Campus ministry is very, very busy during the fifteen weeks of each semester and is much less busy during holiday and summer breaks. When I talk to people, both friends and family, they often slyly grin when this time of year comes around as they assume I simply take vacation. My defenses go up because it seems that people really think I just sit around during breaks and do relatively nothing. I admit, I am very blessed in this ministry with flexibility and slow times of break. But I am also very conscious that people are financially supporting me to work full-time, those people are working full-time, and if I don't use the slow time wisely I am going to crash in the busy times. So, what does a campus pastor do during holiday breaks? I work.
*Prepare for the next semester's teaching. In the spring we'll be having weekly small groups themed around introducing the Old Testament story and weekly worship nights with the book of Revelation as the theme. I will be preparing both of these and if I don't start now, the quality will be low. Study is essential.
*Prepare for next semester's everything else. Planning activities, getting ready for Spring break and much more.
*Pray. As a pastor it is my job to pray so I'll be praying for the students, praying for the next semester. Pray, pray, pray!
*Fundraise. This is always happening but I especially focus on it during the holidays. Getting in touch with alumni and others, trying to raise support.
*Read. I love to read anyway and while anything I read may enrich my ministry, it is especially books on theology, culture and such that really help. So I will be reading books, seeking to grow as a person in order to better minister.
*Stay in contact with students. I will send out weekly devotional emails as I do on Fridays during the semester; I will also seek to keep in touch with them, talk with them (via email, Facebook, phone, whatever), listen to them and pray with them.
That's a start. It is pretty sweet; I get to read and talk to college students for a living. Of course breaks are also refreshing and there are times for spiritual rest and renewal. But the point is, I will not be lazing around. I will be working and loving it!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Getting Liturgical, sort of...
Over the past few years a sort of tradition has developed at CSF Berks. At Christmas and then again at Resurrection Day (Easter), we have a worship night focused on those most important events. So we set aside whatever our theme for the semester is and spend the evening singing songs and reading the scriptural stories. The students really enjoy it, which is why we keep doing it! It is interactive as we read some prayers in unison and we have individual students read each of the scriptures. Last evening we had a special treat, as my friend Adam, pastor of Desert Road Fellowship, visited to lead us in worship. We also shared communion together. I reminded the students that God became man as a gift for us and that this baby born on Christmas grew up and gave his life on the cross as a gift for us. Simply put, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the greatest gift, to restore our relationship with God. Knowing there is nothing we can do to earn or deserve this, I asked the students to ponder what they are going to give to Jesus this holiday season?
Knowing all that God has done for you, the gift of Jesus' body and blood, what are you going to give back?
Here is the outline for our night.
Opening Prayer
Scriptures of Hope
Isaiah 9:2, 6 – Reader #1
Jeremiah 31:31-33 – Reader #2
Songs of Hope
O Come Emmanuel
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
The Christmas Story Part 1
Luke 1:26-38 – The Angel Visits Mary – Reader #3
Luke 1:46-55 – Mary Worships God – Reader #4
Matthew 1:18-25 – The Angel Visits Joseph – Reader #5
Songs
O Little Town of Bethlehem
The First Noel
The Christmas Story Part 2
Luke 2:1-7 – Birth of Jesus – Reader #6
Luke 2:8-20 – Shepherds – Reader #7
Matthew 2:1-12 – the Magi – Reader #8
Songs
Away in a Manger
Offering
Communion scripture - John 1:1-5, 14; 3:16-17 – Reader #9
Reflection
Communion (Cup and Bread up front)
Closing Prayer:
Let the just rejoice, for their justifier is born.Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their Savior is born.Let the captives rejoice, for their Redeemer is born.Let slaves rejoice, for their Master is born.Let free men rejoice, for their Liberator is born.Let All Christians rejoice, for Jesus Christ is born.
Knowing all that God has done for you, the gift of Jesus' body and blood, what are you going to give back?
Here is the outline for our night.
Opening Prayer
Scriptures of Hope
Isaiah 9:2, 6 – Reader #1
Jeremiah 31:31-33 – Reader #2
Songs of Hope
O Come Emmanuel
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
The Christmas Story Part 1
Luke 1:26-38 – The Angel Visits Mary – Reader #3
Luke 1:46-55 – Mary Worships God – Reader #4
Matthew 1:18-25 – The Angel Visits Joseph – Reader #5
Songs
O Little Town of Bethlehem
The First Noel
The Christmas Story Part 2
Luke 2:1-7 – Birth of Jesus – Reader #6
Luke 2:8-20 – Shepherds – Reader #7
Matthew 2:1-12 – the Magi – Reader #8
Songs
Away in a Manger
Offering
Communion scripture - John 1:1-5, 14; 3:16-17 – Reader #9
Reflection
Communion (Cup and Bread up front)
Closing Prayer:
Let the just rejoice, for their justifier is born.Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their Savior is born.Let the captives rejoice, for their Redeemer is born.Let slaves rejoice, for their Master is born.Let free men rejoice, for their Liberator is born.Let All Christians rejoice, for Jesus Christ is born.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Nearing the end of the semester!
Penn State's Thanksgiving break is like a big tease. The students get one week off and then have to return for two weeks of class and finals. After a week off, many have trouble getting back in the groove.
Nevertheless, a lot of activities are going on at campus in these two weeks. On Thursday CSF is hosting a question and answer night where myself and one student will seek to provide answers to any questions people have, recognizing and probably often repeating, that we do not claim to have all the answers. Thus, we titled it "seeking answers together" and the goal is that after the night is over, we have all learned a bit.
Next week CSF has a Christmas-themed worship night on Tuesday and caroling and a Christmas party on Thursday. Then on Friday we are partnering with the Step Team for a fundraiser to benefit the fight against human trafficking. The Step Team is doing a talent show while CSF members will share info on the horror of modern-day slavery. It is a good partnership and I pray it goes well.
So lots going on! God be with us.
Nevertheless, a lot of activities are going on at campus in these two weeks. On Thursday CSF is hosting a question and answer night where myself and one student will seek to provide answers to any questions people have, recognizing and probably often repeating, that we do not claim to have all the answers. Thus, we titled it "seeking answers together" and the goal is that after the night is over, we have all learned a bit.
Next week CSF has a Christmas-themed worship night on Tuesday and caroling and a Christmas party on Thursday. Then on Friday we are partnering with the Step Team for a fundraiser to benefit the fight against human trafficking. The Step Team is doing a talent show while CSF members will share info on the horror of modern-day slavery. It is a good partnership and I pray it goes well.
So lots going on! God be with us.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Recent Reads
Working on a college campus, I see students struggling with life in various ways. I found this article to be eye-opening. Here is one quote:
"The 2009 National Survey of Counseling Directors, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, found that 94 percent of directors reported an increase in students with severe psychological conditions, including depression, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol addictions. In addition, 91 percent believe a greater number of students are arriving on campus already taking psychiatric medications."
Also, if you want a nice summary of the importance of campus ministry, I found this article to be helpful. Here's the fact that churches need to face today: "In the past, churches would expect that people who dropped out of church during their college-age days would come back once they were married with kids. The problem is they're not coming back."
Perhaps not as unrelated to campus ministry as we might think are articles on the greed of banks (and many college students are still pursuing the American dream of more, more, more) and an article on forced abortions in China (a rare issue that might bring pro-life and pro-choice Americans together as neither life nor choice is getting a hearing here).
"The 2009 National Survey of Counseling Directors, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, found that 94 percent of directors reported an increase in students with severe psychological conditions, including depression, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol addictions. In addition, 91 percent believe a greater number of students are arriving on campus already taking psychiatric medications."
Also, if you want a nice summary of the importance of campus ministry, I found this article to be helpful. Here's the fact that churches need to face today: "In the past, churches would expect that people who dropped out of church during their college-age days would come back once they were married with kids. The problem is they're not coming back."
Perhaps not as unrelated to campus ministry as we might think are articles on the greed of banks (and many college students are still pursuing the American dream of more, more, more) and an article on forced abortions in China (a rare issue that might bring pro-life and pro-choice Americans together as neither life nor choice is getting a hearing here).
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
If the Phillies win today...
If the Phillies win tonight, which is a big if, we will have a game seven tomorrow at 8 PM. This will leave me with a problem. CSF meets on Thursdays at 7:30. People were distracted last Thursday when it was only game 2, no one will be focused when there is a game 7! So should we just cut our losses, cancel CSF, and watch the game?
Some might consider this a sacrilege: canceling a Christian worship time because of a baseball game? Wouldn't have CSF be a test of the students' faith, do they care more for Jesus or the Phillies and Yannkees? That seems like holier-than-thou pontificating to me. The whole point of CSF is to build a community of Christians on campus who can effectively reach out to their peers. Will this community be damaged that much if we set aside our normal routine to join those peers in a rare cultural experience (after all, game sevens are rare)? The right thing to do is probably to cancel CSF and encourage the students to watch the game with their friends. Those who do not like baseball can still get together for fun times.
Of course, if the Yankees end it tonight this whole thing is a moot point. We'll see.
Some might consider this a sacrilege: canceling a Christian worship time because of a baseball game? Wouldn't have CSF be a test of the students' faith, do they care more for Jesus or the Phillies and Yannkees? That seems like holier-than-thou pontificating to me. The whole point of CSF is to build a community of Christians on campus who can effectively reach out to their peers. Will this community be damaged that much if we set aside our normal routine to join those peers in a rare cultural experience (after all, game sevens are rare)? The right thing to do is probably to cancel CSF and encourage the students to watch the game with their friends. Those who do not like baseball can still get together for fun times.
Of course, if the Yankees end it tonight this whole thing is a moot point. We'll see.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Question of the Day
As I mentioned a while back, our theme this semester on Thursdays is to seek answers to tough questions people have about Christianity. Its been fun so far. Tonight one of our students has asked to talk about the persecuted Church in the world. I decided that a good question to go along with that would be: Why don't miracles happen today like they did in Bible times? This question relates to the persecuted church because in many places where the church is persecuted we do hear stories of miracles of healing and such. But often in America, the only miracles we hear about are of people finding close parking spaces at the mall on a rainy day! I don't think that counts.
So I wonder, how would you answer that question were it posed to you?
So I wonder, how would you answer that question were it posed to you?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Old dying church...new vibrant church
Part of being a campus minister, at least for me, means traveling around and visiting churches to share the vision for ministry on campus. Being a commissioned missionary in the Evangelical Congregational Church, the denomination I grew up in and, obviously, am still a part of (along with the Christian Church/Church of Christ), most of the churches I visit are EC churches. Like any other EC churches, each church is unique and you can never be sure what you'll get.
This morning I was invited to visit, for the third time, First EC Church in Reading. I believe this was one of the first churches I visited back in 2006, then I was invited again in 2008. Each time I have been given an hour in Sunday school to speak on campus ministry. After that I sit in the worship service, worshiping with the community.
First EC Church is certainly a church with a long history that appears to be near the end of its race. While I am not sure of their history exactly, two things give clues. Their huge and beautiful building indicates they once had a larger, vibrant congregation. But their current attendance is around thirty, most of whom are well into retirement and nearing the end of their sojourn here on earth. It would be really tempting, if that was the end of the story, to be a bit sad for this church.
In the time since First EC began the demographics in Reading have changed. Along with more and more Hispanics moving into the area, churches have been planted. One of these churches, affiliated with the EC church, is Vida Nueva (New Life). For the last number of years (I am not sure how long, but at least as far back as 2006 when I first visited), First EC has thrown wide the doors to their facilities, allowing Vida Nueva to worship in this beautiful building. While First EC's thirty or so attendees barely makes a dent in the pews, Vida Nueva packs the place.
So we see while one church is finishing its race it is helping another church to begin its own race. This is beautiful. Even this is not the end.
Today between Sunday school and the worship service one of the ladies told me that another church, Living Word, is meeting in their building on Sunday evenings. This new church has already grown big enough to, like Vida Nueva, to pack the sanctuary. And like Vida Nueva, this church reflects the demographics of the city of Reading.
The Holy Spirit is certainly moving in the world today as churches like Vida Nueva and Living Word are emerging. In the evangelical sub-culture there is a lot of talk about the "emerging" church. This week I have been reading The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah and he has forcefully shown that the real emerging church is the one growing in Latin America, Africa and Asia as well as among such immigrant communities in the USA. If our eyes are not open we might miss this, but this is the true evangelical church emerging in 21st century America.
This morning I was invited to visit, for the third time, First EC Church in Reading. I believe this was one of the first churches I visited back in 2006, then I was invited again in 2008. Each time I have been given an hour in Sunday school to speak on campus ministry. After that I sit in the worship service, worshiping with the community.
First EC Church is certainly a church with a long history that appears to be near the end of its race. While I am not sure of their history exactly, two things give clues. Their huge and beautiful building indicates they once had a larger, vibrant congregation. But their current attendance is around thirty, most of whom are well into retirement and nearing the end of their sojourn here on earth. It would be really tempting, if that was the end of the story, to be a bit sad for this church.
In the time since First EC began the demographics in Reading have changed. Along with more and more Hispanics moving into the area, churches have been planted. One of these churches, affiliated with the EC church, is Vida Nueva (New Life). For the last number of years (I am not sure how long, but at least as far back as 2006 when I first visited), First EC has thrown wide the doors to their facilities, allowing Vida Nueva to worship in this beautiful building. While First EC's thirty or so attendees barely makes a dent in the pews, Vida Nueva packs the place.
So we see while one church is finishing its race it is helping another church to begin its own race. This is beautiful. Even this is not the end.
Today between Sunday school and the worship service one of the ladies told me that another church, Living Word, is meeting in their building on Sunday evenings. This new church has already grown big enough to, like Vida Nueva, to pack the sanctuary. And like Vida Nueva, this church reflects the demographics of the city of Reading.
The Holy Spirit is certainly moving in the world today as churches like Vida Nueva and Living Word are emerging. In the evangelical sub-culture there is a lot of talk about the "emerging" church. This week I have been reading The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah and he has forcefully shown that the real emerging church is the one growing in Latin America, Africa and Asia as well as among such immigrant communities in the USA. If our eyes are not open we might miss this, but this is the true evangelical church emerging in 21st century America.
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