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October, 2015
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A Campus Ministry for ALL Students, Supported by Members of the Episcopal and Lutheran Church
from across the Nation
510 N. Guadalupe (across from Tower Garage and the UAC)
christchapel@txstate.edu;
Facebook: Christ Chapel at Texas State
Twitter: @Christ_Chapel
512-557-8836
Our Purpose: In gratitude for God's mercy in Christ, we shall be a community of worship, service, and hospitality.
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St. Francis: Still Cool After 800 Years
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, nicknamed Francesco (Francis, in English), was born to a wealthy family of Assisi, Italy, around 1181. He would have been the kind to join the fraternity with the best parties, had such a thing existed in his day. But after several years of dissolute living, Francis had a vision of a different kind of joy; that of following the teachings of Jesus as closely as possible. For Francis, that meant giving up his worldly possessions and deeply identifying with the marginalized of the world, including the poor and lepers. He saw creation as a mirror of God, and so referred to animals and all aspects of creation as his brothers and sisters. He died in 1226, having established the Franciscan monastic order, a like order for women (Poor Clares), and an organization called the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance in which members do not take vows, but do commit to living the principles of Franciscan spirituality in their daily lives.
St. Francis' legacy continues to this day, particularly in his emphasis on the need to care for all of creation. Pope John Paul II said of him, "The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples." More than ever, we see the need for that peace with all of creation.
St. Francis' feast day is October 4th, and at Christ Chapel we will celebrate the day with an old tradition, the blessing of the animals. If you've a pet you'd like blessed, bring it to worship on Sunday, October 4th at 5:30. All critters are welcome.
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WEDNESDAY "BREAD AND BELONGING" 5:30 P.M.
Fresh-baked bread, then a different experience every week.
October 7: Holden Evening Prayer - A sung liturgy that is a favorite. We'll learn (or re-learn) it and talk about its various parts, their purpose and significance.
October 14: Holden Evening Prayer - We will continue to explore the different parts of the service and look to understand why they are where they are.
October 21: Holden Evening Prayer - We will finish up our exploration of this beautiful and powerful service.
October 28: Evening Prayer with a Professor - Professor Lois Hickman, Department of Sociology, will join us to share how her profession and confession intersect.
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Women's Spirituality Group
Pastor Lori Ruge-Jones is leading a Women's Spirituality Group on Fridays at 12:30 at Christ Chapel. Come explore Scripture and engage in holy conversation. No experience necessary.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP: 5:30 P.M.
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OCTOBER 4 - BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
See the article at the top
OCTOBER 11th - FREE SUPPER AFTER WORSHIP*
The good women of First Lutheran will bring us dinner this night. It's always amazingly good, so plan on joining us. Intern Brandi Wells will be preaching.
OCTOBER 18th - ST. LUKE'S FEAST DAY
OCTOBER 25th - REFORMATION SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 1st - ANOTHER FREE SUPPER
*We've not been having weekly suppers because it is a burden to ask congregations to bring a meal and have nothing in the way of a kitchen in which to cook or serve or clean up. As you may know, our kitchen is gutted and has been awaiting renovation for over a year. Why the delay is a long story, but the good news is that progress is underway! We've schematics and permits are being obtained from the city of San Marcos. The actual work won't take terribly long, so we may have a kitchen before the Spring semester. Our thanks go out to the generous donor who is making it all possible, and who understands how important food is in a ministry to college students.
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SNAKE FARM!
We'll leave Christ Chapel at 9:30 on October 10th for Snake Farm, which is way more than snakes. It's really moving away from that designation to more of a private zoo, with an emphasis on education and preservation. It's a great trip, and only $15 for admission and transportation. Bring a lunch, but sign up by October 8th.
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ALSO COMING UP SOON:
Bobcat Lunch: Every Monday at 12:00, a free lunch is served to students, faculty and staff. You're invited afterward to take a tour of our prayer stations in the sanctuary for a few minutes of quiet and contemplation.
Cooking for the Homeless of San Marcos: We cook and serve a meal to the homeless on the first Monday of every month; meet at Southside Community Center, 518 S. Guadalupe, at 4:45 to help. Go to the very back of the property to find the homeless shelter. Our upcoming dates are October 5th and November 2nd.
Enchanted Rock - November 14: We'll carpool early on the 14th for a day at this amazing state park. Bring a lunch. Cost: $10 for admission and gas.
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DO YOU NEED TO GO TO THE JOHN? YOU CAN'T YET, BUT PRETTY SOON...
The Jumble of Hygenic Necessities (JOHN) is the pantry for items not often available at the food bank or other places where students in need could go. With the help of congregations in our area, we will be gathering all the items one might need behind a bathroom door, including deodorant, toothpaste, razors, etc. Keep an eye out for the opening of the JOHN in November; donations from students or others reading this newsletter are certainly welcome.
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Reviews
Submit your own for any new thing. Opinions below are strictly those of the chaplain, but they are absolutely right.
Lay's Weird Flavor Chips Continued...
I finally tracked down the other two Lay's weird flavor potato chips this month. You may remember that in our last issue, I rated the West Coast Truffle Fries, which tasted like a sour cream and parsley chip, as acceptable. The Greek Town Gyros flavor didn't fare as well, with an aftertaste that vaguely reminded me of liver, one of very few foods I refuse to eat. So that left the New York Reuben and the Biscuits and Gravy flavors, both of which I liked well enough. The Reuben has just a hint of sauerkraut, which is my favorite part of that sandwich; it could be more pronounced. The Biscuits and Gravy were my favorite, largely because they reminded me of the most addictive cracker ever made, Nabisco's Chicken in a Biskit. So if I'm going to eat junk food, I'll skip the chips and go for the crackers.
Naturalization Ceremony: It's been a while, but the one I saw a few years ago was incredibly moving. A young man swore his loyalty to this country, and this country welcomed him without reservation. I mention this because on October 8th, there will be a naturalization ceremony on the campus of Texas State, under the arch of the UAC building, just across the street from Christ Chapel. The ceremony runs from 10-12, but even if you can't stay for the whole thing, stop by between classes. It will be one of those moments for real pride in this country, no matter its flaws.
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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. If you would like to financially support our work, visit our webpage and you will find a PayPal link. Your prayers are always welcome and needed. To schedule a visit for yourself or a youth group or church group, please call or write. We are always happy to show what good work is being done through this ministry.
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