Photo blogging Call Day

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Right off the top I have to confess the photos did not come out all that well in large part because it was difficult to do in low light without flash and also because there were so many people packed into the chapel, my elbow was bumped a lot. But, so be it.

I left home at 2:45 for the 4 o'clock vicarage service and arrived on campus at 3:10. I was pretty pleased with myself for being so early, ha. I was in for a big surprise...the chapel was already packed to the rafters with families. One of the ushers told me many folks began arriving at 1:30 in order to claim a seat and just stayed in place, some having brought reading material to pass the time, others catching up on family news. Actually by the time the vicarage service began not only was the chapel filled, and it is a large chapel, the large entry narthex had folding chairs set up on every square foot, but they opened up the video room in the basement for overflow crowds to watch via monitors. That doesn't count the many who found standing space along walls and doorways. Unbelievable, really.

Here is the scene on the outside of the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus as I walked up. I thought to myself, "hmmm, lots of people outside, but not too bad, I'll bet there are still lots of seats inside."

I squeezed inside and immediately realized I was wrong about there being seats. The narthex was already on its way to being filled and the inside, well, it was completely filled except for the right side of the chapel. Three fourths of the pews on that side were empty, but they were reserved for the vicar candidates of which there were 177. 177! So I went up to the choir loft and took a picture.

This service was followed by a dinner for the district presidents and their wives who were in attendance. This turned out very nice, Wartburg Hall is a fabulous space and the food was beautifully prepared and served as a buffet.

But dinner was fairly quick as everyone had to be back at the chapel for the 7 o'clock service in which the fourth year men would be presented with their first calls. They were called to the front of the chapel individually and the name and place of their first parish was announced. This picture, with the candidates head moving to protect his identity (heh, not really) gives somewhat of an idea of the protocol. After receiving their call documents, each candidate moves down a short line to shake hands with some of the seminary and synodical clergy. 107 received calls. This particular young man will be heading to Arizona.

When the service ends, those involved in the service recess out in this order: The crucifer, the clergy involved in leading the service, the seminary faculty, the district presidents, and then the fourth year student-candidates. When the last hymn is finished, those in attendance make their way out. What a great day. Glorious.