Upcoming Events -- April 8, 2008

The headlines (details down below)
====================
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: WITH ONE VOICE Christian unity event (FREE FOOD before)
Friday 4/11: GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS
Friday 4/12: WHERE DO I GO NOW GOD - United College Ministries
Thursday 4/17: TABLE TALK with United College Ministries
*** Friday 4/18 - Sunday 4/20: MALSM RETREAT -- FREE! ***
====================

I spent the weekend in Nashville with over 80 campus ministers, pastors, and chaplains from across the country. It was both exhilarating and exhausting -- and I'm excited to be back on campus. The weekend left an impression on me -- there are so many thoughts, memories, and lyrics dancing across my mind. I've heard more stories than I can recount of how God is loose in the world, and of how love and grace are powerful forces that are literally transforming the world. I'm excited about all the possibilities for this community at GMU. God is at work here.

Dear God, it's unsettling to think of how powerful love is. Be with us as we live out amidst our questions. Allow us to swim in your grace. Move us with your spirit. Transform us and use us to transform the world. AMEN.

====================
UPCOMING EVENTS:
====================
(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 / spirituality? 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. (If you need a time extension beyond 11:59pm on 4/10/2008, make sure you let me know!)


FREE 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 together (described next).


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 (or just show up)


GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS: We'll watch an episode of the Simpsons and discuss -- see the article in Connect Mason: http://www.connect2mason.com/gospel_simpsons08
Friday, April 11th at 3pm-4pm on the 3rd floor of the Johnson Center (meeting room C -- we've moved over one room) -- EVERYONE is welcome -- we mean that! RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=37012225216 (or just show up).


KIOSK: On Wednesday April 16th I'll be at Kiosk H in the Johnson Center, 4pm-8pm. Please drop by to chat -- I've love to spend some time with you. A Facebook event to help you remember: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11361536157


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.


====================
HOSTED BY OTHERS:
====================

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 and to live amidst some of life's challenging questions with others. I invite you to join me in helping to share the abundant grace and love of God. If you'd like to join me, let me know, or just show up! See the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24219572168&ref=share

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.

====================

God is loose in the world!
Love is loose in the world!

Upcoming Events -- April 2, 2008

Top Billing:

• "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:
====================
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
====================

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.

====================
UPCOMING EVENTS:
====================
(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.


====================
HOSTED BY OTHERS:
====================

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!

====================

May you experience God's presence in your life this week!

Upcoming Events -- March 27, 2008

We won't be meeting for the "Gospel According to the Simpsons" this Friday. I'm out of town and I couldn't get a room anyway. It woudl be great if we could get a few more people to help out with NOVACO on Monday -- it will be so much better if you're there with us. Also, check out the MALSM retreat info -- are you interested in a free retreat that will be awesome? Finally, consider applying to be a Peer Minister next year -- talk to me about it if you are trying to figure out if it is a good fit for you.


Details on all this stuff below:
====================
Thursday 3/27: TABLE TALK with United College Ministries
Thursday 3/27: JESUS: PROPHET OF ISLAM - sponsored by GMU MSA
Friday 3/28: WHERE DO I GO NOW GOD - United College Ministries
Saturday 2/29: Fixing up an estate for SAMARITAN WOMEN
Monday 3/31: Playing with kids to serve NOVACO
Friday 4/4: Gospel According to the Simpsons
Thursday 4/10: Peer Ministry applications due
Thursday 4/10: With One Voice event on campus
Friday 4/18 - Sunday 4/20: MALSM retreat
====================


Sometimes, life feels crazy and hectic. We get so busy that we feel like we don't have time for God. Sometimes we have to make time. It's not that God won't love us either way, but that we won't feel whole and at peace while running around cut off from God. Both time alone with God and time together as a community are important as we seek to grow spiritually.


Dear God, please help us to find time to spend with you, away from the chaos of our daily lives, and help us to experience your presence abiding with us and moving among our community. AMEN.

====================
UPCOMING EVENTS:
====================
(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.)



NOVACO: The Northern Virginia Coalition (NOVACO -- http://www.novaco.org/) helps homeless victims of domestic abuse become healthy, secure, and self-sufficient. We'll play with children while their mothers are in classes to equip them for the workforce. We'll meet at the George Mason Statue on Monday, March 31st leaving campus at 6pm and returning by 8:30pm. RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9999426025





SAMARITAN WOMEN: We'll join other young adults from the region in continuing to fix up an old estate to be used for a transitional, residential program for young women (http://www.thesamaritanwomen.org/). Last time we worked in the yard. Who knows what we'll be doing this time. (Unfortunately, I can't go, but GMU student Erika Kummernuss has offered a ride for anyone who wants to go.) I highly recommend this event! March 29th leaving campus around 8am and returning by 4pm. RSVP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10971570798 -- you can find Erika as a "Confirmed Guest" to ask for a ride.




GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS: We will not be meeting this week, but we will meet again Friday, April 4th at 3pm-4pm on the 3rd floor of the Johnson Center to watch the Simpsons and discuss. Bring some friends along -- EVERYONE is welcome! RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=7886169027


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.


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.


WITH ONE VOICE: This event is co-sponsored by many of the Christian ministries on campus on Thursday at 7:30pm. If you are interested in helping to plan this event, please let me know ASAP and I'll put you in touch with the people heading it up. Look forward to more information on this event soon!


SUMMER JOBS & MORE: This info can be found at http://gmulutherans.blogspot.com/2008/03/employment-opportunities-near-and-far.html

====================
HOSTED BY OTHERS:
====================

JESUS: PROPHET OF ISLAM - sponsored by GMU Muslim Students Association: "With this event, we hope to clearify some of the misconceptions of how Jesus (peace be upon him) is perceived in Islam. We would really appreciate it if you would be able to attend this event." RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14402662039 or visit http://gmu.edu/org/msa/ for more information Thursday, March 27 at 7:30pm in Enterprise room 80.


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.

====================

May you experience God's presence this week!

Upcoming Events -- March 19, 2008

See below for information on:

• The Gospel According to the Simpsons
• Playing with kids to serve NOVACO
• Helping fix up an old house for The Samaritan Women
• MALSM RETREAT for only $5
• Job: Peer Ministry
• Crossroads of Faith and Identity
• Jesus: Prophet of Islam
• and more!

====================

This is "Holy Week" -- the time in the church calendar when we process the days leading up to and including the crucirfixion of Jesus the Christ and columinating in the celebration of his resurrection on Easter morning. Although we recognize through the whole process that we know the tomb is empty, it is important to also remember that there was a time when it wasn't. This is one of the ways that God shows us how deep his love for us is.

Lord, this week we stumble to the foot of the cross. We humble ourselves before you as Jesus humbled himself. We desire to be vessels of Your love to the world around us. AMEN.

====================
UPCOMING EVENTS:
====================
(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.)


HOLY WEEK WORSHIP: Most Lutheran churches will be having worship this week on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday following the chronology of the holy drama of the Passion of Christ. These congregations are close to campus and have worship times posted on their websites:
http://www.lordoflifelutheran.com/home.xml
http://blclife.org/
http://elcvienna.org/


GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS: Friday, March 21st at 3pm-4pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center meeting room B (3rd floor) to watch the Simpsons and discuss. Bring some friends along -- EVERYONE is welcome!


NOVACO: The Northern Virginia Coalition (NOVACO) helps homeless victims of domestic abuse become healthy, secure, and self-sufficient. We'll play with children while their mothers are in classes to equip them for the workforce. Monday, March 31st leaving campus at 6pm and returning by 8:30pm.


SAMARITAN WOMEN: We'll join other young adults from the region in continuing to fix up an old estate to be used for a transitional, residential program for young women (http://www.thesamaritanwomen.org/). Last time we worked in the yard. Who knows what we'll be doing this time. (Unfortunately, I can't go, but GMU student Erika Kummernuss has offered a ride for anyone who wants to go.) I highly recommend this event! March 29th leaving campus around 8am and returning by 4pm. RSVP on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10971570798 -- you can find Erika as a "Confirmed Guest" to ask for a ride.


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 only $5 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: 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.


LENTEN DEVOTIONS: I've been providing a scripture-based devotion for you to read and pray with each day during Lent. Feel free to share them with any interested friends as well. There are only a few days left, but you can still get on the list any of these ways:
1. Join our "Lenten Devotions" Facebook group: http://gmu.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7958874287&ref=share
2. Send gmuLutherans@bbuss.com an E-mail message asking to receive the devotions by email.
3. Subscribe to the RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LentenDevotions


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.


SUMMER JOBS & MORE: This info can be found at http://gmulutherans.blogspot.com/2008/03/employment-opportunities-near-and-far.html


====================
HOSTED BY OTHERS:
====================

AT THE CROSSROADS OF FAITH AND IDENTITY - part of Pride Week 2008
"Join us in an interfaith conversation in which persons of all faiths explore with Muslim, Jewish, and Christian speakers how our religious heritage and identities such as culture, race, gender, clas, and ability have shaped the way we perceive ourselves or others as members of the faith-affirming queer community." Call 703-993-2700 for more information. Tuesday, March 25 at 4:30pm-6:00pm in the Bistro.


JESUS: PROPHET OF ISLAM- sponsored by GMU Muslim Students Association
"With this event, we hope to clearify some of the misconceptions of how Jesus (peace be upon him) is perceived in Islam. We would really appreciate it if you would be able to attend this event." RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14402662039 or visit http://gmu.edu/org/msa/ for more information Thursday, March 27 at 7:30pm in Enterprise room 80.


TABLE TALK - sponsored by United College Ministries
Free food and fellowship. All are welcome. Email dmay@gmu.edu for more information. Thursdays at 7:00pm at St. George's United Methodist Church (4910 Ox Rd, Fairfax).


DISCUSSION: DIRECTION / VOCATION - 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 11:45 am. All are welcome.


====================

Have a great week!

Upcoming Events -- February 27, 2008

I keep hearing how the generation in college right now likes Jesus, but doesn't like religion. There is a sentiment that the institution of Christianity isn't doing the work of Jesus -- that the institution is more concerned with their carpets and sound systems than with loving and caring for their neighbors -- that the institution has become as materialistic and shallow as the rest of the world.


Are we better off stuggling with faith on our own? Can we discern God's will on our own, apart from communities?


Maybe we can....God does work in mysterious ways -- but I don't think we are better off going it alone. I think that communities are essential for those wishing to follow Jesus. Jesus said "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them" (Matthew 18:20). I think Jesus probably is with us when we are alone too, but he emphasized coming together as community.


Do you have a mental image for what you think a Christian community should be like? Let me know if you have ideas, because our community is open to your input -- and we hope that we can enable our combined vision to become reality on this campus.


Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of community. May we continue to support each other, have fun with each other, and accomplish things we never thought possible with your help. AMEN.


====================
UPCOMING EVENTS:
----------------------------------------
(All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the "GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)

Game Night / Simpsons : Friday, 3pm-6pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center meeting room B (3rd floor) to play board games and watch the Simpsons -- laughing and having fun. Whatever peope want to do. I'm tying to line up some free food too! Feel free to bring your favorite game! Bring some friends along -- EVERYONE is welcome! Link to Facebook event.

Sunday Morning Worship: 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.

Lenten Devotions: Each day during Lent, I plan to provide a scripture-based devotion for you to read and pray with. I will commit to writing them if you commit to reading them. Feel free to share them with any interested friends as well. To get the devotions daily, do any of the following:
1. Join our "Lenten Devotions" Facebook group .
2. Send gmuLutherans@bbuss.com an E-mail message asking to receive the devotions by email.
3. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Survey: Please don't forget to take a few minutes for this survey so that our ministry can work to better serve you!

Service Opportunities:
I'm in the process of scheduling more opportunities with the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter, the FACETS/Fairfax County Hypothermia Shelter, and Habitat for Humanity. If you have particular dates or events that you are interested in, please let me know!

Other events of interest hosted by United College Ministries:

• Discussion on life-direction/vocation with Pastor Herb in SUB I outside the Campus Ministry office Fridays 11:45 am. All are welcome.
• Table Talk on Thursdays at 7:00 pm at St. George's United Methodist Church (4910 Ox Rd, Fairfax).
• Mission Trip doing Hurricane Reconstruction in Mississippi during Spring Break (March 8-15) -- 2 spots left that need filled ASAP.

--
Experience the loving grace of God renewing the world through Jesus Christ crucified. Our servant community laughs, questions, worships, hopes, struggles, prays, volunteers, and grows together. GMU Lutherans.
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19907586200
Website: http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran

Upcoming Events -- February 19, 2008

Read each line emphasizing the underlined word:
There is nothing you can do to make God love you more.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you more.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you more.
There is nothing you can do to make God love you more.

There is nothing you can do to make God love you less.

There is nothing you can do to make God love you less.

There is nothing you can do to make God love you less.

There is nothing you can do to make God love you less.

Think about that. Notice how changing the emphasized word subtly changes the focus of the sentence. To get the meaning we tend to need them all. The point is:
YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD.
GOD LOVES YOU.
Period. Full stop. No "if ...". No "but ..." Right NOW. God made you and God loves you. Let it sink in...

Dear Lord, we thank you for loving us. We acknowledge that our lives and absolutely everything in them come from you. Help us to believe this, and help our faith shape our lives. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

===================
UPCOMING EVENTS:
--------------------------------
(All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the "GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)

Gospel According to the Simpsons: Friday, 3pm-4pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center meeting room B (3rd floor) to watch an episode of the Simpsons, laugh together, & discuss. Bring some friends along -- everyone is welcome! Link to Facebook event.

Sunday Morning Worship at the National Cathedral: Here's the schedule:
8:45am -- meet at the George Mason Statue to carpool to the Washington National Cathedral. Kriss and I can take up to 8 passengers unless someone else wants to drive.
10:00am -- "Sunday Forum" with Jim Wallis (founder of Sojourner's & best-selling author)
11:15am -- Holy Eucharist Worship Service with guest preacher The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston
1:00pm -- back at GMU (unless everyone votes to stop for lunch someplace -- my treat)
This should be a great experience! Link to the Facebook event.


Lenten Devotions: Each day during Lent, I plan to provide a scripture-based devotion for you to read and pray with. I will commit to writing them if you commit to reading them. Feel free to share them with any interested friends as well. To get the devotions daily, do any of the following:
1. Join our "Lenten Devotions" Facebook group.
2. Send gmuLutherans@bbuss.com an E-mail message asking to receive the devotions by email.
3. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Survey: Please don't forget to take a few minutes for this survey so that our ministry can work to better serve you!


Kiosks: I'll be at Kiosk B in the Johnson Center on Friday 2/22/2008 from 10:30am-2:30pm. If anyone would like to come by to help represent Lutheran Campus Ministry or to learn more about Lutheran Campus Ministry, your presence will be appreciated.

Service Opportunities:
I'm in the process of scheduling more opportunities with the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter, the FACETS/Fairfax County Hypothermia Shelter, and Habitat for Humanity. If you have particular dates or events that you are interested in, please let me know!

Other events of interest hosted by United College Ministries:

• Discussion on life-direction/vocation with Pastor Herb in SUB I outside the Campus Ministry office Fridays 11:45 am. All are welcome.
• Table Talk on Thursdays at 7:00 pm at St. George's United Methodist Church (4910 Ox Rd, Fairfax).

--
Experience the loving grace of God renewing the world through Jesus Christ crucified. Our servant community laughs, questions, worships, hopes, struggles, prays, volunteers, and grows together. GMU Lutherans.
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19907586200
Website: http://gmulutherans.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Events - Febuary 13, 2008

Hello!

Today is the 7th day of Lent. I've been finding the discipline of sending out daily devotions to be both exciting and exhausting! I hope that this daily devotion experimetn is accomplishing a couple things: (1) that they are helping you to think about scripture either more often, or in a way that you wouldn't normally think; and (2) that we might all remember that we are a community doing things together even when we aren't all in the same room.

I also thought it might be really cool to open the devotion writing up to you. If anyone wants to write one -- just let me know. You can pick a scripture that you love, or a scripture that you really struggle with, or you can pull one off a daily lectionary. Write anywhere from 2 sentences to a few paragraphs to try to engage people in the Word. Then write a short closing prayer & send it off to me.

If writing devotions isn't your thing, maybe you are interested in being part of our student leadership team. Let me know if you are, because I'll be deciding on a meeting time during the next couple weeks. Remember, this isn't my ministry -- it isn't even *our* ministry -- this is God's ministry, and God can work through all of us.

Dear Lord, thank you for all the blessings in our lives, for food, friends, family, and so much more. Help us to grow closer to you this Lent. Help us to notice you working in our lives, and to make more time for your in our days. In Jesus name, Amen.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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(All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the " GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)

Lenten Devotions: Each day during Lent, I plan to provide a scripture-based devotion for you to read and pray with. I will commit to writing them if you commit to reading them. Feel free to share them with any interested friends as well. To get the devotions daily, do any of the following:
1. Join our " Lenten Devotions" Facebook group.
2. Send gmuLutherans@bbuss.com an E-mail message asking to receive the devotions by email.
3. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Gospel According to the Simpsons: Friday, 3pm-4pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center meeting room B (3rd floor) to watch an episode of the Simpsons, laugh together, & discuss. Bring some friends along -- everyone is welcome! Link to Facebook event. This week, I'll be providing an early dinner as some of us will be leaving to volunteer at the Hypothermia Shelter immediately afterward.

Hypothermia Shelter: ***We still need more people!*** The meeting location has changed to the George Mason Statue. We'll be helping out by providing hospitality for an evening -- assisting with dinner, conversation with the guests, playing cards, making coffee, emptying garbage ... whatever. Join us on Friday, February 15th departing campus at 4:15pm to help prevent hypothermia deaths in Fairfax County this winter. Link to Facebook event.

Sunday Morning Worship: Meet Katie Kane at the Parking Services building by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck at 10:30am to carpool to worship at a local congregation. She'll be creating a Facebook event for this soon.

Survey: Please don't forget to take a few minutes for this survey so that our ministry can work to better serve you!

--
Experience the loving grace of God renewing the world through Jesus Christ crucified. Our servant community laughs, questions, worships, hopes, struggles, prays, volunteers, and grows together. GMU Lutherans.
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19907586200
Website: http://gmulutherans.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Events -- February 4, 2008

Lent starts this Wednesday -- a bit earlier in the year than usual. For once I'm actually a little excited about it. To be perfectly honest, I have spent years thoroughly and passionately disliking Lent. I knew Lent was an ancient liturgical practice that Christians have observed for many centuries, but to me it was bunk. I watched people around me give up what I felt were nonsensical things, like giving up yummy Chocolate and bountiful feasts with friends. I got upset as leaders in the ministry, through well meaning intentions, took all the things I enjoyed out of worship (such as upbeat moods and joyful thoughts). From my perspective, Lent was flat out depressing. On top of that, it was stuck in a season when many of my friends and acquaintances have sometimes struggled with what gets called "seasonal affective disorder" or the "winter blues". Shouldn't the church be a source of joy in a season of sadness?

More recently, I've found communities and friends who have helped me begin to appreciate Lent as a spiritual practice. They've helped me realize that it isn't about randomly giving up things you may or may not really miss. The point is finding things you can do to help yourself return to God -- to help us focus on that relationship rather than spending so much time focused on ourselves -- and to strengthen faith communities so that we may more cohesively and effectively support each other and the world around us.

Lent is a season of the church year in which we focus energy on recognizing where we have strayed from God and make efforts to renew and strengthen our relationship with God. It is a time when we take notice of all the places in our lives where we attempt to live life independently from God, then repent of our failings and seek to follow more closely our Lord Jesus the Christ, the king of all who humbly allowed himself to be abused and executed upon a rugged cross wearing a crown of thorns.

I still can't say Lent is my favorite season of the church year, but I am truly excited this year for this opportunity to grow closer to God as part of this faith community here at George Mason University. Therefore, I'm going to write a DAILY devotion during Lent for all of you -- and it will be completely optional on your end. See more details under Upcoming Events below.

Dear Lord, today we look inward, not with selfish desires, but in an effort to identify and purge ourselves of these desires. We look to you to help us discern what is really important in life. We look to each other, for support and understanding as we struggle to find you in our hearts. We look beyond ourselves and our community while listening for your gentle call to action in this world. Through all of this, we pray that your will be done. In Jesus name, Amen.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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(All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the " GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)

Lenten Devotions: Each day during Lent, I plan to provide a scripture-based devotion for you to read and pray with. I will commit to writing them if you commit to reading them. Feel free to share them with any interested friends as well. To get the devotions daily, do any of the following:
1. Join our "Lenten Devotions" Facebook group.
2. Send gmuLutherans@bbuss.com an E-mail message asking to receive the devotions by email.
3. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Office Hours: I'll be in SUB 1 room 207 on Wednesday, February 6th from 3:30pm-6:30pm. Feel free to come by if you want to chat about anything.

Ash Wednesday Worship: We'll meet at 7:00pm this Wednesday, February 6th at the bus shelter / Parking Services building by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck to carpool to Ash Wednesday worship at Lord of Life Lutheran Church a couple miles from campus. We should be back to campus a little after 8:30pm. Link to Facebook event.

Gospel According to the Simpsons: Friday, 3pm-4pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center meeting room B (3rd floor) to watch an episode of the Simpsons, laugh together, & discuss. Bring some friends along -- everyone is welcome! Link to Facebook event.

Visitor from ELCA Global Missions: We will hopefully have a visitor from ELCA Global Missions at our Friday gathering. If you are interested in this wonderful ministry, please plan to stick around after we discuss the Simpsons to get the info!

Samaritan House Service Project (Day trip): Carpool to Baltimore to spend the day working alongside other Lutheran young adult groups from the region on a house for girls who are run aways and/or have been abused. We'll probably be painting. This event is tentative -- email me or join the Facebook event to stay in the loop...

Sunday Morning Worship: Meet Katie Kane at the Parking Services building by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck at 10:30am to carpool to worship at a local congregation. She'll be creating a Facebook event for this soon.

Hypothermia Shelter: We'll be helping out by providing hospitality for an evening -- assisting with dinner, conversation with the guests, playing cards, making coffee, emptying garbage ... whatever. Join us on Friday, February 15th departing campus at 4:15pm to help prevent hypothermia deaths in Fairfax County this winter. We'll meet at the bus shelter by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck. Link to Facebook event. (They are also looking for people to volunteer for the 5pm-11pm shift or the overnight shift throughout the week. Contact me for more details!)

Survey: Please don't forget to take a few minutes for this survey so that our ministry can work to better serve you!

--
Experience the loving grace of God renewing the world through Jesus Christ crucified. Our servant community laughs, questions, worships, hopes, struggles, prays, volunteers, and grows together. GMU Lutherans.
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19907586200
Website: http://gmulutherans.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Events -- January 29, 2008

This past Sunday, some of us carpooled to worship at Bethlehem Lutheran. I was struck by a couple lines in their prayers (paraphrased):
"We pray for all those like us, and all those who are not like us."
"We pray for all those who are unattractive to us, for whatever reason."

Isn't that cool? How often do we remember to pray for those who are "not like us". Those who are richer or poorer than us. Those who appear ugly or mean-spirited to us. Those who like different political candidates or belong to organizations that threaten our views. Those who are in positions of power or those those who are out on the margins of society.

Yet, in a way, they are all like us:
We all know dissappointment, loss, fear, and resentment.
We all have desires, hopes, and dreams.
We are all part of the human family, created by God, blessed with the gift of life.

Dear Lord, today we pray for those who aren't like us, for whatever reasons. We pray for their well being. We pray for their peace. We pray that you give them food to eat, clothes to wear, and a warm place to sleep. We pray that you give them what they need most in life, even if they don't know they need it. We pray that you are with them in their stuggles, as you are with us in ours. In all things, may your will be done. In Jesus name, Amen.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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(All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the "GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)

Kiosk: Wednesday (1/30/2008), 10am-Noon. If you want to know more about us, come & talk to us. If you want to help people learn more about us, come & represent us. Bring some friends along -- everyone is welcome! Link to Facebook event.

Gospel According to the Simpsons: Friday, 3pm-4pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center meeting room B (3rd floor) to watch an episode of the Simpsons, laugh together, & discuss. Bring some friends along -- everyone is welcome! Link to Facebook event.

Sunday Morning Worship: We'll meet at the Parking Services building by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck at 10:30am to carpool to worship at a local congregation. Reply to this email or contact Katie Kane for more information. Link to Facebook event.

Ash Wednesday Worship: We'll meet at 7pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at the bus shelter by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck to carpool to worship at a local congregation.

Hypothermia Shelter: We'll be helping out by providing hospitality for an evening -- assisting with dinner, comversation with the guests, playing cards, making coffee, emptying garbage ... whatever. Join us on Friday, February 15th departing campus at 4:15pm to help prevent hypothermia deaths in Fairfax County this winter. We'll meet at the bus shelter by the Sandy Creek Parking Deck. Link to Facebook event. (They are also looking for people to volunteer for the 5pm-11pm shift or the overnight shift throughout the week. Contact me for more details!)

Survey: Please don't forget to take a few minutes for this survey so that our ministry can work to better serve you!

Office Hours: Each week I'll spend some hours in the Campus Ministry office (SUB I room 207). Anyone is welcome to stop in to chat. Hours will be kept on the GMU Lutherans calendar visible at the bottom of this page -- and you can also email or call me to set up another time to meet if my office hours aren't convenient for you!

--
Experience the loving grace of God renewing the world through Jesus Christ crucified. Our servant community laughs, questions, worships, hopes, struggles, prays, volunteers, and grows together. GMU Lutherans.
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19907586200
Website: http://gmulutherans.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Events -- January 21, 2008

Survey: Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey to help us gather some information about schedules and interests so that our ministry may better serve you.

Welcome back to campus! Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you've never heard his "I have a dream" speech, check out the video or the transcript of this historic and monumental speech. Also, consider this: Dr. King was only 26 years old when he was part of the Montgomery bus boycott. Though we tend to remember Dr. King for his stance on racial issues, he also spoke out for love and nonviolent responses in other realms, such as loving enemies rather than fighting wars ... loving as Jesus loved. In his " Letter from the Birmingham Jail" He spoke about churches overcoming divisions and working together. He also spoke out about the ecomonic policies that prevent the elimiation of slums. In many ways, Dr. King was not only ahead of his own time, but maybe even ahead of our time as well. As we begin this new semester, prayerfully consider how you'd like to work to make the world a better place -- how you will help do the work of God's kingdom here and now.

Dear Lord, thank you for all of the modern prophets who help us interpret your word. We pray that you help us work together as a community to do your work in the world. May your will be done. In Jesus name, Amen.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
(All times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Check for updates at http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran or the "GMU Lutherans" Facebook group.)

Gospel According to the Simpsons: Wenesdays, noon-1pm. We'll meet in Johnson Center room 243 to share lunch (provided), watch an episode of the Simpsons, & discuss.


Saturday Evening Worship: We'll meet at the George Mason Statue at 5:30pm on Saturday to carpool to the Holden Evening Prayer service at Abiding Presence Lutheran.

Hypothermia Shelter: We'll be helping out by providing hospitality for an evening -- assisting with dinner, comversation with the guests, playing cards, making coffee, emptying garbage ... whatever. Join us and prevent hypothermia deaths in Fairfax County this winter. 5pm-11pm on either Friday, February 15th or Saturday, February 16th .. . let me know if you have a preference!

Survey: Don't forget to take a few minutes for this survey so that our ministry can work to better serve you!

Also, I'll be holding office hours in SUB I room 207 from 1:15pm-4:15pm.

Upcoming Events

Hello GMU Lutherans & friends!

Cooler temperatures ... leaves falling from the trees ... it's starting to feel like fall! Before we know it, the trees on campus will be exploding into color! Many changes will be occurring for us too, as servant opportunities and fellowship events start bubbling up, and as our "747 Tuesdays" grow & evolve! Check out the listing below to be in the know.

Dear Lord, we thank you for the wonderful opportunities we are given each day. Please help us to wrestle with the questions in life, to grow deeper in community, to make a difference in the world, and to know you more. In Jesus name, Amen.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Game Night: We'll be having a game night this Friday night (9/21/2007) at 7pm in SUB I room C. Bring your favorite game(s) and some friends & I'll bring some games too -- it'll be fun!

Carpool to worship: I'll be at the Lutheran Church of the Abiding Presence this weekend hyping GMU Lutheran Campus Ministry. It would be awesome if some of you could carpool to one of their services too! If you'd like a ride to the service on Saturday (9/22/2007) at 6pm, contact Katie Kane at kkane1@gmu.edu to arrange a meeting time/place. If anyone wants to offer a ride to people for Sunday morning, let me know. Service times:

• Saturday, September 22nd at 6pm ("vespers" = Holden Evening Prayer)
• Sunday, September 23rd at 8:30am ("contemporary" service)
• Sunday, September 23rd at 11am ("traditional" service)

747 TUESDAYS: Every Tuesday, we're meeting at the Crosspoint Ministry House at 7:47pm for FREE home-cooked food, table fellowship, and a devotion/discussion. Come & bring your friends! Directions:

• Walk through Presidents Park and back behind Jackson Hall.
• Follow the gravel road to Roberts Rd.
• Cross the street and the white house there to your right is the one.
• Enter side door near the parking lot. (It's about a 5 minute walk from SUB II.)

NOVACO: The Northern Virginia Coalition (NOVACO) helps homeless victims of domestic abuse become healthy, secure, and self-sufficient. We'll play with children on a some upcoming Monday nights while their mothers are in classes to equip them for the workforce. We'd need to be at King of Kings Lutheran from 6:30pm-8pm. I can provide rides if needed, leaving campus around 6pm. Let me know if you are interested. We'll be helping out on these dates:

• Monday October 15th
• Monday November 19th

Mini-golf: We'll be going to Burke Lake Park for some mini-golf fun on Saturday October 6th at 2pm! Time & date are tentative -- More details as the time draws closer.

Habitat for Humanity: Let's get our hands dirty building some affordable housing. Details coming soon!

MALSM Fall Retreat: The Mid-Atlantic Lutheran Student Movement will be holding their fall retreat October 19-21 -- mark your calendars now -- these are always a great experience!

Homelessness and Hunger Action Week: November 11-17. We'll probably partner up with another ministry on campus help raise awareness about this issue & provide help in whatever way we can.

Program Support: We want students involved as we plan our programs & events. Let me know if you want to set up a service opportunity, fellowship event, etc. Also let me know if you have ideas, but want me to set it up.

That's all the news for this week. Feel free to share this email with your friends!

In God's grace,
Ben