Greetings!
In this Update, several Wesley Foundations will share reasons why they are thankful.  May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
 
University of Iowa
Reconciling Campus Ministry

As a campus minister I am thankful for the student community of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Iowa taking a stand for inclusive community in church and society for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. On November 12, 2008 this student community held their 6th annual Reconciling Celebration for inclusive community with a reception including music by The Quire, Eastern Iowa's GLBT chorus, and worship with guest speaker Brian Dailey. Brian is a University of Iowa alum in business living and working in Chicago. He was a peer minister from 2003 to 2006 and lead the Wesley GLBT Christian Coffeehouse.   
I'm thankful for these students' affirmation of faith that in the spirit of Christ they will employ no circles of exclusion and will advocate for a fully inclusive United Methodist Church in policy and practice.
 

     University of Iowa Wesley Foundation is also thankful that their peer ministers wanted to help students make a difference with families hard hit by the June flood. They also wanted to get to know students from other religious backgrounds. They decided to put these two good intentions together. Peer Ministers called on the Hillel Jewish Student Center to invite them to join Wesley for flood recovery work. A partnership was born. Once a month students from the Wesley Center and Hillel give a Sunday afternoon for flood recovery work and faith reflection. snowflakesWork together, then reflect on what faith's got to do with it. What does your faith tradition teach about service? What meaning do you take from the flood and your work here? Where do you find God in the midst of this?The two groups came together for the first time in September. Peer minister, Eddie Crise, observed "This was a great opportunity to help right in our back yard. Hillel was a great partner and fostered a good sense of interfaith community."

Iowa State University
Students at Iowa State University are thankful for the following activities:
Sunday Morning Gig
by Kimberly Ferguson
      When I was a kid, I always looked forward to Sunday school, so when a college student class was being offered, I was excited to be involved. Now, we don't drink Kool-aid or make macaroni necklaces in this class, but it's still a good time. It's a very open and group-directed "class"; we call it "Sunday Morning Gig."
     Sunday Morning Gig is relaxing time to hang out with friends while engaging in meaningful discussion of different issues of the day. We share the leadership by taking turns bringing a story each week. Each Sunday our "storyteller" shares a story with the group and we discuss the story, how it might be applicable to or reflective of our own lives, and how God is relevant in the story. Our stories aren't always from books though, they can be from newspapers, films, songs, or perhaps even graffiti under a bridge. We are very open! It's always interesting to see what the storyteller will bring.
      The shared leadership and varied topics of Sunday Morning Gig make each Sunday a unique experience as well as help to create an open and welcoming atmosphere for newcomers to join.
 
The Think, Pray, Vote Experience by
Sam Cotter
      Signs in popular culture indicate that we are a faith-searching nation.  Our television shows aren't afraid to carry religious or spiritual themes.  I see my peers searching for belonging, community, and assurance of faith, just as I am.  As news coverage of the political scene continues to dissect the values of both candidates and voters, our media has not forgotten the role faith plays in the lives of  candidates and voting constituents.

      I am blessed to be part of a study here at Collegiate UMC/Wesley Foundation (CUMC/WF) that is helping me address the role that my faith plays in my political beliefs.  Think, Pray, Vote is an engaging discussion where I have the chance to discuss my own experience with God and politics, and hear about the experiences of others.  The image of God and the message of Christ are sometimes twisted, adapted, or ignored to meet political agendas.  It is refreshing to take a realistic look at this year's election, and to do so as a thinking person of faith. 

      Recently, at the Memorial Union, CUMC/WF had flyers that said "God is not a Republican or a Democrat."  This statement caught the eye of many passing by.  I was encouraged by the enthusiasm people had in approaching this year's election in a new way; putting partisan politics aside and looking at what is best for our country and our world.
Drake University
This is an open letter from the Wesley Foundation at Drake University to:
the laity of the United Methodist Church without whose tireless support the church would cease to function in a meaningful way, the clergy who do their best to lead their respective communities in a ministry that is faithful to the gospel, the administrators who do their best to lead the leaders of our church in the ways that lead to life, and to those whose ministry does not fit into one of our revered molds but whose gifts and graces deepen our shared life,
Thank you. 

Month-by-Month: Connecting Your Church with Campus Ministry (November)
  • Promote the Student Day offering.
  • Share information and stories about how the United Methodist Student Loans and Scholarships Programs have benefited present and former students from your congregation.
  • Host a program by students at a United Methodist college or campus ministry.
  • Coordinate a study group during the Sunday school hour or at another time on the church's concern for ministry in higher education. Invite area leaders in higher education to speak about issues facing higher education today.
© 2008 General Board of Higher Education & Ministry

The Top Ten Reasons to Be Thankful for & to Get Involved in Campus Ministry according to the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry

10. Popcorn under the pews!  Free entertainment, food, and fun on movie night.

9.      Finding a support system and family away from home.

8.      A cool place to socialize on Saturday night with those who share your values and beliefs without the pressure to drink and smoke.

7.      Bible study, worship, communion, and prayer.

6.      Opportunities to volunteer and get involved in community service. 

5.      A campus minister or chaplain who's a good listener and respects your privacy. 

4.      A safe place to share your deepest faith, your worst fears, your biggest doubts, and your triumphs.

3.      No pressure.  A place to belong-a quiet place that's a welcome break from the college routine.

2.      Your faith community-a place to find nourishment for Christian growth.

1.     Fun, Fellowship, Friendship, and Community. 

http://umc.gbhem.org/orientation/CampMinAd.pdf
_________

Join Our Mailing List!
_________