Susie Anderson
Staff writer
Over a century of preceding graduates, years of literary selections and several months of planning will culminate into a single week of storied celebration for the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Class of 2025.
Since the first Recognition Day in 1882, CLSC traditions have expanded to fill a week full of reflection, celebration and community. The week of literary festivities — beginning with the Baccalaureate at 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the Amphitheater and ending at 5 p.m. Friday with the ceremony and celebration of the Chautauqua Janus Prize — celebrates the CLSC Class of 2025, composed of 100 graduates.
At 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the Amp, 2025 graduates — named the “Connection Seekers” — will sit together during worship for their Baccalaureate.
Since 2021, the CLSC has partnered with the Department of Religion to combine moments of reflection with celebration. At 6 p.m. Sunday in the Hall of Philosophy, the class will attend the Sacred Song Service, followed by reception in the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall, offering class members a chance to eat and mingle before the Vigil Ceremony at 9 p.m. Wearing white outfits and aglow by candlelight, the Connection Seekers will process together back to the Hall of Philosophy for assembled music and readings highlighting the characteristics of the Class of 2025. For Pat McDonald, president of the Alumni Association of the CLSC, the Vigil Ceremony fills the Hall of Philosophy with a unique magic.
“You’re sitting there in the dark with just a few lights with all these people, and thousands of thousands of people have come before you going through the same ceremony,” McDonald said. “It affects me deeply every year.”
Even after the candles are blown out, the festivities continue. At 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, class members will gather outside the Hall of Christ for the reveal of, and photograph with, their banner, which will feature symbols representative of the Connection Seekers elected by the Banner Committee.
Mayville artist Kirsten Engstrom serves as the class honoree, as her sculptures decorate the lawns of several denominational houses and gardens in Chautauqua. With palms outstretched and smiles wide, the statues symbolize connection and caught the attention of Class of 2025 Co-President and Vigil Committee member Susan Turnquist.
“I’m one of the hosts of the Baptist House, and the five biggest statues are in front of the Baptist House, and I went, ‘Oh my gosh, and it’s my favorite color, I have to graduate this year,’ ” Turnquist said.
Alumni will parade from Bestor Plaza to the Hall of Philosophy while the CLSC Class of 2025 walks through the Golden Gate and arrives at their Recognition Day Ceremony in the Hall of Philosophy. The 100 readers will enter as classmates and leave as graduates before arriving at the 10:45 a.m. Chautauqua Lecture Series lecture featuring Carla Hall and Kwame Alexander.
“The fact that so many people want to graduate every year shows how passionate people remain about literature,” said Stephine Hunt, managing director of literary arts. “It’s about relationships and building empathy for other human beings. I think this is a great display of the kind of relationships that reading can bring to the world.”
Connection Seekers, the description of the members of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Class of 2025, will provide the theme for the Sacred Song Service.
But to make a connection with this class and with the Sacred Song Service, Chautauquans will need to go at 6 p.m. Sunday to the Hall of Philosophy in order to celebrate with the class. The Sacred Song Service has changed time and location to accommodate the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra’s concert with Laufey in the Amphitheater.
Working with Stephine Hunt, managing director of literary arts, Director of Sacred Music and Jared Jacobsen Chair for the Organist Joshua Stafford brought together music and readings that reflect the class’ motto, “Connecting Through the Written Word.” The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton, senior pastor for Chautauqua, will preside.
The service will feature a “Litany for the CLSC” and a “Prayer for the Four Pillars,” as well as poems by Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver and scripture readings. The Chautauqua Choir will sing several anthems, including “For the Beauty of the Earth” by John Rutter, “Cantique de Jean Racine, Op. 11,” by Gabriel Fauré and “Ubi Caritas,” by Ola Gjeilo.
There will be a reception immediately after the service at the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall and at 9 p.m. the Class of 2025 will present their Vigil Service, developed themselves, in the Hall of Philosophy.
