Connections Presbyterian Campus Ministry

Winter 2015

Your Presbyterian Campus Ministry Connection… So many terrific things are happening in campus ministry in Ann Arbor it is difficult to distill everything down to several pages. Most everyone is familiar with the First Presbyterian— Young Life College partnership. As we continue that important relationship, campus ministry is growing in other directions as well—student dinners, students participating in the rotating shelter, and students attending and participating in worship with us. Claire writes about fun events, student stories, articulating one’s faith, being vulnerable, and experiencing acceptance at Young Life College. One of these student stories is included— And That Is Enough. Read Carson’s article about the difficult question he is asked and the difficult questions he asks himself as he has transitioned to campus life and adulthood. Enjoy Dagmar’s description of her

first visit to First Presbyterian and how the welcome she received eliminated the need for her to use her escape plan! See Rev. Renée Roederer’s article about dinner in the “grace margin” and don’t miss Tucker Rossmaessler’s Dream. Make it your late 2015 resolution to seek out students at your worship service, to invite students to join you on mission projects, to help with student dinners and to support campus ministry with your prayers, time and treasure. Remember, these students are the future of our communities, our country and our churches. Paul G. Smith, AACMF Vice President

Barn Bash In October, members of First Presbyterian Church hosted Young Life College’s first ever “Barn Bash!” About 60 college students from the University of Michigan came out for a night of square dancing, pumpkin carving, bobbing for apples, corn-hole and even a little cricket spitting. Thanks to the generosity of Carol and Paul Smith we even got to have this event in a real barn! The rustic setting and wooden dance floor truly made for a night to remember. What made this event really special, was that it provided a fun and safe space for college students to build a sense of community. Square dancing is really good at bringing strangers together into a space of encouragement and laughter. Young Life College would not have been able to make this event possible without the donations, support and prayers of First Presbyterian Church members and the Campus Ministry Foundation. The Barn Bash was a huge success, and we hope to bring even more college students together this fall- as long as the barn floor supports us! In addition to large community-building events, like the Barn Bash, Young Life College hosts “Club” every Tuesday on Uof M’s campus (you are all invited!). Club is a “party with a purpose”- a time of fun, games, stories and the Gospel. Every week, we invite a college student to share their story. Listening to students talk about their struggles and successes and how they have grown in life and faith as a result, is one of the most genuine moments of the night. I had the honor of sharing my story this past week. Exposing my faith journey to strangers in a room breeds a sense of vulnerability and acceptance that nothing else can. This opportunity to grow as a community through sharing student stories is part of what I think makes Young Life’s approach to ministry so powerful. Claire Forhan, YLC Student Leader

Worship that Welcomes During my freshman year, I took my first bus ride to attend the Sunday evening worship service at First Presbyterian Church. As I rode the bus to central campus, I couldn't stop compulsively twisting the loose threads of my sweater and rereading the Googlemap directions to the church. When I arrived there, I turned red as soon as I walked into the worship space. I was immediately apprehensive of sticking out in the smaller worship hall, and I even contemplated an escape plan! Sitting in the back row, the Campus Pastor greeted me, recognized my name from email, and immediately set up a time to grab coffee the following week. Two women also learned my name and made sure to welcome me after the church service. Walking back to the bus afterwards, I noticed a feeling in my chest. It was as if a little hole that I didn’t even know was there had been filled.

Flash forward nearly four years, and I am now a senior about to graduate. I am also a member of First Presbyterian Church, work in the nursery every Sunday morning, help with the middle school youth group, lead in Young Life College, and am an avid attender of the 7:07pm worship service. I kept coming back to 7:07 p.m. service because it welcomed me to be the type of follower I wanted to be. Often I would sit in back and hum to the songs and dip out early. When I craved to be a little more active I was welcomed to lead worship as a greeter or scripture reader. It has met me where I am in my faith and given me the opportunities to grow in my faith. In retrospect, I realize this service has been the one true consistent in my life. It seems in these past four years everything has changed: classes, friends, commitments, and even weather on an hourly basis! But I have always been able to rely on this consistency of this service and the community that is there, and for that I am grateful. Dagmar Schoettle

Are You Religious? Almost every freshman has to answer the same questions after moving to the University. Where are you from? “Flushing,” I’d say. What’s your major? “Political Science,” I’d say. (Honest freshmen will tell you they have no idea.) Every question felt easy to explain, except one: “Are you religious?” I was talking to one of the guys in my dorm about how I planned to visit a church during Welcome Week. That’s when he asked me this question: “Are you religious?” I hesitated. The difficulty of this question, I thought, totally relied on what the term “religious” meant to the person asking it. I answered “yes” before putzing around with some seemingly arbitrary distinctions between spirituality, faith, and religion. I tried not to sound too eager. I still didn’t know what being religious meant in my new and nearly adult life. One thing I did know for sure: I can’t resist old buildings. I can’t resist humming along with the organ as it leads into the Doxology. I can’t resist hearing a weekly sermon and benediction that ends in time to listen to A Prairie Home Companion. After spending weeks in the boundless novelty and excitement of a large public university, I needed time with people who were rooted in faith and experience. I had tried other churches before, but First Presbyterian Church felt the most familiar. It felt like home. I grew spiritually as I grew academically. Not only did the worship remind me of home, but the coherent messages of the church made my faith relevant. Responsibilities involved with a liberal arts education became wrapped in my responsibility as a

Christian. Service trips over spring break, registering voters on the Diag, and exploring public policy became less about building a resume and more about building a relationship with God and finding my place in His world. Renée Roederer, Director of Campus Ministry, first emailed me in February. Convincing myself I was too busy, I didn’t respond until near the end of the school year in April. She had offered to buy coffee—something which, during finals week, offered its own kind of salvation. Since then, I’ve been excited to hear about new plans for First Pres and the campus—especially the weekly dinners. For it is written: students shall not live on ramen noodles alone. Now, I am asking myself “Why?” Why am I doing what I do? How does my faith influence those reasons? I am confident that First Presbyterian Church will continue to be a place of spiritual growth in my life as I meet others asking themselves the same questions. I was telling my friends about reading scripture for the eleven o’clock service last Sunday. One of them piped up with a now familiar question, “Are you religious?” she asked. There was a brief pause. “Yes,” I said. “But I’m still figuring things out too.” Carson Smith

Speaking of Money ... Our bank account was looking a little bedraggled at the beginning of 2014, but, thanks to many, many contributors—and many of those very generous contributors—we are back in comfortable straights again. We were able to deposit $34,570 during 2014, and expenses were $29,243. A gain of $5,327 may not sound like a lot, but for Campus Ministry, it is significant, and we are grateful. Thank you for your generous giving. In addition to the gifts we have received, we saved money by this year by employing students parttime to assist in our ministry, whereas in years past, we have employed full-time Campus Ministry Interns. We are grateful for the help of our student leaders, yet as our ministry needs have grown, we hope to return to full-time Campus Ministry Interns during the next academic year. Our largest expenses, as always, are for Intern stipends and the mission trip to the Dominican Republic in the spring. These expenses are well spent as they are very popular and integral to the program. Our great thanks to everyone for helping support what we, and moreover the students, feel is a wonderful program! We are grateful for your continued partnership and financial support. Ann Andrews, Treasurer

YLC - FPC Dream With an amazing start to the second semester of the school year, we have seen how faithful God has been to the Young Life College ministry on campus. We have opened up “Campaigners, “our Thursday night dinner and bible study, to more than just our student leaders. This time is now extended to all students who want to go deeper and get to know the undergrad community more. Last semester we typically had 20 students, now we anticipate 40 to 50 students to be in attendance! The First Presbyterian Church youth room has been such a great atmosphere for these students to feel comfortable connecting with one another. Being able to partner with Renee and First Presbyterian Church has allowed for rich ministry to the students on campus. We pray that these students will grow in their faith and become closer as a community, with the desire that they will go and make disciples on campus. With the growth of Campaigners, we are in need of more meals for more students. In addition to need for meals, we also are searching for more small/core group leaders. We currently have 22 different small groups and only have 13 small group leaders. One of our goals for this semester and next fall is to have more

adults from the community lead small groups. We anticipate starting 10 new groups between now and the start of the fall semester. Lastly, we are soon approaching our spring break trips! We are taking two service trips, one to the Dominican Republic and one Louisville, Kentucky. We are also adding an adventure outreach trip to Colorado. All of these trips will be centered around community and have meaningful, Godfocused conversations. We are excited about what God is doing on campus, and have even bigger dreams for the future. While we are excited about doubling our campaigner group to 40-50 students, we dream about one day filling the social hall with college students who want to go deeper with Christ. We dream that these students would reach out to their friends and fill our Tuesday night “Club” meetings with students who are searching for meaning in their life. We dream that we would have a community of adults who would be knocking on our door to lead small groups and speak truth to these students who are searching. Tucker Rossmaessler, Young Life Staff Associate III

And That Is Enough At most Tuesday evening YLC meetings students will tell their stories, what we might call faith journeys. This is one student’s story. In high school I had a lot going for me, my family was very loving and supportive, I went to church and youth group every week, had amazing friends blah blah blah. Life was perfect. When I got to Michigan…The first month of school sucked. I had always wanted to be a teacher, but I was studying to be a math major. I cried a lot. I thought maybe I had to drop out and go to community college. In order to save my happiness and sanity, I had to withdraw from my math class. I had to admit defeat. I felt like a failure. While this whole class debacle was going on, I was also trying to adapt to this whole college life style thing. Additionally, I was trying to find a Christian community on campus to replace my beloved church and youth group at home. I joined the first one I found on campus and tried really hard to connect with the people. That was hard because I felt like I did not know enough about the Bible, or I was not living an active enough Christian lifestyle to really feel like I belonged. Trying to get involved with this new Christian community while also trying to figure out how to be social on such a large campus was hard. The first time we tried to go out, I got so stressed about the alcohol around me that we left and came home. I didn’t drink and I definitely did not need to drink to have fun. But, like most college students, I ended up finding myself out one night and I had too much to drink. I got home that night, and felt so guilty. I needed to be seen as perfect. Despite the mess of that night, I still fell to the temptation of going out (occasionally), feeling desired by guys and the confidence that drinking gave. At the end of freshman year, I got caught drinking in the dorms, and literally I thought my life was ending. What made this even worse, was that the faith community I was a part of at that time did not feel like a place that I could talk about these mistakes I had made, I feared I would be seen as a “bad Christian.” But… then an email showed up in my inbox in November, from Tucker, the YLC director, inviting me to coffee. I was very hesitant, but still on the prowl for a faith community I agreed. That was the most important coffee date I have ever had—because after one hour of talking to Tucker, I knew I needed to be a part of YLC. I spent the rest of the year going through the leadership program and joining a small group. I read an author who argued relationships do

not make us complete but we find the most amazing relationships when we are complete in ourselves. Ok, that’s easy, I need to be complete in me. But how? And then I found Colossians 2:10 “you are complete through your union with Christ.” I think that is one of the first times I can remember when everything just seemed to click. Only Christ could complete me. Not grades, not success, not partying, not friends. With my new found realization of my completeness in Christ, who I was began to dramatically shift. Instead of feeling like I had to be successful, over involved, everything to everyone, and perfect, I saw myself as enough just the way I was. Realizing that I am enough for God, and therefore I am enough for anyone in my life that is worth having there, I came back to school this year, on fire. I am happy. Genuinely joyful. I have found a version of me that I love. And that is enough. I am enough. I hope you all can realize that you are enough. And there is a God who loves you and wants to complete you. To complete you with all your faults, insecurities, successes, joys, questions, concerns and holes. Because you are enough for this amazing God.

Do you know of someone who is or will be attending the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, or Washtenaw Community College? Rev. Renée Roederer would love to take them out for coffee! Send contact information to [email protected]

The Extended Table: Campus Dinner in the “Grace Margin” Love your neighbor as yourself. This Fall, First Presbyterian Church launched a new ministry of hospitality with students on Sunday evenings, and it is transforming our experience of community together. Each week, approximately 20 to 25 college students come to First Pres to receive a home-cooked meal that has been prepared by members of our congregation. Many of these students are brand new to our congregation. This dinner allows students to meet new friends and connect relationally with members from First Pres as well. It has been meaningful to watch students gain familiarity with one another and build friendships as they return each week. Our students have expressed that this weekly rhythm of hospitality means a lot to them. Often uneasy with organized religion and larger institutions, many young adults have to muster great courage to come inside the life of a church for the first time. At the same time, it takes courage for many churches to become actively acquainted with their neighbors. Eric H.F. Law, a church consultant, empowers churches to form ministries that invite neighbors to come inside the boundary of the church -- perhaps just a bit -- while encouraging members to move outside their congregational routines to meet the surrounding neighborhood -- perhaps just a bit. He calls this type of ministry a “grace margin,” for it is a space where people can meet relationally in the middle of this inner and outward movement. Once they do, they form friendships together, and these very friendships ease anxiety and remove any perceived

barriers. The Sunday Campus Dinner is indeed a grace margin, inviting students to enter our building and experience love and welcome. It also encourages our members to ‘go out’ as they provide hospitality to our neighbors, learning their names, and building personal connections. Since we began this new ministry in September, we have watched students become active in the life of our congregation in brand new ways. More students are participating in our morning and evening worship services, serving and leading in mission, attending midweek programs, and officially expressing commitment to the church in formal membership. We are eager to see what is ahead as these connections deepen. We thank our volunteers and our donors for making this ministry possible. In particular, we express gratitude for a generous grant donation from the Synod of the Covenant that currently provides resources in 2015 toward this effort. We thank you and ask for your continued prayers as we serve together. Renée Roederer, Director of Campus Ministry

2014 Campus Ministry Program Highlights Pancake Supper Each December, First Presbyterian Church has the great joy and privilege of hosting approximately 300 students for the Annual Pancake Supper. As Fall Semester classes are nearing an end, students from the campus neighborhood come to the church from 10pm12am for late-night supper of pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits, fruit, coffee and more. We are grateful for the large number of volunteers who make this possible and for all the students who share the evening with us. Monday Night Bible Study This semester, undergraduate and graduate students are meeting for a new Bible Study on the Epistle of James. Resident Minister Lal Rodawla and Economics Professor Mitchell Dudley lead this weekly study, inviting students to connect the scriptures to their daily lives and deepen relationships with one another. Wednesday 2:42 Midweek Meal Students have enjoyed forming relationships with members of First Presbyterian Church through the Wednesday evening 2:42 meal. It's wonderful to connect with people of all ages, and our students feel a wonderful sense of hospitality and welcome.

AACMF Members & Staff Officers Bill Slade, President Paul Smith, Vice President Barbara Black, Secretary Ann Andrews, Treasurer

First Presbyterian, Ann Arbor First Presbyterian, Ann Arbor First Presbyterian, Ann Arbor First Presbyterian, Ann Arbor

Board Members Rev. Dr. Fairfax Fair, Ex-Officio First Presbyterian, Ann Arbor Rev. Dr. Allen Timm, Ex-Officio Executive Presbyter Bill Parker First Presbyterian, Ann Arbor Rev. Dr. Judy Shipman (retired) First Presbyterian, Saline Rev. Jim Russell (retired) First Presbyterian, Northville Staff Rev. Renée Roederer, Director of Campus Ministry Tucker Rossmaessler, Young Life College Director Courtney King, Young Life College Associate Claire Forhan, YLC Student Staff Nick Hecht, YLC Student Staff Matt Vallade, YLC Student Staff Nicole Van Loon, YLC Student Staff

Ann Arbor Campus Ministry Foundation 1432 Washtenaw Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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