March, 2008
Higher Ground News

Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry at Texas State

Campus-Wide Christian Rock Concertbread

April 9th, 6:30 p.m., Campus Entry Park on Guadalupe (across from Jones Diner).  Grace Over Pressure will play and a free hot-dog supper will be served.  This event will take the place of our usual Wednesday night "Bread and Belonging."  And yes, for those of you who know me, I am in the band and in the picture, and yes, we can bring it. Call 353-1928 for more information.
Easter - What it is, why it matters
Sunday, March 23rd is Easter this year, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  Christmas gets more play, but the most important day for Christians is really Easter.  Why?  Because if Jesus had just been born and said a few things that got him killed, he would have been just another of history's fools, a madman who thought he could change the ways of the world by simple words.  What his resurrection proves is that his way isn't just words, but a death-defying, life-giving, hope-restoring way, a God-approved way, a holy way.  And while I can't "prove" the resurrection, my experience and that of a hundred generations before me is that yes, Christ is alive and among us, even within us, inviting us to that death-defying, life-giving way.  His resurrection and life among us now is my confidence that God doesn't want death to have the last word, not for me or this world, but hopeful, joyful life.  And that is the same life to which I invite you.  Come join us on Easter Eve, March 23rd, at Higher Ground Campus Ministry, meeting in St. Mark's Episcopal at 510 N. Guadalupe, across from the Tower Garage.  A free supper will be served at 6:15, with worship at 7:00.  No experience is necessary.
 
Lutheran Volunteer Corps Now Seeking Applications for 2008-2009!
Lutheran Volunteer Corps is a full-time program that offers people a one-year opportunity for spiritual and personal exploration while working for social justice, living in intentional community and simplifying their lifestyles.  Volunteers are matched with non-profit organizations in Baltimore, MD; Wilmington, DE; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Seattle and Tacoma, WA; and the SF Bay Area, CA. Volunteers receive health insurance, time off for retreats and vacation, and a stipend to cover basic living and personal expenses.  Most positions also qualify for student loan deferment and a $4,725 AmeriCorps Education Grant. Members of Lutheran Volunteer Corps unite their time and talents with the time and talents of society's marginalized people.  LVC volunteers work in such areas as AIDS/HIV, addiction and recovery, anti-racism, children and youth, community development, education, employment, the environment, food and hunger, GLBT rights, health care, housing and homelessness, immigration and refugees, international solidarity, legal assistance, and peace.  Most positions are entry level, requiring little or no previous experience except flexibility, a passion for social justice, and a sense of humor! Finally, LVC is on a Journey to an Inclusive Community, forming and strengthening alliances among people of many cultures and communities, and intentionally dismantling racism within LVC, the church, and society.  As a Reconciling in Christ organization, LVC welcomes and encourages the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in all aspects of LVC.  LVC volunteers come from a wide variety of faith backgrounds, and do not need to be Lutheran to serve.  Married and committed partners are welcome to apply.  While there is no upper age limit, volunteers should be at least 21 to participate.  Application deadlines for the 2008-2009 program year are right around the corner!  Applications are received on a rolling basis with the following deadlines: March 14 and May 1.  Download an application today from LutheranVolunteerCorps.org.  Please contact Kelly Shinn, Recruitment Coordinator, at 202-387-3222 or
Recruitment@LutheranVolunteerCorps.org with questions or for more information.
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Reviews
Here are a few random opinions about stuff I've encountered lately.  I invite you to send in your own reviews of movies, TV shows, websites, etc., and they'll get posted in the next newsletter. -PJB
 
Who will you vote for?  Figure it out for yourself on the web.  For starters in how elections work and how to vote, try www.declareyourself.com.  It's a non-partisan (that is, they don't take anybody's side) site designed especially for college-age voters.  It is easy to use and packed with information and has a great section of music videos about politics and voting.  For figuring out who to vote for, try www.glassbooth.org.  This is the best of the "survey" type of candidate-choosing websites; you are asked your opinion on a batch of questions and then get the candidate whose perspective most closely matches your own, and why.  Highly recommended, as voting for somebody regardless of their stand on issues is just about as dumb as buying a car because you like the color. 
Bread and Belonging During Easter
breadCome join us on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 for a contemplative worship service, followed by a free supper at 6:15.  Throughout the season, we will use a variety of contemplative, peaceful worship services that do not require any church background.  Bread and Belonging is simply a break from all the stress of the week and a great way to keep your spiritual life on track and well-charged.  Note that the Christian rock concert on April 3rd will take B&B's place on that night only.
i am samMovie Night! Thursday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.  We'll watch (and talk about) "i am sam" starring Sean Penn as a mentally challenged father and Dakota Fanning as his daughter.  There's much to be said in this movie about real love, family, honesty, and judgmentalism.   Gather in the Higher Ground Lounge, in the basement of St. Mark's Episcopal.  Snacks provided!
A GREAT SPRING BREAK
 
Well, we didn't rebuild all of New Orleans, but the students who went on Spring Break to volunteer had an incredibly powerful experience.  Look on our webpage in the days ahead for pictures, and come to Sunday evening worship on March 30th at 7:00 to see the complete slideshow and reflections on the trip from some who took part.  And next year?  It will be hard to keep from going back, so be thinking even now if you would like to take part in the best kind of Spring Break; one in which you give, but from which you get so much more backNew Orleans.  Here are Andrea Henneke, Melissa Hoffman, and Susan Hanson at the end of a day gutting a house of ruined sheetrock and other debris.  We also helped in the rebuilding of another home and with the plumbing in two others.  And we ate like fools.
 
PASSOVER - APRIL 23rd, 5:30 p.m.  You'll hear more about this next month, but mark your calendars already for April 23rd, where we will observe the Passover feast of our Jewish brothers and sisters, while seeking to understand what it means from a Christian perspective as well.  This is not your average Wednesday night meal, but will be a full dinner with roasted lamb, matzo, wine, and other traditional Passover dishes.  Why April 23rd?  Because while Easter and Passover usually fall close together, they are several weeks apart in 2008.  The week-long Passover celebration actually begins on April 20th.
lgbt logoOur campus mission is to be a welcoming spiritual community, a place for people of any gender, race, national origin, and sexual orientation. Growing together in faith, we seek the unity that Christ envisions for His church through learning, liturgical worship, service, and fellowship.
$187.16     The cost of a chocolate Easter Bunny from Conrad's Confectionary of Westwood, New Jersey, including shipping and handling, but not gift-wrapping.  It's 26 inches tall and contains over 6 pounds of chocolate, but that's still a lot of money to celebrate what is finally a free gift; the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a welcome into God's kingdom of mercy and light.  Then again, as neither chocolate nor bunnies are mentioned in the Gospels, these bunnies would be perfect gifts year round.  Did I mention that I like chocolate?
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