Faith In the Freshman » event

CUW Helps “Feed My Starving Children”

Patrick Ferry — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:22:41 +0000

A few weeks ago Andrew and his Cornell teammates helped with a “Feed My Starving Children” event in Ithaca at Trinity Lutheran Church (where my seminary classmate and basketball teammate, Rob Foote, is pastor). This weekend was Concordia’s turn to help provide nutritional meals for hungry people around the world. The event was an amazing success. We hosted 1,363 volunteers who filled 1,516 boxes. That translates to 327,456 meals already on the way to children who need the food. Now those are some nice stats! See the Fox News story here.

Luther Lands and Wondering Where Luther would Land

Patrick Ferry — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:25:52 +0000

Every ten years the quaint village of Oberammergau, Germany, becomes the destination for Christian pilgrims from around the globe. The performance of the Passion Play is the attraction and today Tammy and I travel with a group of Concordia’s friends to attend.Like any good Lutheran group, while we are in Germany we will visit the Luther historic sites, too. I’ll have the opportunity to provide a little color commentary as I draw upon my doctoral research in Reformation history. The chance to retrace where Martin Luther lived and served, and to reflect upon all that he did and wrote is a treat for a Luther scholar, and I hope our group of mainly Lutherans will find it interesting and enjoyable, too.

Our visit to the “Luther Lands” also got me wondering about where Luther would land if he could extricate himself from history and step into the present. What would Martin Luther think of the Lutheran Church in our time and place? Lutherans of generations past have speculated upon this question. Soon after his death the so-called “gnesio” or “genuine” Lutherans pitted themselves against those who they felt had compromised Martin’s theology and practice.

What do you think? What would Martin Luther make of contemporary Lutheranism? Or, more broadly, what would Luther make of the state of the Christian church more than 4 1/2 centuries after his death? What does it mean to be “genuinely” Lutheran? What difference does it make?

In Faith in the Freshman I mention my first interaction with Martin Luther through my reading of Roland Bainton’s biography, Here I Stand. That was the impetus not only for my future scholarly work but also for my more in-depth faith exploration. In the end it leads me back to where this little reflection started — our Lord’s passion, the living, the dying and rising, of Jesus Christ. Luther’s understanding of Christian faith has been formative for me. To be genuinely Lutheran is not only to be Christ-centered, but to begin and end with Jesus Christ and his saving work.

Waukesha Rotary Book Event

Patrick Ferry — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:04 +0000

Readers of Faith in the Freshman will recognize the characters Billie and Lefty. I took Lefty along to a book event I had this week at the Waukesha Rotary. My dad (Lefty) enjoyed the book (for those of you who might have wondered). He also loved hearing me talk about it to the Rotarians.

But best of all, he liked the Model A that the writer below drove to the meeting.

You spoke at the Waukesha Rotary Club on July 26th. I met your Father “Lefty” who was thrilled to see my 31 Ford Model A. Reading about Andrew in your book brought back memories of when I was first dianosed with Type 1 Diabetes 50 years ago. Same symptoms and rationalization. I was taking a physical for flight training in Goose Bay, Labrador. Needless to say I didn’t get to become a pilot which probably saved my life. (Vietnam!) I have a Grandson who is a gym rat at Carroll University and he also conducts basketball camps for girls and boys, . Your talk at Rotary was very inspirational and well received by members I talked to. Keep up the great effort for JDRF. Over $3,000 went to JDRF as gifts for our 50th wedding anniversay. Thank you many times over for what you do! God Bless, Marty Jannsen

Father-of-the-Bride in 48 Hours

Patrick Ferry — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:29:44 +0000

I am not the first father to give his daughter’s hand in marriage. I am not even the first to preach the sermon at his daughter’s wedding. But, this is the first time for me. Will I make it through the message?

More than a few people have told me that it is not easy. The emotion flares suddenly and all at once tears fill the eyes and a lump clogs the throat. I even got a little weepy as I wrote the sermon a few days ago.

I have a few things going for me to make my job easier. First, Hannah is marrying an awesome young man, Zach Meineke. They met their freshman year at Concordia Nebraska (I tell you, that freshman year can be a transformational one in lots of ways — read the book!) They are great for each other and happy together.

Second, and more important, I am preaching about Jesus. I am preaching for the two of them but not about the two of them. The focus, as in all of Christian worship, is on Christ.

That may not prevent my mind from wandering back and forth a little bit. I’ll think back on when Hannah was a precious little girl, and I’ll stand in amazement at what a wonderful young woman she is now. God has blessed our family with the gift of an incredible kid — Hannah Ruth Ferry, soon-to-be-Meineke.

Already a few tears are moistening at the corners of my eyes. Will I make it through? Let’s take a poll — who thinks I’ll get through the sermon without crying like a baby, and who thinks I’ll fall apart? Also, I am open to advice from folks who have been there before. Any suggestions for a first-time father-of-the-bride?

Patrick Ferry at Next Chapter Bookstore (Feb 2, 2010)

Patrick Ferry — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:50:45 +0000

I recently had the privilege of visiting Next Chapter Bookstore. They put the event up on their YouTube channel and I have embedded it below. It has been separated into parts click the Read More link for the rest.~Pat

Part 2…

Part 3…

Finally, Part 4…

Little Read Book

Patrick Ferry — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:47:02 +0000

The Little Read Book Store is in the heart of Wauwatosa Village. As a Tosa resident, I often run or ride my bike along the path near the center of the village and adjacent to the book store. On Sunday, December 6, the afternoon was sunny and warm enough to be outside — especially since the Packers weren’t playing until Monday night. Instead we were indoors where friends and neighbors gathered to hear a few excerpts from the book and hear some stories. Here are a few photos from the event.

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“Meet the Author” this Weekend

lynne.schroeder — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:07:32 +0000

If you live in or around the Milwaukee area, you’re invited to “meet” the author in three different ways this weekend:

Listen to “Lake Effect” on WUWM tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (or 11 p.m.) There will be a link to the interview after it airs.
Visit with him on Saturday, December 5 at 1 p.m. at Books and Company, 1029 Summit Ave., Oconomowoc.
Visit with him on Sunday, December 6 at 2 p.m. at Little Read Book Store, 7603 W. State St., Wauwatosa.

Meet the Author – Nov. 2009

Patrick Ferry — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:00:05 +0000

Here are a few photos from the recent book signing at Concordia. I wore my red Chuck Taylor Converse basketball shoes in honor of the event.

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In case you missed it, there are two more opportunities to attend readings and signings in December — December 5 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Books & Company in Oconomowoc and December 6 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Little Read Books in Wauwatosa.

Pick up Faith in the Freshman for someone on your Christmas list!

Official Book Launch at Concordia University Wisconsin

Patrick Ferry — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:28:19 +0000

Faith in the Freshman Cover

I’d certainly love to see you at the Thursday, November 19th “Launch” of “Faith in the Freshman” at Concordia’s Todd Wehr Auditorium. Join me from 7-9 p.m. for some storytelling, refreshments, and friendly conversation. Here is a chance to get a little Christmas shopping done early! Copies of this story of hopes and hoops will be on sale, and I will happily sign one for you or your gift recipient. We can even gift wrap one, if you like! Join us!

Click here for a map to the event.