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January 14, 2013
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Christ Chapel News
A Campus Ministry for ALL Students, Supported by the Episcopal and Lutheran Churches
Sunday and Wednesday Worship: 7:00 p.m., free suppers at 6:15
510 N. Guadalupe (across from the Tower Garage)
Our Purpose: In gratitude for God's mercy in Christ, we shall be a community of worship, service, and hospitality.
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What was the Best Christmas Present You Gave?
I got lots of cool things, but the best thing I gave? That's a harder question. It probably wasn't the most expensive thing, but the most thoughtful, the one that best honors the One whose birth we celebrate. So that box of assorted cheeses was not the winner. No, Christ is honored at Christmas and year 'round when we give as God gave to us in Jesus; fully, completely, with the best of who we are. And to whom should we give? To those who most need to know that there is grace in this world, the God's love is real. Sometimes that love is given in a word of compassion, sometimes it comes in a plate of spaghetti, sometimes it comes in shared tears. This may be the best gift I can give you today; an invitation to come and be a part of this community called Christ Chapel, where grace abounds and the love of God is found. We are not perfect here, but we rejoice in the fact that we are perfectly loved.
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WELCOME AND WELCOME BACK: WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP BEGINS JANUARY 16
We have a great schedule of Wednesday night worship services planned for the semester, beginning with a Welcome and Welcome Back night this Wednesday. Our focus will be on welcoming back new and old participants and seeking ways to make our community more welcoming. On January 23rd, in observance of MLK Day, we will reflect on race and racism through the national RaceCard Project, learning how our attitudes can keep us from being the whole people and faithful disciples Jesus calls us to be. On January 30th, we will welcome Dr. Ron Johnson, Dept. of History, an ordained minister and former CIA officer for Evening Prayer with a Professor. Dr. Johnson will speak on how his faith intersects with his work in the classroom. He is a fascinating man with a great deal to teach us about living our faith in our daily lives. As always, our evening begins at 6:15 with a free supper, then worship at 7:00.
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COOKING FOR THE HOMELESS
Christ Chapel provides a meal for the homeless of San Marcos every third Monday of the month, which falls on MLK Day in January. Hunger knows no holiday, so we will be cooking on January 21st, starting at 3:00 p.m. in the kitchen at Christ Chapel. At 4:45, we will transport the food to the Southside Community Center, where we will serve the meal from 5:00 to 6:30. We will then return and finish cleaning up and putting away dishes. We usually finish by 7:00. Students are welcome to take part in any or all of the process. A sign-up sheet will be available at worship on Wednesday and Sunday, or send an e-mail to christchapel@txstate.edu to indicate when you can be there or what you would like to do.
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Jesus on Tap: January 22nd, 7:30 - Rejected: Overcoming Loss, Change, and Failure
Join us on Tuesday evening, January 22nd, at the Tantra Coffee Shop (across Hopkins St. from the little HEB) for a discussion of how our faith can help us overcome loss, change, and failure that is inevitably part of the college experience. Not the happiest topic, but there is some happy news that we can share. Bring yourself and a friend. We'll formally finish at 9:00, but the discussion can keep on as long as Tantra is open. |
God Goes to the Movies, February 5th, 8:00 p.m.
 "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is one of those movies that can't quite be described. Realistic and mythical elements combine in a story of love, loss community and geography. Nominated for Best Picture and several other awards, Roger Ebert says "Sometimes miraculous films come into being, made by people you've never heard of, starring unknown faces, blindsiding you with creative genius. 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' is one of the year's best films." Join us to find how God might speak through this movie on February 5th. Popcorn provided. |
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A FEW NOTES AS THE SEMESTER BEGINS:
Higher Grounds Coffee House will open on Tuesday, January 22nd. We need to staff the shop every morning from 8:30 to 12:30. This ministry of hospitality has brought us many new friends and is vital to our life together. If you have an hour or two between or before classes to volunteer, please consider taking a slot. Send an e-mail to Tyler Mahan at tm1290@txstate.edu to let him know when you are available...
Events not detailed in this newsletter but to look forward to include a Saturday, March 23rd trip to the San Antonio Zoo and an April trip to Corpus Christi for a beach clean-up day and time at the Texas State Aquarium.
On Sundays in Lent, we will resume Servants of the Cross, a program for students who wish to explore their faith more deeply and intentionally This semester's theme is Stuff You Should Know About God: Doctrine Made Easy.
On Wednesdays in Lent, we will have a four-part experiential worship series on discipleship and a three-part series on outreach on Wednesdays in Easter.
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KIDNEY DONATION A COMPLETE SUCCESS
Lauren Sorrel, Christ Chapel mentor, donated one of her kidneys to a man whose story she had read on a prayer list.on December 11th. The surgery went smoothly and Lauren was home many days before expected because of a quick recovery. As exciting is the news that the recipient of her kidney, a Dripping Springs man named Martin Null, is doing wonderfully well and is enjoying a life that seemed all but over. Thanks to all for your prayers and words of support for Lauren. Lauren and Martin Null: will be speaking of their experience on a Sunday night later this semester, so be looking for that date in the weeks ahead.
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| WHY CAMPUS MINISTRY MATTERS...
A student wrote this...
Christ Chapel is my home. The meals here nourish my body, and the worship here nourishes my soul. I have grown into a Christian adult through this ministry. Worship here is not a chore, or an obligation; it is a joy, and a wonderful part of who I am. I am glad to call this wonderful place "home." |
THANKS!!!
We are continually amazed, pleased and honored by the support of so many of this campus ministry. Our end of the year appeal netted a generous $1,700, which helps support all the work detailed above and more. Thank you to all of you for your prayers and support. For those of you still wanting to give but can't find the checkbook, go to our webpage at www.christchapeltxstate.org and scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you will find our PayPal link. Again, we are honored by your support and will in turn honor your gift in the way we use it. |
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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