Wesley Foundation Update Website

By Nicole Hershey
 
My name is Nicole Hershey.  I would like to share with you a little about how I came to the Wesley Foundation at the University of Iowa and what the Wesley Foundation means to me. 

I came to the University of Iowa the second semester of my Freshman year.  It was a difficult transition in the middle of the year and in the middle of the cold winter.  I had a hard time meeting people and motivating myself to venture out into the dismal grey days.  After two or three weeks of this routine, I decided it was quite possible that I would go insane if I didn't start being social.  I wasn't happy with the church I had attended at my previous college, so I decided to embark on a more proactive search. 

I thought I would try Wesley because of my United Methodist roots-there are a few United Methodist pastors in my family. However, I went to a Presbyterian Church in high school, and darn it I missed saying "trespasses" in the Lord's Prayer.  I grew up in Cedar Falls, and the Wesley minister there is a good family friend.  His daughter and I took dance classes together for several years, and I really love that family.  I thought I might like Wesley because of the respect I have for this family. 

At my first visit to Wesley, I was greeted by smiles and hugs.  I was touched by the sincerity of these gestures.  I found the people curious about me and my life, and that they had a genuine concern me.  Their concern went beyond the world of academia-they wanted to know how my week was going, did I miss home, was I stressed out; what interested me, what motivated me; their concern was complete.   The remainder of my Freshman year continued to be very difficult, but Wesley was always something that kept me grounded.  The sense of community and openness I felt at Wesley blossomed into something I could center my week around.  When I was at Wesley, I felt at peace.  I felt stable, and I felt like myself. 

One of my favorite parts of Wesley is the Emmaus Retreat.  It was a chance to get to know people on a spiritual level, which we don't often get the chance to do on a college campus.  Hearing four of my peers give talks about their spiritual growth and struggles made me feel a different kind of connection.  I felt they were brave for baring their souls for all to see, and I felt nothing but loved the whole weekend.  Our small group discussions of the talks gave us a chance to question one another and share our own thoughts and understandings of the talks.  It is a beautiful thing to be shown into another person's soul, and to be able to show yours in return.  This is a fundamental part of What Wesley Means to Me.

The Campus Ministry Association volleyball league has begun for this school year and we have won the first game against College Hill Lutheran campus Ministry.  That's big for us because we lost to them in the championship game last fall.
 
We had our annual Block Party to kick off the New Year.  We served more food this year than any previous year.  We had to make two extra trips to the store just to get more hot dogs!
 
Our Peer Ministry team met for a recent group meeting in the Kammerick Art Building Gallery.  Visiting artist Cat Chow's show entitled "Love Me or Die" was the backdrop to discuss how the semester has begun and how we might be engaged in ministry together more effectively.  In the exhibition publication the artist says "I strive to make work that is both socially conscious and poetic, that gives people strength and insight into the human condition by using ungainly materials that lend the work tenderness and humor."  The author of the publication says this about the show. "As she gives value to the valueless, Chow's work seems to bestow a sense of worth upon those who may feel unworthy."
 
The Fall Retreat will be held at Pictured Rocks Camp later this month.  The main theme will be "Just Food".  Iowa MFSA Social Justice Award winner Jeff Abbas, also a culinary arts school graduate, will lead the retreat around justice issues as we eat together.
 
We are worshipping in our "exile" location, the former Vibe Coffeehouse. 
We are sharing ministry with the Episcopal Campus Ministry, as they work on establishing a campus ministry at UNI again.
 
It's tempting as we look at our storm damaged building and to make many trips back and forth from this place to there, and when we are facing new limitations by the Department of Residence on how we contact the new students to overlook many signs of hope right in front of us.
 
But volleyball, hotdogs, art shows, Peer Ministers, justice meals and coffeehouse worship point us in the direction of hope.
 
Thank you for your continued support.

That's how the sign will read once the renovations are complete. Drake Wesley House will soon be extending radical hospitality to our Jewish sisters and brothers at Drake. For years Hillel (the Jewish student group) has wandered from dorm to dorm, building to building searching for a place to hold their Sabbath meals. Their search is over. Wesley House is the new home for Hillel. This is how they describe their mission:

Hillel seeks to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the world. Hillel is dedicated to creating a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students, where they are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially. Hillel helps students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue, among other things, tzedek (social justice) and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

          It is easy to see the similarities between Hillel and Wesley Foundations, and it is easy to know that this partnership will further our collective goal of transforming the world. We, at the Drake Wesley House, are committed to being a resource for the religious life of college students in the Des Moines area, and we are committed to extending radical hospitality to all in need.

For many years, in order to help returning students catch up after the Summer break (and prepare them to welcome incoming students), we've held a "Welcome Back to Wesley" picnic on the Saturday before classes start (Aug. 22). 
 
The next day, August 23, brought a return to 2 morning worship experiences @ Collegiate UMC/Wesley Foundation, receptions for new and returning students (plus tours!), the beginning of our NINTH season of faithspring (alternative) worship and our "Welcome to Wesley" picnic with 18 feet of sub sandwiches and ice cream sundaes.  A wonderful cross-section of our family of faith gathered for our Welcome to Wesley picnic
 
We once again did our traditional cookie deliveries on Move-In Days.  All incoming ISU students who had  requested cookies (at our booth at ISU's Summer Orientation Resource Fair or in response to our Summer Mailing, emails, etc.) found cookies in their mailbox along with a gift card for a free music download at United Methodist Communications new "ReThink Church" website.  Now that the semester has started, students who visit us for the first time (in worship or any of our other activities) also receive cookies.  (To the right is Jenny DeTar and Chris Hockley greet parents and incoming students at our Summer Orientation Resource Fair booth at the Memorial Union.) 

An old tradition of delivering bottles of cold water to the Iowa State University Cyclone Football 'Varsity' Marching Band ended a few years ago when I realized how much plastic waste we were generating.   My spouse, Bev, helped us find a NEW tradition...WATERMELON!!!
 
Four local grocery stores (Fareway and HyVee) donated 10 watermelons each and six students helped Chris and me haul, slice and distribute the melons.  (Note to self: 40 watermelons leave a LOT of rinds to be composted!).  The watermelon crew and the band had a wonderful time, as you might see in the photos.
In a weak moment last semester I allowed student to talk me into "Midnight Breakfasts."  We hosted our first one of Fall 2009 on Friday, August 28.  I expected MAYBE 60 students to join us.  We lost count somewhere around 98!  Our pancake makers started at 11:30 p.m. and didn't stomp cranking them out until after 1 a.m. 
The omelet staff had the same schedule, producing close to 70 omelets in 90 minutes. Students could also make-their-own waffles.
 
Our SECOND midnight breakfast (Sept. 11) found 19 volunteers (including the entire pastoral staff of Collegiate/Wesley) serving over 200 students the night before the big Iowa State/Iowa football game (we shall not speak of the game itself!)
 
The Fall schedule at our Iowa State Wesley Foundation has a great deal to offer.  In addition to four worship experiences each week, students may choose from a smorgasbord of activities and events including:
· Christ Clips (movie discussion)
· Dream, Think, Be, Do (deep theological discussions)
· monthly Spiritual Mountaintops (a variety of spiritual 
    disciplines are examined in creative settings)
· Third Way Team (an analysis of social justice issues and
     opportunities to act)
· Saturday Service Projects (monthly opportunities to put
    faith into action)
· Friday Night Praise (weekly "jam session")
· FaithLink (our version of "Sunday School")
· Covenant Discipleship groups (spiritual accountability and
    encouragement based on John Wesley's class meetings)
· music groups
· worship planning and leadership teams, many fellowship
     opportunities
· and, of course, lots of FOOD. 
 
In addition, students at our ISU Wesley Foundation are welcomed at the full range of opportunities at Collegiate United Methodist Church whether it be singing or playing in (or directing or accompanying) choirs, teaching Sunday School, working with youth groups, serving on Clusters and so much more (including lots of meals!).
 
A special "Faces of Jesus" is being sponsored by the Wesley Foundation this Fall.  Approximately 30 images, some very traditional, others very NON-traditional, will be on display in our Student Lounge from now through early October.  Everyone is invited to come view the images and comment (via "sticky notes") on the emotional, theological impact of the image. 
 
Two discussion events took through the images one by one but give each person an opportunity to design their own "Face of Jesus" via a variety of art materials on hand.
 
We look forward to greeting visitors to our Wesley Foundation throughout the year, whether it be confirmation classes or youth groups coming to faithspring (Sunday night alternative worship), pastors coming to lunch with ISU students from their church(es) (we'll buy!), families on college visits dropping in for a quick look...even the individual with a little time to kill who'd like to see the new addition to the Collegiate/Wesley facilities (including our brand-new Student Lounge!).
 
We'll also go on the road!  Congregations which would like a team of students to come to a youth group meeting or retreat are encouraged to contact us. 
 
We participated, as usual, in Iowa State's student organization trade-show, ClubFest, on Sept. 9 and staffed an information table in the Memorial Union on Sept. 8 and 9.  Students visiting us at either location received our Post-It note pad encouraging them to worship at faithspring (our Sunday evening alternative worship experience).
 
Seven students are making Wesley Place (the house just West of our main building) home this semester.
 
Thanks to the Iowa Annual Conference congregation for supporting our campus ministries in so many ways!  

This fall thousands of students from local churches in the Iowa conference are making transitions to the life of a college student on campuses across our state and throughout the nation.  They want to know that someone cares.  They need to know that they are not alone.  They yearn for the places and the people who care enough to seek to be in relationship with them during difficult times.  They will also benefit from deep conversation about life and living intentionally.  They will have opportunity to ask questions of their faith and explore answers with clergy persons.

 

Helping connect your students with a campus ministry takes some intentionality but the benefits for that student can be life-long.

 

The following ideas - provided by those involved in campus ministry in our conference - are listed in order of their effectiveness in connecting a student with a campus ministry.

1. Visit the campus and invite your student(s) and the campus minister to coffee and introduce them to each other.  Enjoy a conversation together and help build the relationship personally.  Encourage the campus minister to bring along a student or two currently involved in the ministry.
2. Write or email your student and include information about the campus ministry.  They will be more apt to trust your endorsement than receiving publicity or a cold call from the campus minister or a student they don't know.  Let the student know that you've also contacted the campus ministry to let them know who they are.
3. Encourage your student(s) to attend an event at the campus ministry and have them bring a friend along.  It is very scary for an 18 year old, new to a campus, away from home, to walk into an unknown building and an unknown situation by themselves.
4. Call, write or email the campus minister letting them know about your student(s) and what their interests include.

Help your students find a place where they are welcomed.

 

Wesley Foundation Ministries at:

 

Drake University

515.274.3133

Ted Lyddon Hatten Director

lyddonhatten@drake.edu

 

IowaStateUniversity

http://www.faithwebsites.com/cumcwf/

515.292.6936

Scott Grotewold, Director

scott@cwames.org

 

Jim Shirbroun, Associate Director

jim@cwames.org

 

Chris Hockley, Campus Ministry Associate

chris@cwames.org

 

University of Iowa

www.iowawesley.com

319.338.1179

Paul Shultz, Director

paul@iowawesley.com

 

Marsha Acord, Associate Director

marsha@iowawesley.com

 

University of Northern Iowa

www.cfwesley.org

319.266.4071

Dave Glenn-Burns, Director

Wesley.dave@cfu.net

 

For students attending United Methodist colleges or universities outside of Iowa go to www.gbhem.org, click on "Education", then "Campus Ministry" then "Making the Transition to College". 

 

Eric Guy, Leadership Development Minister

Young Adult and generational Ministries

The United Methodist Church in Iowa