Celestial University

2010-01-04T10:41:00.000-05:00

Celestial University is a Pursuit of Excellence program for the sisters in our ward. The purpose of Celestial University is to offer each sister an opportunity to reach her divine potential as a Daughter of God. The program is designed to meet these goals by providing direction, motivation, and resources. Through raised self-esteem and a sure knowledge that she can improve her life and the lives of those around her, each sister will become an active force in promoting the Kingdom of God on earth.

Celestial University is a goal setting program whereby a sister may earn her Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate Degree by finishing outlined requirements. At the end of this packet are the requirement sheets for all three degree levels.

There are 12 different areas or colleges in which one may earn a degree. When requirements have been completed, the Department Chair of that particular college will verify the sister’s success with a date and signature. When all the requirements for a degree have been met, the sister’s name will be presented to the Dean to be included in the next graduation ceremony.

A sister may work on more than one requirement at a time as well as more than one degree at a time. But, In order to earn a Master’s or Doctorate degree, the Bachelor’s degree in that college must be completed first.

The original requirements of Celestial University have been modified to meet the needs of the sisters in our ward. Rachel Woods is the creator of Celestial University and may be reached at gokristens@aol.com or lds.guide@about.com.

Reynoldsburg Ward Celestial University Blog: www.celestialuniversity.blogspot.com

Degrees Offered:

Bachelors degree :

8 requirements in a chosen college

5 goals in the College of Theology

Masters degree:

4 additional requirements the same college

2 additional requirements in the College of Theology

Doctorate of Celestial Studies:

4 additional requirements in the same college

2 additional requirements in the College of Theology

Celestial University’s goal is to provide an opportunity for the sisters to become knowledgeable in each of the specified colleges; therefore the Master’s and Doctorate degrees will be a continuation of a bachelor’s degree in the same college.

AREAS OF STUDY:

Theology

Personal Management

Career Development

Political & Community Awareness

Technology & Applied Science

Behavioral Sciences

Health & Fitness

Language Arts

Arts & Music

Culinary Arts

Handcrafted Arts

Interior Design

PERSONAL SHOPPERS

2009-12-21T11:51:00.000-05:00

"It used to be quite a chore to get my daughters, Katrina, seven, and Valerie, three, to try on hand-me-downs and the prior year's clothing whenever a new season rolled around. That was until I created The Clothes STore Game. For each girl, I spread out a categorized selection of clothes: pants, pajamas, dresses, and the like. The girls come "shopping" and select items to try on int eh dressing room (my closet). When they've tried on enough for that day, they bring their purchases to the cashier (me) to be tallied. My daughters each pay with real money, givin to them just for this purpose, and get to take the clothes back to their rooms in a shopping bag. Depending on how many outfits there are to be tried on, we play the game one or two more times and always have fun."

Theresa Medoff
Wilmington, Delaware

Controlling Clutter

2009-12-04T14:43:00.001-05:00

Legos. Work sheets. Soccer cleats. It's one of the paradoxes of family life: nobody can ever find the things they need, and yet there are things everywhere--underfoot, under the bed, on every tabletop. Our paradoxical solution? Less stuff means more stuff. The more clutter you clear away, the easier it will be for your family to find and use the things you actually need. So clutter, beware! There's nowhere to hide.

Maintain control. Determine your worst clutter zones -- inside the front door, may be the kitchen counter. Then develop a system for managing incoming items and stick with it. Make sure your dis understand the strategy, and solicit their help in implementing it.

Save selectively. Do you need to keep all of your children's artwork? HOld onto every catalog? Store outgrown tosy and clothes in the garage? Wherever stuff is accumulating, ask yourself why, and whether you can live without it.

Do more, bring home less. It may seem like clutter multiples while you're not looking -- but he truth is that things end up in our homes because we buy them, kkep them, or collect them. Encourage your family to do activities that don't entail acuiqisition: visit a museum, take a bike ride or a hike, or build a sand castle at the beach.

by Deanna F. Cook

Truly Living Life

2009-12-01T13:41:00.001-05:00

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly life life.
-Greg Anderson

Busy Bee

2009-10-02T14:17:00.001-04:00

Melissa M. has proven to be another busy bee, working hard on her Celestial University program. She has completed her first bachelor's degree in the department of Career Development. Come to the Oct. H.M.G. to learn more!

Graduate News

2009-08-27T10:46:00.000-04:00

Here's to our newest Personal Management Diploma Earner: Cynthia

Always Be A Student

Keep on learning, (graduate's name),

Though your graduation's done;

Your whole life's an education

That has only just begun.

Your diploma is the first big step,

For knowledge is the special key

To winning what you want in life

And being who you want to be.

If you'll always be a student,

You'll find the secrets to success

And travel on the golden road

To peace and happiness.

By Joanna Fuchs

How to Design a Backyard Serenity Garden

2009-08-18T09:40:00.002-04:00

http://www.ehow.com/how_5006554_design-backyard-serenity-garden.html

For those culinary artists!

2009-07-29T11:00:00.002-04:00

Spice Guide

How To Make a Money Belt

2009-07-28T16:05:00.001-04:00

http://http://www.ehow.com/how_5182043_make-money-belt.html

Dinner!

2009-07-28T16:01:00.000-04:00

Mexican Chicken-and-Rice Casserole

Use your stored staples to cook this quick, healthy dinner. Don't be afraid to swap ingredients—if a recipe calls for kidney beans and you have extra cans of black beans in your pantry, use them instead.

Prep: 15 min. Cook: 30 min. Serves: 8 Cost per serving: $1.41

• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil.

• 1 onion, chopped.

• 1 Tbsp. chili powder.

• 1 Tbsp. cumin.

• 2 cups uncooked white rice.

• 1 14.5-oz. can low-sodium chicken broth.

• 1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes with jalapeños.

• 1 15.5-oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed.

• 1 8.75-oz. can whole-kernel corn, drained and rinsed.

• 1 4.5-oz. can chopped green chilies.

• 1 12.5-oz. can chicken breast in water, drained.

• Salt and pepper.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, warm oil. Add onion and sauté until softened and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin; stir for 1 minute. Add rice; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water, broth, tomatoes, beans, corn, chilies and chicken, season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover tightly and bake until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 25 to 30 minutes.

2. Remove from oven and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork, check and adjust seasoning and serve.

PER SERVING: 216 Cal., 3g Fat (0g Sat.), 31mg Chol., 4g Fiber, 17g Pro., 34g Carb., 1,051mg Sod.

First Class of 2009

2009-07-16T14:38:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to our first Celestial University graduate. Cynthia S. was awarded her first Bachelor's Degree in the college of Political Sciences. She was very pleased and shared with our Home Management Group that she especially enjoyed getting involved with making changes for home-schoolers.

Way to go, Sistah!

Decorating Ideas

2009-07-13T13:49:00.000-04:00

http://www.ehow.com/how_4852360_customize-walls-with-art.html

Bags for the People

2009-07-10T21:51:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Bags for the People. We are a non-profit organization(pending) that provides a sustainable alternative to plastic bags. We use all repurposed materials and give our bags out for FREE. We also perform community building workshops and events to not only get people to make the switch from plastic to re-usable, but to inspire people to take an active and creative role in life.

Bags for the People will be leading the Etsy Labs Craft Night Monday, July 13th, from 4-8pm. Watch live online here.

Bags for the People is partering up with 303GRAND and BurdaStyle for "The Sweatshop", July 18th, from 1-6pm @ 303 Grand in Brooklyn.
Bags for the People and 3rd Ward have partnered up to bring you "Sweatshop Socials" every last Monday of each month, continuing July 27th, from 7 to 10pm.

New Requirements added!

2009-07-08T14:21:00.000-04:00

Some new requirements have been added to the College of Political Sciences & Culinary Arts. See Dean for details!

2009-07-07T09:51:00.001-04:00

We express our love and sympathy for one of our dear sisters, Erin W., in the sudden loss of her husband. We love you, are thinking of you, and have you and your girls in our prayers. May God bless you in this difficult time.

2009-07-02T10:12:00.003-04:00

Sage and I working on our Political & Community Awareness

We went downtown to demonstrate against the proposed budget cuts to Ohio's Libraries.

SIDE NOTE:

THANK YOU, CUSTOMERS!You've sent 35,000 emails to our legislators. Your voice has been heard by our state legislators and the Governor. The General Assembly has been deluged with emails and phone calls from library supporters. Budget Update: Tuesday, June 30Breaking News: The House on Wednesday took action on a weeklong continuing budget and also set a vote for Thursday on another week extension, through July 14

http://http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/10/copy/budget10.ART_ART_07-10-09_A1_VVEEBLT.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR LIBRARIES

2009-06-24T13:03:00.003-04:00

URGENT

Governor Strickland proposes to fill Ohio's $3.2 billion shortfall in the

state budget by eliminating $200+ million from the Public Library Fund over

the next two years. His proposal will have a drastic impact on all 251 public

libraries in Ohio and on Columbus Metropolitan Library in particular.

This proposal by the Governor cuts library funding by 50% beginning July 1,

2009.

We only have days to have an impact.

1. Today, contact your legislators. We've made it easy to do. Go to:

http://columbuslibrary.org.

2. Call Governor Strickland's office at 614-466-3555.

The Governor's proposed funding cuts come at a time when Ohio's public

libraries are experiencing unprecedented increases in demands for services. In

every community throughout the state, Ohioans are turning to their public

library for free job help, children and teens are beginning summer reading

programs and people of all ages are turning to the library for information and

assistance during this economic downturn. That is no truer than here at CML.

We cannot allow these cuts to succeed, cuts which will drastically reduce

services and access. Act now.

ACT NOW! SAVE YOUR LIBRARY

2009-06-23T07:09:00.001-04:00

ACT NOW! SAVE YOUR LIBRARY

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Governor Strickland has recommended the elimination of $200+ million from the Public Library Fund over the next two years.

WHAT IT MEANS: This proposal by the Governor cuts CML's state funding by 50%. These proposed 11+ million dollar cuts will be devastating: closing branches, halting new books and materials, and shutting down programs and services that are so vital to our community!

Scrapbooking Ideas

2009-06-22T15:03:00.000-04:00

Scrapbooking Embellishments on a Budget

2009-06-17T08:52:00.003-04:00

Check out this link to get loads of information on how to make your own scrapbook embellishments.

http://http//scrapbooking.about.com/od/3dembellishments/tp/diyscrapbookembellishments.htm?nl=1

Bachelor Bound

2009-06-11T09:56:00.002-04:00

Rumor has it that we may soon have our first graduate.... Stay tuned!

WHO ELSE WILL MEMORIZE THIS?

2009-05-27T11:30:00.001-04:00

This Just In......

2009-05-21T10:07:00.005-04:00

Word on the street is that there are indeed some sisters who are working on their first bachelor's degrees at Celestial University. Many a gal was in attendance at a recent Eagle Scout humanitarian project. Sisters have been attending community events, cooking new entrees, and learning new behavior skills. Sources predict that there will soon be some graduation ceremonies!!!

ATTENTION ALL BOOK COLLECTORS!

2009-05-19T10:00:00.003-04:00

Found this little item for you in a magazine.

Kitchen Aid

2009-05-15T10:46:00.002-04:00

Requirements Complete!

2009-05-14T09:15:00.003-04:00

For anyone who attended Sam's Eagle Scout project on Saturday, May 9th and helped make dolls, blankets, kits, or the hooded blanket thingies, you have completed a requiremtnt for the Hand Crafted Arts Bachelor's Degree.

#24 Use your skills to complete a service project for others.

PERSONAL MANAGEMENT

2009-05-05T11:21:00.002-04:00

Requirement #19 Catch up on one household chore and keep it up for one month.

Wish me luck!

THE JOURNEY OF LIFELONG LEARNING

2009-05-03T10:40:00.005-04:00

2009-05-01T09:51:00.000-04:00

An event to reform Ohio’s schools is coming up that I wanted to make you aware of. The US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan will be in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, May 8th along with Governor Strickland and other Ohio leaders for a public rally for Education Reform. I encourage you to attend this exciting event! Please see the details below and if you plan to attend, please RSVP to www.conversationoneducation.org.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in Columbus!

Julian Rogers
Executive Director
Education Votes of Ohio

Ohio’s Revival: Reforming Education for the 21st Century Economy
Join US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Governor Ted Strickland
and other special guests at a rally for education reform in Ohio

May 8, 2009

11:45 AM

The Ohio State University
West Lawn of the Schottenstein Center
555 Borror Rd
Columbus, OH 43210

Please RSVP and sign up for updates at www.conversationoneducation.org

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TWO BIRDS - ONE STONE

2009-04-30T10:25:00.005-04:00

Did you know that it would be easy to work on Theology requirements #'s 16 & 17 together. By combining family scripture study with one of your family twice daily prayers, you could easily complete these requirements simultaneously. Or concurrantly. (Where's my candy?!?!)

TWO GOALS - ONE MONTH!!!

BABY STEPS TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT

2009-04-28T09:17:00.004-04:00

College of Technology & Applied Science

Requirement #23 Become familiar with FamilySearch.org and add information about your family.

Take a look around. Download the latest version (free) of the PAF program.

check!

FINDING JOY IN THE JOURNEY

2009-04-25T21:25:00.000-04:00

Finding Joy In The Journey
by jWells on September 18, 2008

If you have ever been discouraged because of failure, please read on. For often, achieving what you set out to do is not the important thing. Let me explain.

Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.

“What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors.

“We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!” one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.

The older boys began to laugh telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, “Even if we don’t dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!”

Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for – to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen. In other words, to set us to digging!

But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, “Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!”

It is in the digging that life is lived. And I believe it is joy in the journey, in the end, that truly matters.

FROM THE DEAN

2009-04-24T10:13:00.005-04:00

Many thanks to Erin W. who told me about readthescriptures.com. I have found it quite helpful in my daily pursuit to read from the Book of Mormon. You can register for free and set up one or a dozen scripture reading schedules. And you can listen to the scriptures or read them online. I have enjoyed having my daily chapter read to me by the very pleasant women on that website while I tiddy up the room.

It has helped me have an easy spiritual boost and helped me to streamline my day a bit more.

LOVE IT!!!

FROM THE DEAN

2009-04-21T10:32:00.006-04:00

So, in an effort to be a good example as Dean, I sat down last night and started looking at the colleges and requirements that interested me. As I went through all those pretty, colorful pages (Thanks Annie K.!!!) I realized that there are at least one requirement from each college, and more from others, that I hadn't realized that I could work on at the same time. Therefore, ladies, you'll be pleased to know that your Dean is majoring in everything! And oddly enough, for those of you who know me well, the first requirement that I had started working on was in the College of Culinary Arts. (You may stop laughing now!)

At any rate, what I'm trying to say is that it may be easier to get started than you think & you may be able to accomplish more than you think you can.

I think you can, I think you can, I think you can!!!

And We're Off!

2009-04-19T12:15:00.006-04:00

Celestial University Participants: (In no particular order)
(This is just from my memory - let me know if I've missed anyone!!!)

Annie K.
Bonnie A.
Becky M.
Terri S.
Maryanne B.
Suzanne B.
Crystal N.
Bobby L.
Sherri C.
Linda F.
Janeen N.
Libby W.
Mary L.
Cyndi S.
Kelly O.
Jennifer S.
Karen H.
Amanda B.
Autumn R.
Erin W.
Stephanie G.
Missy M.
Ashley M.
Holly S.
Rebecca S.
Crystal D.
Georgia H.

See You at C. U.

2009-04-16T17:08:00.004-04:00

Gimmie an A
Gimmie an W
Gimmie an E
Gimmie an S
Gimmie an O
Gimmie an M
Gimmie an E

What does it spell? AWESOME! That's right! We had a huge turn out for the Celestial University Kick Off at the Home Management Group meeting last night. There are going to be lots of gals working towards lots of degrees, concurrently! (Word of the month.) Who's going to be the first graduate????

For anyone who wasn't able to attend, I will have packets and additional requirement sheets available.

GO TEAM!

It takes teamwork to make the dream work!

College Chairs

2009-04-10T09:35:00.002-04:00

Ladies, I'm looking for volunteers! Celestial University needs a few more good women to share their expertise with the other women of the Reynoldsburg Ward Relief Society. Jennifer S. is the chair for Health & Fitness; Sherri C. is the chair for Interior Design, and Erin W. is the chair for Career Development. I know you ladies out there are extremely intelligent and talented (beautiful, too, of course), so don't be basheful! Just post a comment if you're interested. (You know you want to!)