Tag: Orange Line

Echoes, Ripples, and Seeds

Echoes

The walls of Wesley Chapel were echoing on Saturday, July 27, 2019. Songs not heard since the 1970s were sung with gusto by a very special group. There were Wesleyan alumni from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and one from 2019. There were current students. There were some amazing musicians who were experiencing the beautiful chapel for the first time.

Although there were only a dozen or so people in the chapel for this experience, it was streamed live on Facebook to 50 or so others as well. Those folks were spread all around! And, we are told, listening carefully to the stories, straining to see the photos, and singing along in such places as Canada, Florida, and JFK airport. Click here for a better look at those photos.

              LoveShine Impromptu Reunion 2019:                            Songs, Stories, Worship

This was a reunion of people who had been active in the group known as LoveShine, which started in 1976 and ended in 2003. LoveShine, a Christian Drama Group, was composed of WVWC students who came together to glorify God by using their talent and creativity to write and perform skits and music. They performed in worship services, coffeehouses, workshops, and toured throughout the region visiting churches to share God’s love.

The founder, and first director, of the group, Paul Brown, was present in the chapel for this reunion. He had not been back to WVWC in 43 years! 

He was able to tell the story about the beginnings, and in this photo is listening to Cheryl (Isner) Olcott, his hand-picked successor as director, tell about the development of the group and what it has meant in her life to this day.

We also had some memories sent in by email, including from Rev. Heather (Runser) McLeod who was part of the last group in 2003. Click below to read those memories that were shared. If you have memories to share as well, email them to historian@wvwc.edu.

LoveShine Memories

Ripples

How Did This Reunion Even Come About?

Caitlin in the front. Back row; Paula McGrew, Paul Brown, Leslie (Flack) Miller

In Spring 2019, a course on WVWC History was being taught by Paula McGrew (’78). Her challenge to the students in the class was to choose an area of Wesleyan and to go to the archives and find out as much as possible. One student, Caitlin Ware, chose to dive into the topic of Religious Life on Campus in the past 20 years or so. Thus began the ripple effect:

  • Research in the WVWC archives revealed a group called LoveShine
  • LoveShine had a theme song written by Leslie Flack
  • Which led Paula to email her former classmate, Leslie, to ask if she had the lyrics to that song – or better yet a recording
  • Which led Leslie to contact Wendy, Paul, Jeff and others to try and get all of the words and the chords from all those years ago
  • Which led to chatter about having a reunion, including those who had not been back to WVWC for decades
  • Which prompted Paula to contact the chapel and alumni offices – and Robert Osburn in AV
  • Which resulted in many stories being told, including some mailed to Leslie by people who really wished that they could be here in person
  • Those stories included both the stories of the beginning of the group in 1976 and the ending of it in 2003.

One thing led to the next and grew into the next and into the next…..

Seeds

Those long ago experiences planted many seeds. In the hearts of the participants. In the hearts of their audiences. In the very fabric of Religious Life on the campus of WVWC.  

On Saturday, July 27, 2019, more seeds were planted. Caitlin was present and talked with the people that she had “discovered” in the archives. She sang with them, laughed with them, asked them questions, answered some of theirs, and made new friends.

Also in attendance were Lucas Trovato (a 2019 graduate and current MBA student) and his fiance Lauren Hatcher (class of 2020 and currently the President of Student Senate). They also learned a few new (old) songs and made new friends. They were able to see the Orange Line in all of its glory.

AND

The event was broadcast well beyond Wesley Chapel. Through the magic of Facebook Live, 50 or so people who wanted to be in the chapel were able to be there virtually. 

AND

The entire event was recorded by Robert Osburn, including a recording session with participants singing the LoveShine Theme Song and another of Leslie Flack’s songs, The Good Song inspired (of course) by John Wesley himself as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.  These songs have been lodged in my head for days now. When the recordings are available, I will post them here. Listen at your own risk!! They are absolutely classics in the making. Until those recordings are ready, click here to hear them from Leslie’s website! 

There is no telling where these seeds may yet take root! Or when. Or where. LoveShine is shining on!

Photos to Share? You can put them here in this folder.

Here is a partial list of those who have been involved with LoveShine through the years. The names were pulled from yearbooks and scrapbooks, neither of which had complete information for all years. Apologies to anyone who might be missing from the list. If that includes you (or others you know) please send their names and the year(s) they were involved to historian@wvwc.edu.

Program from LoveShine Reunion (including the theme song lyrics)

Insert with Good Song lyrics.

Editor’s Note: July 1, 2020 Caitilin Ware will begin serving the college as Spiritual Life Coordinator for one year, during which she will be exploring and helping build a foundation and vision for the future of religious and spiritual life including how the College and the leadership of the West Virginia Annual Conference can continue to look forward to a continued and strengthened partnership. You can read more about this appointment here.

DreamersAndGiants is a webpage and a blog created by Paula McGrew to tell the stories of WVWC. Click here to explore the website.

Searching for Shalom

Sometimes there are no words.

This week several messages of sadness and loss came – The Orange Line is hurting. Through social media, college emails, and then even national media we have learned of the loss of some of our WVWC family members.

Betty Barrick Furan, Class of 1979, died of a massive heart attack. She was a member of Kappa Phi while at WVWC and her friends remember such great times together. After graduation she also earned a Master of Divinity Degree at Drew University. She loved music.

K. David Rollins, Class of 1976 (seen here with the Sports Writers for the Pharos in 1976) was a member of the Council on Church Ministries and a brother in the Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity. He walked in the Orange Line each and every year during the Founders Day Convocation.

And then came the news that Daniel Stein, Class of 1969, was among those murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania.

News Photo 2018 Cropped

He was a new grandfather, and loved spending time with his grandson and cheering for his Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a leader in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, and was known for his volunteer work and generosity.

pittsburgh-synagogue-victim-stein

During his time at WVWC, Daniel was known for his infectious smile, kindness, and was well liked by those who knew him.

Stein, Daniel 1969 Murmurmontis

Daniel was one of two Spanish majors who graduated in 1969, and had a minor in Latin American Studies. He probably spent a good bit of time with Robert B.. Green, who taught Spanish from 1965-71. In addition, Dr. Fred Peterson, a world expert in Latin American Studies, would have been one of his mentors.

Green, Robert B., Jr. 1969

Peterson, Fredrick A. (Hiner Photo - 3)
Photo by Hiner

Stein was very involved with Intramurals, such as pictured below. Although the individuals in these pictures were not identified, it certainly shows the fun and the competition that was taking place.

Intramural Basketball 1969

Each of these members of the WVWC family was a beloved friend, a beloved student, a beloved classmate, a beloved colleague, a beloved family member. The WVWC community is weeping with all who loved them.

We also weep with the Jewish Community. The senseless violence against these people of faith has gone on far too long in far too many places.

Peace Be With You

 

 

 

The Orange Line

 

Orange Line at Founders Day

This year as the Orange Line passed my seat during the Founders Day Convocation I saw many familiar faces. My parents, former colleagues, former classmates, former students and others who have been part of my life at various times and in various places.

Friday evening we enjoyed visiting with my reunion class at the Decades Reception. These ladies have been friends since the fall of 1974 when we all lived on the 3rd floor of McCuskey together as freshmen. (The photo includes a few significant others we have picked up along life’s way.)

Decades Reception 2018

We had a great time telling stories and laughing and sharing about the many things we have done and accomplished in the 40 years since our graduation from WVWC.

We had a good laugh about some of  our favorite WVWC memories…..box walking in the fall leaves while singing Pumpkin Carols, Campus Pizza deliveries when we couldn’t find a ride clear out to Hills Plaza to the old Pizza Hut. And, of course, the time my roommate signed me up for the bowling team as a joke, only to discover that the joke was on us because unless I actually did sign up they wouldn’t have enough for a team. And homecoming parades and floats like this one were such fun.

Homecoming Float Carlson, Burns, Lowther

Also at the Decades Reception my husband and I ran across some friends who were attending their very first class reunion – his 50th – and were able to catch up on the news since we last saw them more than a dozen years ago.

Decades Reunion Carl and Rita

This is the very nature of the Orange Line. That line weaves throughout our lives and ties us all together.

One of my students in my Legacy of Dreamers and Giants class  (a future member of the Orange Line) turned in an assignment last week in which she referenced a copy of the Sundial in 1973. In that issue was also an article entitled And they Called it Wesleyan written by Jamie Wellman. Jamie Wellman 1973

It was about college history, and had been researched in many of the same places I am finding such information now. It turns out that she was a member of the class of 1973 – which was having a reunion this year as well. So, I stood by as the class of 1973 had their reunion photo taken at the Decades Reception……and I found her! I told her that I had read her articles, and about DreamersAndGiants. We found that we had much in common. You can read her articles here.

And they Called it Wesleyan, part 1, by Jamie Wellman. (Pharos 9-26-1973, p. 8)

From the Roaring 20’s til Now, by Jamie Wellman (Pharos 10-3-1973, p.12)

Saturday evening I watched one of my former students (a member of the class of 2019) perform in the wonderful play at the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. Frog and Toad and Elizabeth

 

 

 

Sunday morning, I went to chapel to hear Rev. Douglas Miller, Class of 1988 (and classmate and theater contemporary of my sister and brother-in-law) give a wonderful sermon. His parents, also alumni, were there and it turned out that they were friends with my parents. And HER mother was a graduate of the Class of 1923 and had been a Chemistry major studying with Dr. Nicholas Hyma. She was one of the first members of the Benzine Ring.

Alpha Psi Omega 1988

 

All in all, the Orange Line was winding around and around my heart all weekend. These were but a few examples. All around me the same was happening to person after person.

Orange Line Clip Edited

There is a beautiful poem about the Orange Line written by Charles K. Dick. Although Charlie was not a graduate of WVWC himself, he captured the spirit of the college beautifully. He was Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication from 1998-2000 when he wrote the poem.

The Founders Day Program had this to say about the Orange Line Poem:

Ever since 1890, students have entered West Virginia Wesleyan College, where their minds were challenged, their talents nurtured and their hearts inspired. As they completed their studies, they moved on to share their knowledge, experience and values in new settings. Former Wesleyan students have carried the spirit and substance of the College into the global community and into almost every form of human endeavor. Wesleyan’s alumni have formed a constant connection between the College and the world beyond – and both College and world have been strengthened. It is appropriate on the celebration of Wesleyan’s Founders Day that the heritage of the College be symbolized as a line of former students who represent more than 14,000 alumni.

 

The Orange Line

I am the orange line – My beginning was long ago

I have no end – I am perpetual

My source is in the West Virginia hills

My reach embraces the world

 

I am in America’s small towns – I am in her great cities

 

I cross the seas

I grow

Commencement 2018
2018

I am your warm, enduring memories

I am your shared experiences

I am your friends, your teachers

I am your link to the past

I am your dreams for the future

Wherever you are, there too, am I

I am you – You are Me

We — are the orange line.

The DreamersAndGiants project celebrates those in the Orange Line. One of our first semester students in my class this fall put it beautifully. Hannah said, “With DreamersAndGiants, you are connecting generations of Bobcats living and dead.”

Wish I had thought to put it just that way.