- "Gospel According to the Simpsons" is cancelled this Friday while I'm in Nashville for a campus ministry conference.
- Our website has undergone a complete redesign: http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran/
- We're in the news: http://www.connect2mason.com/gospel_simpsons08
- Consider coming to a FREE retreat with us -- see MALSM retreat info below. We'll provide everything!
Keep reading for details on this and more:
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Thursday 4/3: TABLE TALK with United College Ministries
Friday 4/4: WHERE DO I GO NOW GOD - United College Ministries
Tuesday 4/8: Pride Alliance discussing spirituality, religion, and meaning-making within the LGBTQA community
Thursday 4/10: PEER MINISTRY (student employment) applications DUE
Thursday 4/10: Shared dinner with United College Ministries
Thursday 4/10: WITH ONE VOICE Christian unity event (FOOD before)
Friday 4/18 - Sunday 4/20: MALSM RETREAT
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I just finished spending a lot of time doing a long delayed redesign of our website (I'm still cleaning up the typos). Some of you haven't met me in person yet, so I'd like to share a quick blurb about myself: My name is Ben and I'm a sinner. I live a life full of high points and low points. I try to live in tune with God, but I often find myself marching to my own beat. Despite this, I live in the joy that I am loved and claimed by God and welcomed home by a wonderful wife who accepts me in all of my oddity. For more on me, explore the website.
Martin Luther described Christians as "simultaneously saint and sinner". As Lutherans, we believe that saints are forgiven sinners -- nothing more or less than that. Being a saint isn't about following all the rules, it is about who I am in the eyes of God -- is't about relationship to God. It doesn't mean that we aren't still sinners, but that our sins are covered with the righteousness of Christ. This is part of the context behind Martin Luther's saying "Be a sinner, and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice more boldly still!" (translations vary)
This doesn't mean we don't try to live in tune with God. We seek to love God and neighbor, to show mercy and forgiveness, to care for Creation, and more! Yet in all of that, we know that what we are doing isn't about being "good enough" to earn anything -- we are loved and accepted by God for being who we are. We are forgiven sinners.
Dear Lord, Thank you for loving and accepting us. We seek to do your will so that we might grow closer to you. Help us to listen for your voice -- to understand what you are calling us to do. AMEN.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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(In general, ALL students, faculty, or staff at GMU or any other college in northern Virginia are invited and welcomed at our events. Being "Lutheran" is never required. All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the "GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)
PEER MINISTRY APPLICATION: Are you motivated, creative, and interested in faith? Do you need a part-time job for next academic year? If you think you might be interested in a student employment position with our ministry at GMU, see the application available at http://novalcm.org/PeerMinistryApplication.pdf --- the application includes a rough job description. Applications are due by Thursday, April 10, 2008. Please contact me at gmuLutherans@bbuss.com if you have any questions.
DINNER WITH UNITED COLLEGE MINISTRIES: We're going to join our friends from United College Ministries on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 7pm at the outside tables behind the Bistro. Afterword, we'll walk over to the With One Voice event below.
WITH ONE VOICE: After the dinner above, we'll walk over to this event, a night of Christian unity which we are co-sponsoring with many of the Christian ministries on campus -- including live praise music, inspiring testimony, and refreshments on Thursday April 10, 2008 at 7:30pm in Enterprise 80. Invite your friends along! RSVP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12995697690&ref=share
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS: We will not be meeting this week, but we will meet again next Friday, April 11th at 3pm-4pm on the 3rd floor of the Johnson Center (meeting room B) to watch the Simpsons and discuss. Bring some friends along -- EVERYONE is welcome! RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=37012225216
SPRING RETREAT with Mid-Atlantic Lutheran Student Movement (MALSM): (***Non-Lutherans Welcomed***) Students from northern VA, DC, MD, DE, NJ, PA, and WV will gather at Sequanota Camp in Jennerstown, PA under the theme "Roughing it with Jesus: Back to the Basics of our Faith". Cost is FREE if you tell me you are going, including a free ride! We'll leave campus Friday, April 18th at 4:30pm and return during the afternoon on Sunday, April 20th. Please contact me at gmuLutherans@bbuss.com for more details and the registration form. You don't want to miss this!
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP CARPOOL: Katie Kane leads the worship carpool If you want to go to worship on a Sunday morning, email her at kkane [at] gmu.edu to work out the details.
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HOSTED BY OTHERS:
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TABLE TALK - sponsored by United College Ministries: Free food and fellowship. All are welcome. Email dmay@gmu.edu for more information. Thursdays, 7:00pm-9:00pm at St. George's United Methodist Church (4910 Ox Rd, Fairfax).
"WHERE DO I GO NOW GOD" SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION - sponsored by United College Ministries: Explore life-direction / vocation with Pastor Herb. Email dmay@gmu.edu for more information. Fridays at 11:45am in SUB I outside the Campus Ministry office Fridays Noon. All are welcome.
PRIDE ALLIANCE - On Tuesday, April 8th at 7:30pm in Johnson Center meeting room E, Pride Alliance will be discussing spirituality, religion, and meaning-making within the LGBTQA community. I'll be going to listen and to show my support. If you'd like to join me, let me know, or just show up!
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May you experience God's presence in your life this week!
