Please join us and Professor Walter Wangerin Jr. as we celebrate his life's work. He has touched many of our lives in so many ways: as pastor, as professor, as author, as mentor, as theologian, as storyteller. Although his reach has been wide, much of his impact has been felt here at Valparaiso University where he joined the faculty in 1991 as the Emil and Elfriede Jochum University Chair. We wanted to take this opportunity to appreciate all that he has done.

Monday, September 3, through Sunday, September 9
The Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources will display an exhibition of Wangerin’s work.

Thursday, September 6
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.       
Christ College Symposium
Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources, Community Room

Noted pastor and author Eugene Peterson will lecture. Peterson and Wangerin have been long-time supporters of each other’s writing through the Chrysostom Society, a workshop of Christian writers, including Philip Yancey and Madeleine L’Engle. Peterson’s lecture, “What Are Writers Good For,” will address the importance of being faithful to language.

Sunday, September 9
10 a.m.
A Service of Holy Communion
Chapel of the Resurrection

Frederick A. Niedner, Professor of Theology, will preach. This service will inaugurate the Walter Wangerin, Jr., Preaching Series, an on going series that will bring notable clergy to campus.  It will also include a time of blessing and thanksgiving for Walt and his work.

2 - 3:30 p.m.
Music and Word: Performing the Work of Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Chapel of the Resurrection (Weather permitting. Alternate location is the Harre Union Ballroom.)

This capstone event to honor and celebrate Wangerin’s work will feature excerpts from his writing, and settings of his texts from musicals and oratorio. Sounds of Grace, the choir from Grace Lutheran Church in Evansville, Indiana, where Wangerin used to pastor, will reunite to close the event.  

3:30 p.m. (or immediately following performance)
Reception to Honor Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Harre Union, Ballrooms

Join us for hors d'oeuvres and cake as we honor Wangerin’s life and work.

All events are free and open to the public. We suggest parking in lot 14 behind the Harre Union or lot 20 behind the Christopher Center.

Registration deadline is August 17. To help us prepare accordingly, please REGISTER ONLINE NOW or contact Allison Schuette, Associate Professor of English, by phone 219-464-6885 or email Wangerin.Event@valpo.edu. Please be prepared to share your name, those of your guests, the events you will attend, and your contact information. 

Please consider joining us for one or more of these events to honor Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Allison Schuette / Associate Prof. of English / 219 A&S Building / Valparaiso University