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Scholar of the Gospel of John to Speak at LRU

Gail O’Day

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Institute for Faith and Learning is pleased to welcome Gail O’Day to speak on “Friendship and the Gospel of John: Love as Christian Practice.” O’Day will be speaking in the Belk Centrum on campus at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. The event is free and open to the public.

O’Day is Dean and Professor of New Testament and Preaching at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. She is a graduate of Brown University, earned a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a doctorate in New Testament from Emory. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.

O’Day taught in the religion department at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, for a year before becoming assistant professor of New Testament at Eden Theological Seminary, a United Church of Christ seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1983.

She joined the Candler School of Theology faculty as assistant professor of biblical preaching in 1987, and was appointed the A.H. Shatford Professor of New Testament and Preaching in 1997. She was Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs, the chief academic officer for the School of Theology, from 2003 until her appointment to Wake Forest in 2010.

Her scholarly research focuses on the Gospel of John, the Bible and preaching, and the history of biblical interpretation. She has written a number of books and articles, including the commentary on the Gospel of John in The New Interpreters Bible (1996) and most recently, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: A Guide (Abingdon Press, 2007). She is editor or co-editor of several volumes, including the Oxford Access Bible (Oxford University Press, 1999) and the Theological Bible Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009). She was editor of the Journal of Biblical Literature from 1999-2006 and is currently General Editor of the Society of Biblical Literature book series, Early Christianity and its Literature.

O’Day’s presentation will focus on the friendship aspects of the Gospel of John. Friendship is a pivotal social and theological category in the Gospel of John, defining Jesus’ relationship to his followers and his followers’ relationship to one another. To read the Gospel of John through the lens of friendship positions God’s love made tangible in the incarnation at the center of the theological conversation. Friendship also becomes the way Christians can live out God’s love in the world.

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Winning Play to Hit LRU Stage

Standing – Katelyn Crawford

Sitting – Cody Watson and Leah Staton

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Playmakers will present David Auburn’s play “Proof” February 23-27 in the P. E. Monroe Auditorium on campus.

Directed by Mia Self, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning drama shows a legacy of madness, a mysterious proof and the hope of love.

The story revolves around Catherine, a troubled young woman who has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father Robert, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father's who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father's madness—or genius—will she inherit? 


LRU senior theatre major Katelyn Crawford is playing the role of Catherine and Leah Staton, senior English education major, is in the role of her estranged sister Claire. Cody Watson, a junior theater major, plays the character Hal while Brendan Chaney, a senior internal relations major, fills the role of Catherine’s father, Robert.

The upcoming production of “Proof” will be presented on Wednesday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2:30 pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, children and non-LR students, and free for L-R students with ID. For additional information and to make reservations, call 828-328-PLAY or go to www.theatre.lr.edu. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Service to Others at the Forefront for Community Service Award Recipients

Front: Jonathan Shelton, Holly Baldwin, Belinda Ear and Beth Brandes

  Back: Charles Snipes, Rich Duncan, Mitchell Gold, Irving Perez

and Dr. Wayne Powell

Lenoir-Rhyne University recently presented its annual Community Service Awards to recognize volunteer service to others.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Board of Trustees recognized community members Beth Harris Brandes and Mitchell Gold. On-campus recipients were Rich Duncan, LRU Executive Director of Development, faculty/staff winner; Circle K, student organization winner; and Belinda Ear, student winner.

The LRU Board of Trustees started the Community Service Awards in 1998. The Board’s Committee for Honors and Awards, consisting of trustees and faculty, collects the nominations and recommends candidates for the Board’s approval. The awards are given to those who have contributed significant philanthropic or volunteer service to their communities and whose lives are exemplary role models to the college community as it educates students for leadership and service.

Accomplished Poet is Next Visiting Writer in LRU Series

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Writers Series continues on Thursday, February 24, with An Evening with Kevin Young. Young will speak at 7:00 pm in the Belk Centrum on campus. Young will be joined on-stage by nationally recognized jazz and experimental musicians.

Young will be joined on stage by a trio of musicians that will perform a series of improvisations for electronic and acoustic wind instruments, drums and keyboard. The musicians include L-R faculty Dr. John Cheek and Professor Rick Cline. Flutist, multi-instrumentalist David Wechsler, will join them.

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Writers Series is free to the public thanks to the support of sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Our State, Catawba Valley Community Foundation, Hickory Public Library, United Arts Council of Catawba County, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Crowne Plaza hotel of Hickory, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home, and WFAE 90.7 FM, Your NPR News Source.

For more information about the Visiting Writers Series at Lenoir-Rhyne University, go to http://visitingwriters.lr.edu or call 828-328-7077

“What comes to mind when they hear the word “valentine”?”

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers, and other presents are exchanged between loved ones. Last year 807,365,823,885 Valentines Day cards were sold in the US alone. Everyone has a different opinion on what Valentines Day means to them. I interviewed 4 students at Lenoir-Rhyne asking them: “What comes to mind when they hear the word “valentine”?”

I think of roses, hearts, the colors red and pink, love everywhere and a closeness with everyone, even if it's just for that one day. You realize how much you love everyone that you have in your life, and you make sure to tell them. – Brianne Mai

I think of romance and honestly, roses. I think of cheesy Hallmark cards and boxes of chocolates that are half-eaten because I only like certain ones. I think of spending time with someone you love, whether it’s a boyfriend or a best friend. I think Valentines Day can be special no matter who you are spending it with! - Rachel Arrington

Getting flowers chocolate and doing something romantic for that special someone in your life. – Buddy Hutchinson

If you’re single it’s the most annoying day of the year and if you’re in a relationship it’s a day you have to make sure you do everything right! – Tyler Brown

Whether you are hanging out with friends, or going out with your loved one try to make the day as special for yourself as possible.
Happy Valentines Day!

Places to go. Food to eat. Ideas for the perfect Valentine’s outing.

On Valentine’s day many people plan romantic outings with friends or their significant other. Luckily, Hickory is full of restaurants of multiple varieties and various price ranges.

For the person looking for a low priced and quick, yet enjoyable dinner close to campus, one should take trip to Naganos Japanese Restaurant. This offers a nice and casual dining experience that anyone would enjoy. Another well priced option, Applebee’s, which offers the popular two for $20 deal. This includes an appetizer to share and two entrees out of a choice of six, ranging from salads and pasta to chicken and ribs. A variety of options at a good price is always a good choice. Good priced pizza options with a great atmosphere also are available at one of Hickory’s newest restaurant addition, Mellow Mushroom. With assorted types of pizza on the menu, there is bound to be a satisfying choice for anyone.

When looking for a fancier restaurant for a Valentine’s date there’s many to choose from as well. Steakhouses in the area include Outback, Longhorn and Texas Roadhouse, all located within ten minutes of campus. For a unique dining experience, there is Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. This gives you the opportunity to watch the food being made in front of your table. Kobe also offers a two for $29 deal after nine o’clock everyday of the week. For Italian there are the classic choices of Olive Garden and Carrabbas, as well as the local choice of Davinci’s. With generally well priced options, as well as more expensive items on the menu, it is almost impossible to go wrong with an Italian restaurant.

To make sure your Valentine’s is not spent waiting in line for a table at the perfect restaurant, it is always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation, or go early to ensure a short wait time.