, but start with one.
Take one person with you.
As your mind and heart are expanded, it can feel hard to share with your friends and family what you are learning. At times, it can feel like the gap between who you were before coming to Regent and who you feel like you are becoming is widening. So, I encourage you to take at least one person with you on your journey at Regent. Share with them what ideas excite you and what concepts trouble you. Share the questions that are being answered or the questions that are being generated. Take one trusted friend, a mentor or a family member with you.
Do one thing that you used to do, which is life-giving for you.
When you start something new, it can feel all-consuming and might mean that we forget to do the things that we love to do. You might love going for a run, or playing the piano, or taking photographs, or cooking, or going for brunch. Whatever it is, as you settle into a new rhythm of study, I encourage you to do one thing that you used to do before starting at Regent which is life-giving for you.
Engage in one opportunity at Regent, beyond your class.
Life at Regent can feel full, and some weeks it will feel like it takes all that you have in you to make it to class, to do your readings and complete your assignments. However, your student experience is broader than just your class and will be enriched by coming to a Chapel, participating in a pod or a trio, joining a ‘Together at Midday’ session, livestreaming a book launch, or praying with someone after Chapel. Participate in one opportunity outside the classroom this term; your Regent experience will be richer for doing so.
Pat Guthrie’s Famous Scones
Editor’s note—You’ve probably heard rumours by now of baked goods that make their way into the hearts and stomachs of the Regent community, especially in George Guthrie’s classes. If you’re lucky enough, you’ve even gotten to sample one or two of them. The baking comes courtesy of George’s wonderful wife Pat, and of all her baking, it’s the scones that are most beloved. Ever wonder how she does it? Wonder no more! She’s generous enough to share the recipe so you can try making them yourself. And if they don’t come out quite right, feel free to ask her what her secret is.
• 2 cups all purpose flower (plus extra for dusting board)
• 1 tbs baking powder
• 2 tbs sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 tbs butter, softened (85 grams)
• 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips and dried cranberries, or currants, etc)
• 3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk
• Demerara sugar (for sprinkling on top)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients (except Demerara sugar) in large bowl. Stir well.
Cut in butter with your hands or pastry blender.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Stir in buttermilk. Mix to combine with as few strokes as possible to avoid tough scones.
Turn out on floured board and press into a disk about 1 inch thick. Sprinkle top with Demerara sugar.
Cut into 6 or 8 pie-shaped wedges.
Place on ungreased baking tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden on top.
Remove from oven and cool on tray or cooling rack.
** These can be baked plain and served with clotted cream and jam. Oh my!
Maranatha
By Amos Bohoussou
I wish that Death was dead. Then my mind would be at peace when I go to bed. But I got to trust the Living Bread. And wait for the day the Groom and His bride to be wed. By this hope my soul is fed, but with sin, evil, disease and death I am fed up. I'm angry. I just might blow up. Can't contain it. Emotionally imbalanced from within. Can't hold it in. Arrgh! / When will this suffering end! This stupid virus took the life of a family friend. To his funeral I couldn't attend. Speak tender words, give hugs to his wife, five kids, a sixth on the way and hope their hearts will mend. / I wish God would take this reality, produce a miraculous healing and make it bend. Do something impossible that we can't comprehend. Yet Jesus said that those who mourn are blessed, for they'll be comfor-ted. / These words are true. They don't come out of the blue. Because the Spirit in us is walking with us in the suffering we're going through. / Puzzled, shocked - don't know what to do. Powerless, weak - we are forced to be dependent on you.
Yeah...what else can we do? But look up and cry out to you? Maranatha.
In memory of Désiré Buna Ivara 1969-2020