Lutheran Campus Ministry

Breakfast at Ye Olde College Diner

Alicia Anderson — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:10:18 +0000

Monday, April 29th 9:30 am – 11:30 am – start out finals week with a grilled sticky and great company!

Alicia will buy you breakfast before (or after) your first final!

Stop by!

Txt 814.360.0601 to let us know you are on the way.

Summer in State College

Alicia Anderson — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:37:13 +0000

Let us know if you will be spending part or all of the summer in State College – lutheran@psu.edu.

– All Sunday worship services continue through the summer, but we’ll be making plans for dinners, Bible study, service and other events based on the interests of those who are here this summer.

Graduating?

Alicia Anderson — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:29:31 +0000

Please let us know if you will be graduating this spring (or summer). Just email lutheran@psu.edu.

We’ll have a time to celebrate with our graduates around 6 pm at the End-of-the-Year picnic on Friday, April 26th, and at 6 pm worship on Sunday, April 28th.

Lunchtime Bible study – Monday, April 15th!

Alicia Anderson — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:11:44 +0000

We’ll gather in Otto’s eatery at Kern from 12:15 – 1:15 pm – come add your voice to the conversation! Just bring or buy your lunch and explore the readings for this coming Sunday – and if you can’t make it, you’ll find the readings and some questions for thought below!

John 10

²²At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰The Father and I are one.”

Questions:

What do you notice?

When have you wanted God to speak plainly?

Where do we hear the voice of God?

What appeals to you about shepherd images?
Acts 9
³⁶Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. ³⁷At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. ³⁸Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. ⁴²This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. ⁴³Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Questions:

What do you notice?

Given the male-centered nature of their culture and most readings, what do you make of this story?

What does it matter that the women talking with Peter are widows?

Where in your life of faith have you pushed the conventional boundaries?
Revelation 7
⁹After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
¹¹And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹²singing,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
¹³Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” ¹⁴I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal ;they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
¹⁵For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
¹⁶They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
¹⁷for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Questions:

What do you notice?

Why do you think this passage is used for All Saint’s?

What themes or images here strike you most?

How do the themes, written in John’s context, speak to our context today?

Bible Study at Kern – 12:15 – 1:15 pm Monday

Alicia Anderson — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:48:47 +0000

We’ll be gathering for Bible study again this week in Kern – inside Otto’s eatery, near the TV at the far corner. Come and be part of a relaxed and lively conversation about the readings for this coming Sunday. If you can’t make it, you can check out the readings below, and think about the questions . . . feel free to post your thoughts in the comments!

April 8 – Sunday, April 14 – Easter 3

John 21
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. ²Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
⁴Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. ⁷That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. ⁸But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
⁹When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” ¹⁹(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Questions:

What do you notice?

How does this story fit with last Sunday’s?

Why do you think they went fishing?

What do you make of the net full of fish?

Where do we not recognize Jesus at first?

What do we find in Peter & Jesus’ exchange?

How shall we “feed” and “tend” his sheep?

Revelation 5
¹¹Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹²singing with full voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!”
¹⁴And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Questions:

What do you notice?

What do we know about the literature in Revelation?

Have you heard some of this language before?

What images speak to you here?

Acts 9
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” ⁷The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. ⁸Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
¹⁰Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; ¹⁴and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; ¹⁶I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, ²⁰and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Questions:

What do you notice?

What do you think about Saul/Paul’s story?

What images speak to you from his story?

What do you know about his past and future?

Do you have a powerful experience that changed your life?

End-of-the-Year-Picnic

Alicia Anderson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:55:33 +0000

Friday, April 26th at Sunset Park from 4 pm – 7 pm!

It looks like the weather will be good for the End-of-the-Year Picnic this year! We’ll gather and enjoy time together at the park, great burgers, ‘dogs and veggie burgers, games and maybe even kickball! Food will be served at 5 pm, and we’ll celebrate our seniors around 6 pm.

Take time for fun before your finals begin!

Come join the fun!

Saturday, April 13th

Alicia Anderson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:46:17 +0000

“CTIM” Congregations together in Mission” is a Synod-Wide (regional) event where you can join members of nearby Lutheran congregations for workshops, worship, a Keynote speaker, and other meaningful conversation about life and faith.

This year, it’s here at Grace Lutheran Church, so check the list of workshops below and contact Alicia ara2@psu.edu to sign up!

Lutheran Campus Ministry is covering the costs for PSU Students so it is free for you!

1) Cultivating the Soil: Preparing for a New Season

It’s not “WHAT” but “WHY.” So often in our congregations we do the “WHATS”, but we many times miss the “WHY.” Come and hear what the “WHY” is. Turn your soil over for new growth in your congregation using the spade of Faith Practices. Presented by our Ministry Enrichment Team.

2) God: Online and On Screen

See how technology can help you go deeper in devotions, scripture reading, prayer, etc.

3) Coffee Shop Conversations: Living Faithfully in a Fast-Paced World

Share a cup of Joe and join the conversation using our Synod’s resource booklet available to all congregations and members (particularly suited for college-aged participants)

4) Go Green to Save Some!

Explore ways you and your congregation can care for the earth and become more energy efficient.

5) Exploring the Big “?’s” with Adults

Learn about and experience new adult education materials that tap into our questions and wonderings abut faith and life.

6) Ministry from the Inside Out – Shatter the Stained Glass Windows

Hear about ways to involve more people in the life of your congregation. A panel of lay leaders from congregations around our Synod will share what’s happening in their congregations and how it developed. Open discussion following as time allows.

7) Getting to the Roots: From Committees to Ministry Teams

The way to involve more people and free council to be elders.

8) All God’s Children Want To Sit At The Kid’s Table

Discover creative ways to engage Scripture in the midst of worship

9) Faith Formation in a Missional Age: How to BE and LIVE our faith.

The world is changing rapidly. 1 out of every 5 adults in the USA claims to have no religious affiliation. Our task of faith formation just got more difficult. The purpose of our time together is to explore the realities of faith formation in a missional age. This session will be an open discussion on the challenges we all face when doing ministry, and more particularly youth ministry, in this era. What are the challenges we are faced with? What is the opportunity? What are your fears and anxieties? What are your joys? We will seek the collective wisdom of the group on ways we can faithfully move forward and continue to support one another in our work.

Come to Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday, April 13th for a day of growth and learning!

Service Saturday!

Alicia Anderson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:26:35 +0000

Plans change!

We didn’t get enough people signed up for the retreat, SO instead, we are going to enjoy the outdoors and each other for part of the day on Saturday! You may not have been able to take time for whole the retreat, but how ’bout taking a few hours tomorrow instead?

If you are free and interested in enjoying the wonderful spring weather by working on trail maintenance and landscaping at Shaver’s Creek tomorrow, contact Alicia NOW at ara2@psu.edu or 814.360.0601! As long as we have space in the cars going, we can keep adding people – we’ll make the final call at 10 pm Friday night so decide NOW!

We’re meeting for breakfast at the Corner Room at 8:30 am, then we’ll leave for Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center at 9:30 am. We’ll work there until 2 pm, so you’ll be back around 2:30 pm. Come have some outdoor fun and help a great organization!

Alicia Anderson — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:25:34 +0000

At the empty tomb, the women who had come to care for Jesus after his death encountered men in “dazzling clothes” who asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Well, the tomb has been the usual place to look for someone who has died and been buried. Yet, in the resurrection, Jesus ushers in a new age where everything is unusual. God’s love and forgiveness and embrace has defeated all that is broken in the world, and brings new life, particularly in places were we only expect to find death. These next seven weeks of Easter show us just how wild and wonderful this transformation is! –ara

Luke 24:1-12
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in, they did not find the body. ⁴While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. ⁶Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸Then they remembered his words, ⁹and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹²But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Prayer

God of New Life,

Help me to see things through your eyes, help me to see new life.

Guide me beyond limits I have known.

Show me more than I can imagine on my own.

Help me see just how you are making all things new.

Amen.

Alicia Anderson — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:45:32 +0000

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5b