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November 10, 2008 |
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Christ Chapel News
A Faith Home for You at Texas State |
Late Night Breakfast Bible Study
 Pancakes and the Word, all at one place. Join us for late-night breakfast bible study on Tuesday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m., in the fellowship hall of Christ Chapel. Eggs and bacon, too, and we'll be through by 11:30-ish. Bibles provided, and the food is free! |
| Post-Election Thoughts
So one guy won and the other fellow didn't. I can make a pretty good claim that one candidate matched my values and perspectives more closely than another; I hope that is how you choose candidates as well, not by whether you'd like to drink a beer with him or her (Note: if you are under 21, I am not advocating drinking with any candidate. Just for the record.) But one claim drives me batty, and it is made by surrogates on both sides just about every election. It is simply, "Our candidate is the Christian choice." Nonsense. Whether it comes from the mouths of right-leaning evangelicals or left-leaning religious progressives, it is still nonsense. The Christian choice is actually Jesus Christ, but as our Lord has seen fit to refrain from running for public office and no candidate in my recollection even remotely resembles the Savior of the world, it is left to the conscience of the individual Christian to make decisions based on how the Spirit guides. And no, there is not always unanimity among those who listen for the Spirit's guidance; those tough issues and decisions are not often as cut-and-dried as a thoughtul believer might want. On this there is unanimity in the Spirit's work; all is to be done and said and thought with love. By itself, this excludes claiming one holds "THE Christian position," as it is a not-so-subtle way to say, "Your position is NOT Christian," which is not a particularly loving thing to say if your opponent is just as faithful in his or her deliberations. And rather than assume your opponent is in collusion with the devil, how about just making truce with this truth: God is at work in the world, in politicians and people, some with whom you will never agree. But, oddly enough, God loves them still. Maybe that's what we should try to do, too. |
S.E.E. the Light! For Cheap!
Estes Park, Colorado
LAST CALL!!!! I MUST KNOW BY NOVEMBER 14! The 2008 Gathering of Episcopal College and University students will be held December 28th, 2008 through January 1st, 2009 at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Learning, worship, fellowship, skiing, snowshoeing, and other activities are all part of it. AND HERE'S REALLY GOOD NEWS: Gobs of scholarship money is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can enjoy a few days in the Rockies for not much! AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR EPISCOPALIANS! Students of every faith background are welcome to join us. Our own Tyler Pruessner is on the leadership team organizing the event, and it promises to be a great one. For more information, visit episcopalchurch.org/highereducation (the link is below), or call Chaplain Bouzard at 557-8836. If you are interested in going, let me know soon, so that scholarship money can be spent appropriately.
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Things to Look for...
Hunger Bowl, November 18-19
The first annual Hunger Bowl is a competition and event to raise money for the local food pantry and to establish a fund for students in crisis. Led by the Campus Ministry Alliance, we are pleased to have Marcus Green representing us; he will be contacting others for help. We'll be serving FRITO PIE!
Yumm...
Servants of the Cross
is a program by which students who wish to make a deeper faith journey can enlist in a three-unit program of study, reflection, and retreats. Those completing the program will join the Servants, an order of students in ministry. Brochures and more information is available at the Christ Chapel office. A six-week in-depth study of the Bible's overarching story will begin in the Spring on February 2nd (Monday evening) at 8:00) and conclude on or before March 9th.
ONE Campaign:
After our visit to Christ Chapel from Congressman Lloyd Doggett, we are onour way to realizing our goal of becoming a ONE Campaign congregation. A step remains: an offering for the Millenium Development Goals of Episcopal Relief and Development and of Lutheran World Relief. That offering will be taken on Sunday, November 22nd. Remember the hungry and bring your help!
Reviews:
"The Secret Life of Bees" stars Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Alicia Keys and a few other stars whose names I don't recall. It is a faithful adaption of Sue Monk Kidd's novel of the same name and is well worth seeing for the story alone. What the movie lacks is Kidd's lyricism; not a sentence in her book fails to sing, while even the quality cast of the movie can't quite capture the moods and tenor of the novel. Still, a good film about belonging, family, love, race, and bees. No car chases or explosions - definitely a great date movie.
Hostess Products:
We recently purchased Twinkies and Ding Dongs for dessert after our Wednesday night worship and meal. They are, the group concluded, nowhere near as good as we remembered. In fact, they were downright awful. I still have one left in my office if someone would like to try it; my suspicion is that it will still be fresh for another few years.
Rice Balls: Sold by the Japanese student association on the quad. They are warm, tasty, cheap ($1), and come with a sheet of paper with a word written in Japanese script. My word was "wisdom." Of course. |
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Wednesdays: Bread and Belonging
The weeks ahead will include:
November 12: BCP Evening Prayer
November 19: Thanks-Giving: Giving thanks for those who matter to you.
December 3: Holden Evening Prayer
Bread and Belonging is a no-experience necessary way to pray, and you are welcome to join us every Wednesday night. The service begins at 5:30, with a home-cooked free supper at 6:15. NOTE THIS NOW, LISTEN TO IT LATER: Starting in the Spring Semester, Bread and Belonging will hold the meal at 6:15, with worship to follow. |
God Goes to the Movies
is where we watch a movie together and ask after God's word and will as it is portrayed (or not) in the film. Our next movie is November 20th, 8:30 p.m.; we'll be seing "V for Vendetta" on our new flat-screen HDTV with Blue-Ray HD AND surround-sound stereo. Popcorn, soda provided. |
| JOB POSSIBILITIES?
Youth and Family Ministry: First Lutheran Church of San Marcos (ELCA) has a career opening for a Director of Youth and Family Ministries. We are seeking an energetic, innovative individual to grow our Christ-centered, relational ministry of Christian education, fellowship and service, focused on youth (Pre-K through Grade 12) and their families. The position requires an individual with a background in Christian theology, strong leadership and communication skills and a desire to serve as a mentor and role model to youth and their families to excite and involve them about God and being in ministry in our community and world. This position is full time, with competitive salary. A full job description is available at the congregation's website: www.firstlutheran-sanmarcos.org. Send resume to:
Cindy House, c/o First Lutheran Church
130 W Holland
San Marcos, Texas 78666 firstlutheran@grandecom.net
Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations: Grassroots organizing, legislative support, and administrative support are all part of an internship in the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, located in the heart of Capitol Hill. Visit www.EpiscopalChurch.org/EPPN for more information, or call 1-800-228-0515.
Cross Trails Camping Ministry: Support staff or working directly with youth at Camp Chrysalis (near Kerrville), Ebert Ranch Camp (near Harper, Texas - includes a horse program), Day Camp or Beach Camp: whatever your choice, working at a camp is not just a summer job, but an experience and ministry that makes a difference. Come by the Christ Chapel office for an application, or visit www.crosstrails.org. |
And a few other notes:
Holy Land Geography and Reflections
will be part of our conversation this Sunday evening, as Dr. Kevin and Julie Romig will share photos and thoughts from their recent trip to Israel.
Wednesday, November 12: Home-cooking from St. Mark's Episcopal Women.
Sunday, November 16: The above-mentioned Romigs will do some Chinese for us.
Wednesday, November 19: Beef stew and more.
Sunday, November 23: Mentors bring an early Thanksgiving Dinner for all.
Sunday, November 30: The Romigs are at it again!
Musicians Always Welcome: We love to have students join in the songs of praise we offer on Wednesday and Sunday nights. If you want at least a little rehearsal, come on Sundays at 5:30, 5:00 on Wednesdays. And if you have some special music you would like to offer, just contact Chaplain Jaime and we will schedule the date. |
Monday Night Bible Study, 6:00 p.m.
We are working our way through the Gospel of Mark, which will be the "main" gospel from which our Sunday readings are drawn in the coming year. You need not to have attended before to join us now in the Christ Chapel Lounge (St. Mark's lower level). | |
Our 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. | |
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