Chaplain Rachel Larson to Speak at George Hall Lecture

Gustavus Adolphus College Chaplain Rachel Larson will speak at the annual George Hall Lecture at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 in the President’s Dining Room. Larson’s talk is titled “Ministry: A Sacred Spiral,” and is free and open to the public.

Chaplain Larson’s work in the Gustavus Chaplains’ Office focuses on worship leadership, preaching, and pastoral care with students, faculty, and staff. She collaborates with several constituents on campus to plan a rich variety of worship and learning experiences. In addition, she strives to enrich the community of Gustavus by cooperating with various parts of the College, such as the Dean of Students Office, Center for Servant Leadership, the Counseling Center, Student Activities Office, Residential Life, Health Services, and the Diversity Center.  She is often invited to give presentations to First Term Seminar and January Interim Experience classes. She shares her knowledge and experiences of various spiritual practices, including the labyrinth, prayer, and meditation.

Chaplain Larson graduated from Luther Northwestern Seminary in St. Paul and Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. Before attending seminary she was a registered nurse at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn. Prior to arriving at Gustavus in 2001, Chaplain Larson served as pastor at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas; Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State University; Hospice San Antonio in Kerrville, Texas; and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Marble Falls, Texas.

In 2005 Rachel completed Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation, a program of Luther College. She also trained with Dr. Lauren Artress of Veriditas in the spiritual practice of the labyrinth. A 2007 pilgrimage to Chartres Cathedral and the Taize Community affirmed her interest in faith formation and spiritual direction. She also is fascinated with biblical study and feminist theology. Embracing a liturgical spirituality that affirms and renews the whole self – body, mind and spirit – is a key focus of her life and ministry.

The George Hall Lecture at Gustavus is named after George F. Hall (1908-2000), who taught in the College’s Christianity Department from 1938 to 1952. Hall left his post at Gustavus when he and his family left the country to serve as missionaries in Tanzania. His wife Lorena was instrumental in founding the College’s Art Department. The George Hall Lecture is sponsored by the Gustavus Religion Department and the Office of Church Relations.