A couple things are running through my mind today. First of all, today is the "United Nations International Day of Peace". Take some time today to pray for peace. As Oscar Arias Sanchez said in his Nobel Lecture:
"Peace is not a matter of prizes or trophies. It is not the product of a victory or command. It has no finishing line, no final deadline, no fixed definition of achievement. Peace is a never-ending process, the work of many decisions by many people in many countries. It is an attitude, a way of life, a way of solving problems and resolving conflicts. It cannot be forced on the smallest nation or enforced by the largest. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests. It requires us to work and live together."
So we not only pray for peace, but pray that we be instruments of peace -- and that we help the process through our attitude, way of life, and processes as we work and live together.
Secondly, there are many of you that I don't know all that well -- and some of you I've never met in person. I would love to join you for coffee or a meal sometime in the next couple weeks. No agenda other than getting to know you a bit, and doing my best to answer any questions you ask me. If you don't have a meal plan, I'd be happy to treat. You can pick the location on campus. Just call/TXT me and I'll be there if I'm available. (Note: advance notice is appreciated.)
Secondly, there are many of you that I don't know all that well -- and some of you I've never met in person. I would love to join you for coffee or a meal sometime in the next couple weeks. No agenda other than getting to know you a bit, and doing my best to answer any questions you ask me. If you don't have a meal plan, I'd be happy to treat. You can pick the location on campus. Just call/TXT me and I'll be there if I'm available. (Note: advance notice is appreciated.)
God, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Help me to seek creative and peaceful resolutions to the challenges in my life, and fill me with a contagious attitude of peace. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Please feel free to share these emails with a friend -- many people won't know that we exist without your help.
If you don't want to receive these emails, just reply and let us know. We don't want to spam anyone.
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Million Minutes for Peace: We're proud to partner in the "Million Minutes for Peace Campaign." Together we're working to collect one million pledges to pray for peace for one minute at NOON on the United Nations International Day of Peace (9/21). Visit http://amillionminutesforpeace.org/ to watch the 60-second video and join us by pledging your prayer for peace. Thank you and may peace prevail on earth.
747 Creative Christian Worship: Wed. 9/22 at 7:47pm in SUB2 room 4 (3rd floor). Worship with your whole self; your voice matters. We'll be digging deeper into our exploration of hospitality. ALL are welcome! Note that we are in SUB2 this week. Call/TXT 703-829-0220 if you have any trouble finding us.
"BE STILL & KNOW" Fall Retreat to the BEACH: October 8-10 in Ocean City, MD. Unplug and refocus.
All are welcome!
Includes fellowship, fun, worship, prayer, and
a bonfire on Assateague Island. We'll join other students with Lutheran Campus Ministry groups from across Maryland & Delaware. Cost is $20 (scholarships available). Facebook event. You won't want to miss this, so RSVP today! Videos/your thoughts: We are in the process of making a couple short videos. One to promote Lutheran Campus Ministry in general, and another to promote 747 Creative Christian Worship. If you are willing to be in either of these videos, let me know. Also, we'd like to use your words. Feel free to send me things you think students need to know about these ministries, and we'll see what fits together. To jog your mind, try answering one of the following questions:
+ Why is campus ministry important? What do your friends need to know about it? What are your dreams for it?
+ Why do you keep coming back to worship? What do you find when we worship?
Connect2Mason Faith Blog Partnership: C2M is looking for students involved in faith-based student orgs to write short bi-weekly submissions on topics such as 'determining right and wrong,' 'what is truth,' etc. -- to help recognize the diversity and similarity of the worldviews of students of different faiths. Let me know if you might be interested in helping out with this and I can get you more info.
Game Night: Friday 10/1, 6-9pm in JC meeting room G (3rd floor) -- Bring a friend and your favorite game, snack, and/or music -- or just bring yourself. We'll have fun playing games, snacking, listening to a variety of music, and getting to know each other. ALL are welcome!
Book club: Are you interested in reading & discussing "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis? If so, please contact us and we'll try to arrange a time that works for everyone who is interested.
Running group: Our bodies are God's wonderful creations -- we should take care of them. If you are interested in being part of a group that will go running once/week (probably on Saturday mornings), let us know and we'll figure out the best time.
"Faith Chat" -- Pastor Darcy Percy will be having a lunchtime faith conversation group in the JC on Wednesdays (lasting approx. 5 weeks). We're taking suggestions for the time, so that those who are interested aren't stuck in class, if possible. Let us know ASAP what works best for you between 10:30am-3:30pm. (Assume it will end up being roughly an hour/week.)
Theology Pub: Tue 10/5, 5pm-7pm in the Mason Rathskeller (lower level of SUB1) -- join us to discuss God, theology, faith, life, and how they intersect over food and drink.
Prayer Labyrinth: Tue 10/12, Noon-4pm: JC meeting room D (3rd floor). Labyrinths are ancient tools for prayer and meditation. Drop-in anytime Noon-4pm to try it out. Seek peace and prayer amidst your busy schedule.
Winner of a Lutheran Campus Ministry T-shirt: Alex Eliason-Beam. Email/call/TXT us within one week to claim your prize. (Subscribers to our email list will periodically be chosen to win a prize, with the grand prize being an iPod Touch!)
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There is a lot more coming -- and don't forget to join the Facebook group & invite your friends:
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Grace and peace,
Ben
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Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason Universityhttp://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran
http://facebook.com/LCMGMU
http://twitter.com/LCMGMU
http://GMU747.org
MSN 2C7; SUB 1 room 207; Fairfax, VA 22030
703-829-0220
