Tyndale Chapel Podcast

Well, good morning, everyone. Happy New Year. Thank you. Happy New Year. Welcome to our first chapel in 2025 it is good to see you all again. Perhaps you've set some goals for 2025 maybe a new year resolution or two. Personally, I got to tell you, I don't make resolutions. But several years ago, I was inspired by chapter three in Malachi, where we read that a group of faithful people came together in a difficult time to create a scroll of remembrance. And Scripture tells us that the Lord listened and heard. It got me thinking, and since then, at the start of each year, I create a scroll of hope for myself, and at the end of the year I review it, and I convert it to a scroll of remembrance that summarizes the many ways that God has been faithful to me through the year that has just passed. For me it's good to enter a new year with hope, and it's good to end it with gratitude. So whatever your traditions or practices are at the start of this new year, I hope you come into it refreshed, renewed and restored in your body, your mind and your spirit. As always as part of our first chapel of this new semester, I want to take time to acknowledge the location of our university in relation to the indigenous peoples of this region. For thousands of years, the Greater Toronto Area has been the traditional land of the Huron Wendat, the Seneca and most recently, the Mississaugas of the credit River. It is part of the dish with one spoon territory, a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that committed them together to share the territory and protect the land. Other indigenous peoples and nations have subsequently entered this territory in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect. It is on these lands and in this spirit that Tyndale seeks to engage in its work.

We've just journeyed through the Advent season, and many of us probably reflected on the four candles that were lit during this annual pilgrimage to Christmas. Peace, hope, joy and love, followed by the Christ candle, which is typically lit either Christmas Eve or Christmas day, depending on the practice of your church tradition. The primary focus of Advent, of course, is to move us toward Christmas Day and the birth of Jesus. But if that is all it is, how sad for us and for our world, because the Advent season reminds us not only of the journey to Christ's birth, but that these same gifts, peace, hope, joy and love are available to each person every day because of Jesus, birth, life, death and resurrection. This is the life we are welcomed into as followers of Jesus. Last year, I used my chapel moments to speak about Tyndale's five values. They flow from our mission, and they frame around our strategic plan as a reminder, institutional values are not about the things we value, such as strong academics or employed graduates. Institutional values are statements about how we want to work together, the kind of community we want to foster, and what it feels like to be part of this community, because how we accomplish our mission is just as important as what we accomplish. So as a reminder, we have five institutional values, people, diversity, academics, faith and learning and stewardship. Over the course of last year, we looked at how all five of these come together in service to people and the extension of God's kingdom here at Tyndale, not one at the expense of another. They go hand in hand. They're grounded in Scripture. They align with our mission, and they provide a visual representation or understanding of what that looks like in action. When you review the values and strategic plan for yourselves, you will see as well that woven in and around through that is a focus on Christian hospitality. We've been talking about and working on that for a few years now, and this morning, I want to unpack it a bit further. But let's start with a scripture reading from First Timothy, chapter six, verses 11 to 21 these are Paul's closing words in this particular letter to his younger friend Timothy. So it's very personal to Timothy, and it remains highly relevant to us as well. At the beginning of chapter six, Paul instructs Timothy to teach the believers accurately and reliably to be true to his faith in Jesus and to avoid some of the common temptations, like wealth, power and conceit. After all of that, Paul gives these final words, beginning from verse 11 in chapter six. But you, Timothy, man of God, flee from all this. The this is the temptations I just mentioned, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, fight the good fight of the faith.

Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses, in the sight of God, who gives life to everything and of Christ, Jesus, who, while testifying before Pontius Pilate, made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time. God, the blessed and only ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to Him be honor and might for ever. Amen. command those who are rich in this present world, not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care, turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed, and in so doing, have departed from the faith. There are many important teachings in that passage of scripture. One of them is the challenge not only to believe, but to behave in ways that honor our belief in God and Jesus, to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share and to guard what has been entrusted to our care. It represents the so what of our faith in Christ, not just believing but living out that belief so that it is visible to others and will draw others to Christ. With this scripture in mind, let's come back to that concept of Christian hospitality. You're familiar with our mission statement. Tyndale is dedicated to the pursuit of truth, to excellence in teaching, learning and research, for the enriching of mind, heart and character to serve the church and the world for the glory of God. You're familiar with our value statements, and you're aware of our strategic priorities for this year. Grow and expand our academic offerings, grow and sustain enrollment, nurture holistic student development and enhance stewardship and accountability. So how do we take the concept of Christian hospitality and weave it into all that we do to fulfill our mission as a Christian university?

Here's a few examples of what we've been doing and where we're going. I'll start with the diversity and inclusion Advisory Council, also known as DIAC. DIAC was established in the spring of 2020 just a few months ahead of when I began my time here at Tyndale. Over the past five years, it has broadened its focus to more comprehensively consider hospitality, inclusion and welcome for everyone who engages with the Tyndale community. DIAC members have hosted conversations, made recommendations to me and to cabinet, they've invited guest speakers to campus, to name just a few examples. Their work and their guidance are moving us forward in understanding Christian hospitality. And then there's our academics. We have a long history and a partnership with NAIITS, an indigenous Christian theological learning community. As a partner with NAIITS Ambrose University and the Acadia Divinity School in the NAIITS led Lily grant, we are working to grow further in wisdom and understanding. We're exploring ways to walk well with our indigenous brothers and sisters in Christ and with each other as a whole, following some workshops on indigenous Appreciative Inquiry, a number of our managers have implemented this process in their own teams to identify strengths, build confidence and move forward in effective ways. Number of our faculty have incorporated the indigenous land acknowledgement and Indigenous ways of knowing into their courses and their programming. These are examples of Christian hospitality. And then there's the Tyndale intercultural Ministry Center. The Tim Center has been providing education, training and resources for several years to support congregations and Christian organizations outside of Tyndale, and they bring their expertise to us internally as well in many ways. Over the past few years, this has included opportunities to better understand our own intercultural awareness, helpful workshops for students and employees and a facilitated conversation with the Board of Governors. At the risk of oversimplifying in some ways, what the Tim center does is equip people to experience and extend Christian hospitality. And I want to make mention of our human resources team as well, because our HR team is constantly seeking ways to enhance the employee experience at Tyndale. That includes the obvious things we associate with HR, but more than that, HR includes focus on activities and recommendations that help to build and sustain a thriving, dynamic community.

The most recent example of Christian hospitality led by our HR team was our Christmas party last month, which included celebrating 26 staff and faculty who have achieved key milestones ranging from five to 25 years of service here at Tyndale. And sometimes all of these things come together. In May last year, DIAC HR the Tim Center and the Office of the Provost hosted a half day employee workshop using indigenous appreciative inquiry to identify key strengths, attributes and ways of working well together here at Tyndale, about 90 staff and faculty participated. The workshop resulted in numerous examples indicating when they have seen or felt Christian hospitality on campus. And after that, DIAC facilitated a similar discussion with first year undergraduate students and with the undergraduate student leaders to ensure the examples collected are also reflective of student experiences. And just last month, on December 18, 70 or 80 employees from across the university gathered for a second half day workshop, also facilitated by DIAC, where we took all of that work and used it to create an overall definition of Christian hospitality at and for Tyndale University. Here's the definition. At Tyndale University, we are focused on continuing a legacy where everyone who enters experiences connection and belonging through intentional collaboration, trust and care for each other, we celebrate a diverse community where all are seen, heard and valued. As Christ welcomes all, we emulate him in the way we practice hospitality. Many of you are hearing that for the first time this morning, so I'm going to read it once more. At Tyndale University we are focused on continuing a legacy where everyone who enters experiences connection and belonging through intentional collaboration, trust and care for each other. We celebrate a diverse community where all are seen, heard and valued. As Christ welcomes all we emulate him in the way we practice hospitality.

The next step in this process will be a series of department level breakout sessions, starting this month and going through to April, in which departmental teams will test this definition of Christian hospitality by providing examples of where they've seen it demonstrated in their own departments, and explore ways to move it forward. And then in May, we'll have another session with all of our staff and faculty who are able to attend to see how we can bring all those pieces together and establish a way forward. To me, as I go think about this process and the scripture we just read, I think it's an example of what Paul is talking about in those verses from First Timothy belief accompanied by behavior. It's also what Advent is about, receiving the peace, hope, joy and love offered by God through Jesus, and then extending it to others. Tyndale has a 130 year history of Christian higher education with a track record of extending hospitality through education. We haven't gotten it right every day. There are always things to improve, but that is part of our legacy, and our present and our alumni have continued to live that out all over the world. That's something to be celebrated, but what was and is also benefits from being refreshed and reframed for the times we're in now and for our future, so that it remains intentional, relevant and active, rather than simply historical, assumed and passive. And that is what our definition of a culture of Christian hospitality at Tyndale is about continuing a legacy through intentional collaboration, trust and care, emulating Christ in the way we practice hospitality. I'm tremendously grateful for the leadership that our employees and students have taken on this initiative, and for everyone who's participated in any or all of the conversations that have taken place, because this definition of Christian hospitality comes from our community, and for our community, the question now for us, just as it was for Timothy, Is the so what? What will we do with this? How will we take this definition and ideal of Christian hospitality and live it out so that it is embedded in a culture of Christian hospitality that emulates Christ's welcome to every person.

We're at the beginning of a new year with the 11 and a half months ahead of us. What will be different this time next year at Tyndale because of what we do in the months ahead? What might be different for the person you're sitting beside today? What might be different for you on a personal level. Let me bring you to the first chapter of James, verses 22 to 25 do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at their face in a mirror, and after looking at themselves, goes away and immediately forgets what they look like, but whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they Do, as I said at the beginning, how we accomplish our mission is just as important as what we actually achieve. We've just celebrated Christmas, the season of come and see, and in a few months, we will transition to Easter and the resurrection, which calls us to go and tell. The lessons of Advent, invite us to receive the peace, hope, joy and love offered by God through Jesus and to extend it to others. This is the life we are welcomed into as followers of Jesus. God bless you.

As we conclude our chapel this afternoon, let's pray together. God, the new calendar has turned back on January 1 many of us resolve to do something different this year. Lose weight, exercise more, reduce waste, take public transit instead of driving, get better grades, avoid procrastination, spend less, pray more, stay off Instagram. We resolve to be kinder and calmer, attentive and patient, careful and gracious. Some of us even had a world, the world on our mind. We hoped that 2025 would be different than 2024 less conflict, More health, less poverty, more compassion, less slavery, more freedom, less degradation, more Shalom. And yet, God, here we are, 14 days later, and for many of us, our resolutions have been broken like shattered glass at our feet, sharp pieces, dangerous fragments. We can't even decide where our next step is alone, where our feet may land. In this world, the City of Angels continues to burn, Parliament Hill persists in turmoil between resignations pending non confidence in a likely spring election. Our neighbors to the south talk about tariffs at a new state and around the world, unrest ravages the confidence of the people represented by Jerusalem, Damascus, Beijing, Kyiv and Khartoum, and suffocating pain and grief sucks the life breath out of our families, friends, compatriots, fellow humans, between lymphoma discoveries and norovirus threats, recent bipolar diagnoses and razor cut scars, destabilizing notices and cautious changes, alienated relationships and lives lost in the sky god, resolutions aren't enough, are they? It turns out that we aren't as self sufficient as we thought. Our best authentic selves come up short. We can't do any of this stuff by ourselves. We need you. We long for you. We desire abiding intimacy with your son. We yearn for healing. We cry for peace. We ache for justice. We pray for those who hurt. It's moments like these, God our Father, our comforter, our protector, when we're together in this community, praying, singing, listening, breathing, each dependent on the other for each expressions of gifts and the sharing of talents that we are reminded so keenly and acutely that you are here, you are sovereign, you are faithful, you are loving, you are king, where resolutions both political and personal, fail, you invite us with whisper into practices of beholding you through, conversing, meditating, adoring, journaling, retreating, resisting, quieting and examining we behold your beauty, your peace, your Majesty, your shalom, your peace, hope, joy, love. God this month, as the old scribbles and torn pages of the former calendar turn to the new ones in the remind remainder of these 365 days spread before us, with all their flurry and busyness of potentiality, promise and possibilities. May this still moment that we are in right now cement in us that you are here, if we but strain to hear your voice in the din and in hearing you and then loving your way, your truth and your life. God, May this year be the one when we follow the murmur into a symphony of flourishing. May this year be the one that changes our spirits from following the one of the aged to you the Holy One himself. May this be the year when healing spills, when peace releases, when Justice resounds, when love breaks through. May this be the year when our will is transformed by your love. May this be a year of breakthroughs, discoveries and grace, grace upon grace upon grace, and on our feet or on our knees, on our faces as we approach you. Thank you for meeting us, for chasing after us, for gathering us up into your arms of love, for restoring us for your peace, for this time, God for this place. God, it's 2025, yes, just another year. But God, by you and through you, may we see these days through your eyes and rejoice. And now hear these good words, friends to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master. Be glory, majesty, strength. And rule before all time and now and to the end of all time. Yes, Amen. Go in peace.