Mark Calhoun

Back at it...

...school that is. It's hard to believe that weeks one and two are already in the history book. With only 13 weeks of class this semester, that means only 11 to go. It was great to get back and see a number of familiar faces as well as a bunch of new ones. Week one started out fairly strong with our annual remembrance pilgrimage to Minsky's. Each year, since our first year we have kicked things off at a local pizza place called Minsky's. Years two, three, and now four have all started out with pizza and a red beer to commemorate and remember our good friend Mark Griffith, as well as dedicate our semester and year in his image. This has historically been our biggest outing of the year, and this time was no exception. Mark, we miss you, we love you, and we are with you just as you are with us. You are on our minds as we enter into our final year of seminary...

Class of 1986!

Lander Valley High School Reunion ~ Class of 1986...

Ahhh... music to my ears. I have been eagerly anticipating word on this Hootin' Annie for months...Other than the fact that "they" (the mean people) demolished our most sacred space, I can almost smell the halls of the building previously known as "our" High School. I did sneak by last summer, while we were in town, to snag a brick or two. Without a doubt I can nearly smell and taste cheesewheels, breadboard sandwiches, and Tony's Pizza from our abode here in the prairie. I can't wait to hear from you all, see all of you...and get a familiar clear view of the mountains which, by the way, we have no view of from here in Kansas.  :-)

For the low-down on this historic event click here for a word document...

Download class_of_1986.doc

Or here for a PDF.

Download class_of_1986_address.pdf

Mark Griffith II

August 29th ~ Mixed Emotions...

I have eagerly anticipated, as well as feared, the first day of school for the last few months of the summer. I looked forward, with a high level of excitement, to my return to Saint Paul. I looked forward to returning to the academic work, to seeing the friends that I made last year, and especially to return to the community environment that exists, at Saint Paul, between the students, faculty , and staff. The part that I dreaded was returning to Saint Paul knowing that our friend Mark would not be with us. As we all returned it was very clear that Mark's presence would not be forgotten or overlooked. I had a few great conversations with people about Mark, we took time to remember him in chapel, and his name came up several times at the beginning of the classes that many of us were to share with Mark. Monday night 15 of made a pilgrimage to Minsky's for pizza, community time, and to remember Mark. As the night rolled on we celebrated a toast, a prayer, and shared a few memories of our times with Mark. After dinner we trekked to a little Gelato shop in Westport for some desert.  I guess for me our pilgrimage was a crucial part of the grieving process. As expected it was rough not having Mark around for the first week of school, but it meant a lot to see that Mark was not forgotten and that our memories of him were alive and well. Though Mark is not with us physically his presence among us continues to be felt.

Mark, we miss you and we will not forget you!!! We continue to pray for Linda and for your family and friends as they navigate through this time of grief...

Mark Griffith

Yesterday around 3 o'clock my friend Mark Griffith passed away as a result of complications he experienced following a surgery that he had a couple of weeks ago. Mark and I shared many things in common.   We would often re-live our related story about being rejected from a certain Methodist school in Southeast Kansas :-) and then moving on to gain a fresh perspective on the world through the lenses of the Mennonite schools that we attended. It was after we completed our undergraduate degrees that we met at Saint Paul School of Theology. Beyond sharing a passion for God, all people, and a desire to push theology and the practice of ministry we also shared a newly gained respect and passion for Gelato... We got lost one night while stalking churches in Westport and stumbled upon a Gelato shop at 45th and StateLine. Needless to say we made several return pilgrimages. I enjoyed our meals at Minsky's, talking theology, our time in class, our time studying, and especially our time in late-night Lectio and Compline prayer. In our short time together Mark taught me a great deal about the unconditional love of God. Today, my friend, while we begin to grieve your passing and celebrate your life, you dine at the heavenly banquet that we all yearn for. Today, all of your questions have been answered. I love you and I will miss you...

Please keep Linda (Mark's wife) and Mark's family in your prayers...