OAKLAND IOWA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
april 2017 wesley foundation update
Greetings,
We hope that you all had a blessed Easter! The Wesley Foundations have been busy developing leadership teams, preparing for and celebrating Easter, and looking at how our faith informs our views of the environment this Earth week and how we can live out our faith.
We hope that you all had a blessed Easter! The Wesley Foundations have been busy developing leadership teams, preparing for and celebrating Easter, and looking at how our faith informs our views of the environment this Earth week and how we can live out our faith.
iowa state university
by Daniel Trone
Students at ISU are scrambling to finish projects, studying for exams, finalizing plans for their summer internships and saying goodbye to friends. These are always the exhausting expectations of an approaching finals week. But through all of the sleepless nights and hectic days, it has been nice to see Wesley students resurrected through campus ministry events.
Our March Mission focus left us with a better understanding of human trafficking. A movie inspired by actual events, Caged No More and a student speaker form ISU left us with the perspectives of a reality, which should call us to action and sends us with prayers of compassion for those trapped in the cycle, and prayers of thankfulness for being free from it ourselves.
And now, in our final month of classes before exams and final month of this school year ministry, we have reached the mission that, thanks to Earth Day on April 22nd, inspired us to choose a focus for each month this semester: Environmental Awareness. There is a big team planning events for the month, and many other students are joining in. Wesley Foundation is promoting the many on-campus activities, which other universities hopefully are offering as well. There is an outdoor documentary and ISU eco fair-events that will take us into the big March for Science taking place in Des Moines on Earth Day. We are looking at what it means for us as Christians to care for creation and how we can use our faith to inform our actions.
If our effort could be culminated in the description of one event, it may be our chunkily phrased, Easter Egg Dying/Seed Planting/Study Session. We were glad to see that eggs left over from our famous Midnight Breakfasts did not go to waste. Though most we made into omelets, a few became beautiful pastel colored Minions and butterflies flying over lava. As our eggs dried, we reused the carton, filling it will soil and seeds. We hope to grow peppers and give them to students. Next year, we suggest Milkweed for prairie planting! After finishing our decoration, we could share some food and study or watch the seeds grow. Most students begrudgingly got to work on their studies while being in community.
For resurrection, students participated in the Sunrise Easter Service. Having many voices in Pastor Jim's scripture reading showed the important perspective on Jesus's resurrection. We hope that students can take the message of new life in this season to help them make it through the end of the semester!
Students at ISU are scrambling to finish projects, studying for exams, finalizing plans for their summer internships and saying goodbye to friends. These are always the exhausting expectations of an approaching finals week. But through all of the sleepless nights and hectic days, it has been nice to see Wesley students resurrected through campus ministry events.
Our March Mission focus left us with a better understanding of human trafficking. A movie inspired by actual events, Caged No More and a student speaker form ISU left us with the perspectives of a reality, which should call us to action and sends us with prayers of compassion for those trapped in the cycle, and prayers of thankfulness for being free from it ourselves.
And now, in our final month of classes before exams and final month of this school year ministry, we have reached the mission that, thanks to Earth Day on April 22nd, inspired us to choose a focus for each month this semester: Environmental Awareness. There is a big team planning events for the month, and many other students are joining in. Wesley Foundation is promoting the many on-campus activities, which other universities hopefully are offering as well. There is an outdoor documentary and ISU eco fair-events that will take us into the big March for Science taking place in Des Moines on Earth Day. We are looking at what it means for us as Christians to care for creation and how we can use our faith to inform our actions.
If our effort could be culminated in the description of one event, it may be our chunkily phrased, Easter Egg Dying/Seed Planting/Study Session. We were glad to see that eggs left over from our famous Midnight Breakfasts did not go to waste. Though most we made into omelets, a few became beautiful pastel colored Minions and butterflies flying over lava. As our eggs dried, we reused the carton, filling it will soil and seeds. We hope to grow peppers and give them to students. Next year, we suggest Milkweed for prairie planting! After finishing our decoration, we could share some food and study or watch the seeds grow. Most students begrudgingly got to work on their studies while being in community.
For resurrection, students participated in the Sunrise Easter Service. Having many voices in Pastor Jim's scripture reading showed the important perspective on Jesus's resurrection. We hope that students can take the message of new life in this season to help them make it through the end of the semester!
university of northern iowa
Threehouse: A Wesley Foundation would like to thank our 2016-2017 Student Leadership Team: Ashley Wurster, Ashley Larson, Kylie Marie, Robin Kime, Megan Capek, Austin Newland, Etienne Porras, and Anne Langebartels. Thank you for your continuous dedication and hard work you have done over the past school year! You show us what it is like to live out Micah 6:8 in your daily living, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. Thank you!
We would also like to congratulate our 2017-2018 Student Leadership Team: President- Robin Kime, Vice President- Ashley Wurster, Secretary- Etienne Porras, Treasurer- Elizabeth Denniston, Communications- Austin Newland, Prayers- Kaitlyn Bailey, Presence Jacob Horn, Gifts- Megan Meyer, Service- Emily Tull, and Witness- Anne Langebartels. We pray for our community that God will work through the gifts that each leader brings and for each member of the community.
We would also like to congratulate our 2017-2018 Student Leadership Team: President- Robin Kime, Vice President- Ashley Wurster, Secretary- Etienne Porras, Treasurer- Elizabeth Denniston, Communications- Austin Newland, Prayers- Kaitlyn Bailey, Presence Jacob Horn, Gifts- Megan Meyer, Service- Emily Tull, and Witness- Anne Langebartels. We pray for our community that God will work through the gifts that each leader brings and for each member of the community.
university of iowa
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God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
At the UI Wesley Center, we are moved and motivated and convicted by these prophetic words from Micah. Our new banners serve as a visible reminder of what God requires: seeking justice; practicing kindness; creating community. We often close our Tuesday Table worship with a question. Allyn Glenn-Burns, Co-Director at the Wesley Center, is inviting us to consider this question: What would it look like if we live into the messy, challenging, uncomfortable love to which we are called? 
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drake university
Scott Chapel on the campus of Drake University, installation made with
myrrh, coffee grounds, and sand, April 5-12, 2017.
myrrh, coffee grounds, and sand, April 5-12, 2017.
march 2017 wesley foundation update
Greetings!
Spring is officially here. Many students dedicated their spring breaks to service and learning trips or are planning trips in the near future. Here's a look at what is happening at the Wesley Foundations in Iowa.
Spring is officially here. Many students dedicated their spring breaks to service and learning trips or are planning trips in the near future. Here's a look at what is happening at the Wesley Foundations in Iowa.
iowa state university
Iowa State Wesley Foundation sent five students and one staff member to Chicago this spring break to volunteer through the DOOR Network! Our trip allowed us amazing opportunities to grow as a group and build relationships with people we met during our stay. Our volunteering activities included: helping make and serve meals at a food program, assisting a local gardening organization, packing meals in a warehouse for senior citizens, and joining in the food pantry ministry that is Vital Bridges. We also had the opportunity to do some powerful debriefing, learn stories of the neighborhoods around our host church, and experience some classic Chicago things like deep dish pizza and the Garfield Park Conservatory.
Indeed, we saw God in numerous ways this week. The following experiences were some highlighted by our students.
This segues nicely into our thoughts on how we showed God's love during the week.
We are so thankful for the chance to go on this trip to Chicago. The relationships we built were marvelous, and we most certainly saw the face of God in the city.
Indeed, we saw God in numerous ways this week. The following experiences were some highlighted by our students.
- We saw God in the Vital Bridges food pantry, where we were welcomed with warm hospitality into a "family" of volunteers. It made our hearts happy!
- God was with us in Chicago; we were safe and had no major incidents.
- Michael, a student working for DOOR, showed God through his story and spoken word performance. His story had us reflecting about people being more similar than it may seem.
- We saw God in learning about similarities between people, and that we are all equals.
- We saw God in ourselves, and the fact that we made time to come to Chicago.
This segues nicely into our thoughts on how we showed God's love during the week.
- We showed God by being on the trip, helping others, and choosing to do something meaningful for spring break. (We could have been somewhere that it didn't snow!)
- face
- We showed that Christians are not all judgmental as we connected with people and spread love instead.
We are so thankful for the chance to go on this trip to Chicago. The relationships we built were marvelous, and we most certainly saw the face of God in the city.
university of iowa
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The UI Wesley Center's weekly Tuesday Table: Spiritual Biography series continues to draw delightful guests, invite meaningful conversation, and deepen our connections with one another and with the Divine. This last month we have been blessed to hear from Jordan Smith (who teaches in the UI Religious Studies department), Bishop Laurie Haller (of the Iowa Annual Conference of the UMC), and Rev. Ted Lyddon Hatten (artist, theologian, and Director of the Drake Wesley Foundation.) In addition to sharing stories from their spiritual journeys, they have invited us to sit with and respond to questions arising from their own spiritual lives and wrestlings. "What's a belief you have had to let go of, in order to live? "What's
a belief that has changed, and changed you?" |
"What is saving your life right now?" "What would you say to your enemy?" Each week, our meal nourishes our bodies. Each week, our time at table nourishes our spirits, and our spiritual life together.
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drake university
What would you say to your enemy? What would say to the person who opposes all that you favor - the one who favors what you oppose?
This was the question I posed to University of Iowa students at Wesley Center's Tuesday Table. After sharing my spiritual biography, we dove into an exploration of color theory, complementarity, and Pentecost (among other things), as we imagined entering into a dialogue that reaches across the fractures that divide us. It was an evening punctuated with amazing music, deep silence, and courageous questioning.
Ted Lyddon Hatten
Drake Wesley Foundation
This was the question I posed to University of Iowa students at Wesley Center's Tuesday Table. After sharing my spiritual biography, we dove into an exploration of color theory, complementarity, and Pentecost (among other things), as we imagined entering into a dialogue that reaches across the fractures that divide us. It was an evening punctuated with amazing music, deep silence, and courageous questioning.
Ted Lyddon Hatten
Drake Wesley Foundation
University of northern iowa
This semester Threehouse is gearing up for our spring trip to New York City, May 15-20th. On our trip we will be traveling with 20 participants, which compose of students, staff and community members. While in the city we will be spending time at the Church of the Village, where we will be assisting with their food ministry program. The remainder of our time will be spent learning from The United Methodist Seminars on National and International Affairs, which is housed at the church center across the street from the united nations.
In efforts to raise money for our trip we will be hosting multiple pancake breakfast fundraisers at our local partner churches, St. Luke's Episcopal, Dike United Methodist, First United Methodist-Cedar Falls, and First United Methodist- Waterloo. Our students will also be raising funds with a Trivia Night hosted at our building on April 7th, starting at 6:00pm. The cost is $10 for community members and $5 for students. Participants are encouraged to come with teams of 4-8 players. Individuals are also welcomed to join a team the night of the event.
In efforts to raise money for our trip we will be hosting multiple pancake breakfast fundraisers at our local partner churches, St. Luke's Episcopal, Dike United Methodist, First United Methodist-Cedar Falls, and First United Methodist- Waterloo. Our students will also be raising funds with a Trivia Night hosted at our building on April 7th, starting at 6:00pm. The cost is $10 for community members and $5 for students. Participants are encouraged to come with teams of 4-8 players. Individuals are also welcomed to join a team the night of the event.
January 2017 Wesley Foundation Update
Greetings,
Happy New Year from the Wesley Foundations in Iowa! It's a new year and the Wesley Foundations are excited to greet students and are working to reach out and connect with students. Below is a look into a few of the things that are happening at the Wesley Foundations this year.
Happy New Year from the Wesley Foundations in Iowa! It's a new year and the Wesley Foundations are excited to greet students and are working to reach out and connect with students. Below is a look into a few of the things that are happening at the Wesley Foundations this year.
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
by Daniel Trone
There is so much in the world that needs to be done. There is so much we can do. What is our purpose? Now, that is just the typical college question, right? "What do I want to do with my life?" It is easy to turn this question too inward. As is always our goal in planning, we hoped to keep the inward working outward, with student leaders' interests guiding their ministries.
Having such a variety of student interests is a blessing but yields its challenge as well. We have to submit, knowing that we can't do everything. But, it is more than consolation to know that anything that we plan is part of God's larger plan.
The idea of hosting a mental health awareness event inspired a direction for the month and model for our semester. Mental health is an issue so easy to forget about if you are not reminded and so difficult to deal with if you feel you are being forgotten-or stigmatized. The issue gave our willing efforts a meaningful focus. Stigmatization stands against what we stand for. We welcome all and shine God's light through the service we do.
The areas we hope to shine light on this semester are: Mental Health (January), Eating Disorders (February), Human Trafficking (March), and Environmental Issues (April)
We opened on January 8th where we hosted a guest speaker from the Iowa State National Alliance on Mental Illness student organization. As we shared our usual "Lunch on the Landing," she shared personal experiences that gave us powerful insight to begin our month of focus.
With addressing each issue, we plan to integrate local speakers, educational opportunities, and service projects. Acknowledging struggles and opening conversations will help strengthen our understanding of the world and our connection to God, who created it.
There is so much in the world that needs to be done. There is so much we can do. What is our purpose? Now, that is just the typical college question, right? "What do I want to do with my life?" It is easy to turn this question too inward. As is always our goal in planning, we hoped to keep the inward working outward, with student leaders' interests guiding their ministries.
Having such a variety of student interests is a blessing but yields its challenge as well. We have to submit, knowing that we can't do everything. But, it is more than consolation to know that anything that we plan is part of God's larger plan.
The idea of hosting a mental health awareness event inspired a direction for the month and model for our semester. Mental health is an issue so easy to forget about if you are not reminded and so difficult to deal with if you feel you are being forgotten-or stigmatized. The issue gave our willing efforts a meaningful focus. Stigmatization stands against what we stand for. We welcome all and shine God's light through the service we do.
The areas we hope to shine light on this semester are: Mental Health (January), Eating Disorders (February), Human Trafficking (March), and Environmental Issues (April)
We opened on January 8th where we hosted a guest speaker from the Iowa State National Alliance on Mental Illness student organization. As we shared our usual "Lunch on the Landing," she shared personal experiences that gave us powerful insight to begin our month of focus.
With addressing each issue, we plan to integrate local speakers, educational opportunities, and service projects. Acknowledging struggles and opening conversations will help strengthen our understanding of the world and our connection to God, who created it.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
A thin place moment happened to me on my way back to my Threehouse: A Wesley Foundation office recently. I had been invited to be present for the beginning of the Student Affairs Division Leadership Team meeting. It was a day that the sidewalks had the mixture of snow, rain and ice and it was very cold. I gingerly made my way to the meeting across campus. They generously presented me with the "Helping Students Succeed Commendation". I've worked with many of these individuals in their various departments across the UNI campus in a variety of settings. It was a nice affirmation of the work our campus ministry has undertaken. On my way back to my office, I walked through Maucker Union to avoid some of the slippery sidewalks. The popcorn machine was fired up, so I had to stop and enjoy that. As I was leaving the building, almost back to Threehouse, I realized that with the large plaque, a bag of popcorn, my hat and mittens that I should probably have paused long enough to put the hat and mittens on, but I didn't. After getting the hat and one mitten on and no more free hands for the last mitten, I apparently looked like I was struggling. A delightful UNI student approaches, saying "Here let me help you with that. Let me hold something. You need to have your mittens on today." I thanked her. She said it was nice to help and we
went our way. Here's the cool part, I was carrying the commendation plaque about helping students succeed, under my arm while this student is to be commended for helping me succeed! To me that's the beauty and challenge of campus ministry. I sometimes feel like we in the institutional church look at students as having all of the need while we have all of the answers/resources. When we take the time to listen and engage with the students where they are, we might just find that not only can we help them, but they help us. Campus ministry is relational. Campus ministry is slow. Campus ministry is messy at times. Campus ministry is beautiful. Campus ministry is sacred. Thank you for the ways the Iowa Annual Conference supports ministry in at least 8 specific locations across the conference.
went our way. Here's the cool part, I was carrying the commendation plaque about helping students succeed, under my arm while this student is to be commended for helping me succeed! To me that's the beauty and challenge of campus ministry. I sometimes feel like we in the institutional church look at students as having all of the need while we have all of the answers/resources. When we take the time to listen and engage with the students where they are, we might just find that not only can we help them, but they help us. Campus ministry is relational. Campus ministry is slow. Campus ministry is messy at times. Campus ministry is beautiful. Campus ministry is sacred. Thank you for the ways the Iowa Annual Conference supports ministry in at least 8 specific locations across the conference.
University of Iowa
Spring 2017 at the UI Wesley Center
Spring 2017 at the UI Wesley Center
December 2016 Wesley Foundation Update
Greetings,
We thank you so much for sending students to the four Wesley Foundations in Iowa. The four Wesley Foundations have been very busy this semester and are looking forward to the ministry that will happen in 2017. We hope that you will help us share with others about the ministries at the Wesley Foundations and help students to find their home away from home at their local Wesley Foundation. Please let us know if their is a way that we can further connect with college students from your community to make disciples for the transformation of the world.
We thank you so much for sending students to the four Wesley Foundations in Iowa. The four Wesley Foundations have been very busy this semester and are looking forward to the ministry that will happen in 2017. We hope that you will help us share with others about the ministries at the Wesley Foundations and help students to find their home away from home at their local Wesley Foundation. Please let us know if their is a way that we can further connect with college students from your community to make disciples for the transformation of the world.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
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Finals week at Threehouse Fall '16 was filled with great food, deep conversations, Laugh on the Half (hour) moments, hosting UNI Interim President Jim Wohlpart for SoupChat, angst, joy, Rothlisberger cinnamon rolls, cleaning, last classes, the alumni newsletter, vocational insights, cookies, Christmas parties, fires in the fireplace - all offered in the usual #threehousestyle.
Thank you for your support in 2016. We welcome your prayers, presence, service, gifts and witness in 2017.
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IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
This semester, dead week and finals week were filled with ways to gather in community and relieve stress. We had a Pet Therapy night where students were about to come and hang out with some dogs, a movie and craft night where students made fleece blankets, cards and ornaments, and afternoon tea. Students had a chance to decorate the student lounge to make it more festive. We had our final Study buddies of the semester (our tutoring program with the kids from the local homeless shelter), where we did worksheets, played games, had dinner together, and washed dishes.
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We had a special time set aside for study hours for students to study together. A group went ice skating and another group blasted away stress with a nerf battle. We had our final FREE midnight breakfast of the semester where we served over 170 students on a cold winter night. Wesley Singers, our student led vocal group sang in worship. We also gathered at the table for our final lunch on the landing of the semester, and the final Sunday Supper prepared by Justine, a graduating senior. We are really going to miss her and her delicious homemade meals every Sunday evening. We offered an opportunity for students to reflect on advent to give them a chance to talk about the holidays (joys, concerns, challenges) while providing a time for reflection and prayer. There were two caroling events, a baking event, a database party (to update some records), and FREE finals week breakfasts every morning. It was a great way to end the semester. We wish everyone a wonderful Advent, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are looking forward to ministry next spring!
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DRAKE UNIVERSITY
Would you harbor me?
It is a question asked by a person in desperate need. It is also a Christmas question. When Mary and Joseph asked it of innkeepers in Bethlehem, the answer was no. Jews in Nazi Germany didn't need to ask; the answer was no. Japanese Americans during WWII received the same answer; no.
Would you harbor me?
is a question humans ask when their worst fears are being realized. And it is a question that is now being asked on college campuses like Drake by Muslim students, students of color, LGBTQ students, and many others who live on the margins.
To the people who are undocumented in our community, here is Drake University's answer to the question:
As of Nov. 30, Drake University will be a sanctuary - "a place of refuge or safety" - for undocumented members of our community who now find themselves under heightened threat of investigation and deportation by the federal government.
Our commitment to be a place of refuge or safety will be made manifest in a number of different ways. Drake University does not and will not act on behalf of government agents to enforce immigration laws for the purpose of facilitating deportations. We will continue to take appropriate steps to guard the privacy of student and employee records and information, including citizenship status. We will seek to uphold and advocate for the status of educational institutions as sensitive locations consistent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement memorandum of October 24, 2011. And, we will look for additional opportunities to advocate for and support the undocumented members of our community.
It is a Christmas question. Would you harbor me? The least among us are dying to hear our answer.
Ted Lyddon Hatten Drake Wesley House
It is a question asked by a person in desperate need. It is also a Christmas question. When Mary and Joseph asked it of innkeepers in Bethlehem, the answer was no. Jews in Nazi Germany didn't need to ask; the answer was no. Japanese Americans during WWII received the same answer; no.
Would you harbor me?
is a question humans ask when their worst fears are being realized. And it is a question that is now being asked on college campuses like Drake by Muslim students, students of color, LGBTQ students, and many others who live on the margins.
To the people who are undocumented in our community, here is Drake University's answer to the question:
As of Nov. 30, Drake University will be a sanctuary - "a place of refuge or safety" - for undocumented members of our community who now find themselves under heightened threat of investigation and deportation by the federal government.
Our commitment to be a place of refuge or safety will be made manifest in a number of different ways. Drake University does not and will not act on behalf of government agents to enforce immigration laws for the purpose of facilitating deportations. We will continue to take appropriate steps to guard the privacy of student and employee records and information, including citizenship status. We will seek to uphold and advocate for the status of educational institutions as sensitive locations consistent with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement memorandum of October 24, 2011. And, we will look for additional opportunities to advocate for and support the undocumented members of our community.
It is a Christmas question. Would you harbor me? The least among us are dying to hear our answer.
Ted Lyddon Hatten Drake Wesley House
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
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"Magnificat" by Christina Hutchins
What shall I do with this quiet joy? It calls forth the expanse of my soul, calls it forth to go singing through the world, calls it forth to rock the cradles of death gently and without fear, to collect the rain in my spread hands and spill it like laughter, calls it forth to touch and carry her suffering, his age our dense flesh, to bear into this world a place where light will glisten the edge of every wing and blade of grass, shine along every hair on every head, gleam among the turnings of every wave, glorify the turning open of each life, each human hand. "A Blessing for Traveling in the Dark" by Jan Richardson Go slow if you can. Slower. More slowly still. Friendly dark or fearsome, this is no place to break your neck by rushing, by running, by crashing into what you cannot see. Then again, it is true: different darks have different tasks, and if you have arrived here unawares, if you have come in peril or in pain, this might be no place you should dawdle. I do not know what these shadows ask of you, what they might hold that means you good or ill. It is not for me to reckon whether you should linger or you should leave. But this is what I can ask for you: That in the darkness there be a blessing. That in the shadows there be a welcome. That in the night you be encompassed by the Love that knows your name. |
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November 2016 Wesley Foundation Update
Greetings,
This year there has been have been many challenges on the campuses including the controversial elections. There are students at each of the universities that are on both sides of the fence. There are some that are strongly opposed and fearful of what just happened while others celebrate. Wesley Foundations open the doors for all topics including those that are conversational and encourage students, faculty, and staff to have respectful conversations while looking at the Wesleyan Quadrilateral using scripture, tradition, experience and reason.
This year there has been have been many challenges on the campuses including the controversial elections. There are students at each of the universities that are on both sides of the fence. There are some that are strongly opposed and fearful of what just happened while others celebrate. Wesley Foundations open the doors for all topics including those that are conversational and encourage students, faculty, and staff to have respectful conversations while looking at the Wesleyan Quadrilateral using scripture, tradition, experience and reason.
Iowa State University
A lot has happened this past month. A few of the big highlights revolve around homecoming week. Iowa State University brought back their homecoming parade and we were a part of it. We invited the kids from the Emergency Residence Project, the local homeless shelter to be in the parade with us. We had nine young friends that joined us. We handed out candy and business cards with information.
This was also the first year for annual alumni reunion during homecoming week. We are still working to build our alumni database and connect with all alumni. For this year's alumni reunion, we had a lunch with alumni and current students.
There was a picture quilt, created by a current student, with some memories from the past, much time for conversation, and a building tour. As soon as the Homecoming schedule is available from Iowa State University, we will be setting the date for our next Alumni Reunion.
Also this month, we painted pumpkins with our young friends from the local homeless shelter, we had a pumpkin carving party with college students, a small group of students is staff has been planning focus areas for next semester, the "Painting the Stars" Study continues, Tea Time continues, and we had a conversation about finances just to name a few things.
This was also the first year for annual alumni reunion during homecoming week. We are still working to build our alumni database and connect with all alumni. For this year's alumni reunion, we had a lunch with alumni and current students.
There was a picture quilt, created by a current student, with some memories from the past, much time for conversation, and a building tour. As soon as the Homecoming schedule is available from Iowa State University, we will be setting the date for our next Alumni Reunion.
Also this month, we painted pumpkins with our young friends from the local homeless shelter, we had a pumpkin carving party with college students, a small group of students is staff has been planning focus areas for next semester, the "Painting the Stars" Study continues, Tea Time continues, and we had a conversation about finances just to name a few things.
This was also the first year for annual alumni reunion during homecoming week.
We are still working to build our alumni database and connect with all alumni. For this year's alumni reunion, we had a lunch with alumni and current students.
There was a picture quilt, created by a current student, with some memories from the past, much time for conversation, and a building tour. As soon as the Homecoming schedule is available from Iowa State University, we will be setting the date for our next Alumni Reunion.
Also this month, we painted pumpkins with our young friends from the local homeless shelter, we had a pumpkin carving party with college students, a small group of students is staff has been planning focus areas for next semester, the "Painting the Stars" Study continues, Tea Time continues, and we had a conversation about finances just to name a few things.
We are still working to build our alumni database and connect with all alumni. For this year's alumni reunion, we had a lunch with alumni and current students.
There was a picture quilt, created by a current student, with some memories from the past, much time for conversation, and a building tour. As soon as the Homecoming schedule is available from Iowa State University, we will be setting the date for our next Alumni Reunion.
Also this month, we painted pumpkins with our young friends from the local homeless shelter, we had a pumpkin carving party with college students, a small group of students is staff has been planning focus areas for next semester, the "Painting the Stars" Study continues, Tea Time continues, and we had a conversation about finances just to name a few things.
University of Northern Iowa
Threehousians gather with UM missionaries Larry and Jane Kies for Soup Chat.
Tiana, Becca, Jordan and Ashley lined up to serve another Threehouse pancake bar at Cedar Falls First UMC.
Threehouse Community group-building activities at the beginning of the recent community meeting.
November 10, 2016
Estar de luto. To be in grief.
"my heart is moved by all I cannot save:
so much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely,
with no extraordinary power,
reconstitute the world."
-Adrienne Rich
I find myself awash in deep grief. I have been grieving before Tuesdaynight election results were in, before we learned who would be the next President of the United States. I am grieving less because of who won and who lost the election, and more because of the fear, the hatred, the xenophobia, and the violence unleashed, uncovered, and flagrantly celebrated during this campaign. Racism. Anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Other fear mongering. Misogyny. Heterosexism. "Attention," writes Mary Oliver, "is the beginning of devotion." If we are devoted to God, to this world, and to each other, we have a calling, a commandment, a deep and urgent and persistent need to pay attention.
Augustine wrote that Hope has two daughters: Anger, and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to make sure they do not remain as they are.
Jesus called and commanded us to a radical, risky love. Jesus called and commanded us to love those who we have been taught to fear. To comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. This love is not a wishy-washy, conflict-avoidant, let's-pretend-everything-is-fine sort of love. It is a love that calls us to the margins, to the borders, to the places of deepest suffering, and fear. It is a love that tears down walls, rather than build more. It is a love that invests in the most vulnerable, that protects and honors lives that are said to matter less, to be worth less, or even worthless. It is a love that welcomes the stranger, especially the strangers who have been told they are unwelcome.
In this time when grief and fear run deep and loom large, I have been returning to the core truths that hold me, and hold me accountable. I believe these truths with every fiber of my being: You are loved. You are not alone. You can do hard things. We need each other.
A student who has been blessing the Wesley Center with his presence and participation for a couple of years now shared some words with me this week that I have been holding close. "'Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.' The Prophet was asked: 'It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?' He
replied: 'By preventing him from oppressing others.'" (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadith 624.) Another student, once a ministry intern at the Wesley Center, now a former student, shared these words: 'The Mishnaic sage Rabbi Tarfon tells us 'Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. You are not obligated to complete the task of healing the world, but neither are you free to abandon it.'"
Next Tuesday, at Tuesday Table, we gather around a common table, share a homemade, vegetarian meal, and nourish one another in body, and in spirit. We will process the election results, and continue our Spiritual Biography series by exploring the Spiritual Biography of this country. There is a place for you at the table. Please, come and gather. And, in the hours and days and weeks and months and years to come, remember: You are loved. You are not alone. You can do hard things. We need each other.
In love, in solidarity, in peace, in justice, in grief, in hope,
Rev. Anna Blaedel
Estar de luto. To be in grief.
"my heart is moved by all I cannot save:
so much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely,
with no extraordinary power,
reconstitute the world."
-Adrienne Rich
I find myself awash in deep grief. I have been grieving before Tuesdaynight election results were in, before we learned who would be the next President of the United States. I am grieving less because of who won and who lost the election, and more because of the fear, the hatred, the xenophobia, and the violence unleashed, uncovered, and flagrantly celebrated during this campaign. Racism. Anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Other fear mongering. Misogyny. Heterosexism. "Attention," writes Mary Oliver, "is the beginning of devotion." If we are devoted to God, to this world, and to each other, we have a calling, a commandment, a deep and urgent and persistent need to pay attention.
Augustine wrote that Hope has two daughters: Anger, and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to make sure they do not remain as they are.
Jesus called and commanded us to a radical, risky love. Jesus called and commanded us to love those who we have been taught to fear. To comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. This love is not a wishy-washy, conflict-avoidant, let's-pretend-everything-is-fine sort of love. It is a love that calls us to the margins, to the borders, to the places of deepest suffering, and fear. It is a love that tears down walls, rather than build more. It is a love that invests in the most vulnerable, that protects and honors lives that are said to matter less, to be worth less, or even worthless. It is a love that welcomes the stranger, especially the strangers who have been told they are unwelcome.
In this time when grief and fear run deep and loom large, I have been returning to the core truths that hold me, and hold me accountable. I believe these truths with every fiber of my being: You are loved. You are not alone. You can do hard things. We need each other.
A student who has been blessing the Wesley Center with his presence and participation for a couple of years now shared some words with me this week that I have been holding close. "'Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed.' The Prophet was asked: 'It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?' He
replied: 'By preventing him from oppressing others.'" (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadith 624.) Another student, once a ministry intern at the Wesley Center, now a former student, shared these words: 'The Mishnaic sage Rabbi Tarfon tells us 'Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. You are not obligated to complete the task of healing the world, but neither are you free to abandon it.'"
Next Tuesday, at Tuesday Table, we gather around a common table, share a homemade, vegetarian meal, and nourish one another in body, and in spirit. We will process the election results, and continue our Spiritual Biography series by exploring the Spiritual Biography of this country. There is a place for you at the table. Please, come and gather. And, in the hours and days and weeks and months and years to come, remember: You are loved. You are not alone. You can do hard things. We need each other.
In love, in solidarity, in peace, in justice, in grief, in hope,
Rev. Anna Blaedel
Drake University
Like many campuses across our nation, Drake was on edge before and after the results of the election became known. Students of color were targets of politically tinged hate speech, causing many to fear for their safety and wonder if they will be able to continue their studies. These are difficult times for a diverse community.
Drake president, Marty Martin, in an effort to rise above partisan politics, sent an email to the entire Drake community addressing the anxiety many are feeling. He wrote in part:
My hope is that President Trump will behave and govern much differently than he campaigned. My hope is that President Trump will practice empathy for others and search for truth in the arguments of those who oppose him. My hope is that he will populate his cabinet with committed and knowledgeable public servants, and that he will work with the Congress to move our country forward in a positive and constructive way. My hope is that we can step back from the brink it feels as if we are poised on and find a way to address the serious issues of the day in a bipartisan and inclusive fashion. Issues like immigration, climate change, criminal justice reform, race and gender, infrastructure, education, and so much more.
Whether or not my hopes are realized, I know that Drake University will stand on its values. We will continue to be fiercely committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will continue to be a place of opportunity and support for all. We will continue to use our knowledge, our talent, our time, and our energy to advance the cause of truth and to pursue justice.
Our path is clear and that was never going to change however the presidential election turned out. We remain grounded in our values and we remain committed to each other.
Drake president, Marty Martin, in an effort to rise above partisan politics, sent an email to the entire Drake community addressing the anxiety many are feeling. He wrote in part:
My hope is that President Trump will behave and govern much differently than he campaigned. My hope is that President Trump will practice empathy for others and search for truth in the arguments of those who oppose him. My hope is that he will populate his cabinet with committed and knowledgeable public servants, and that he will work with the Congress to move our country forward in a positive and constructive way. My hope is that we can step back from the brink it feels as if we are poised on and find a way to address the serious issues of the day in a bipartisan and inclusive fashion. Issues like immigration, climate change, criminal justice reform, race and gender, infrastructure, education, and so much more.
Whether or not my hopes are realized, I know that Drake University will stand on its values. We will continue to be fiercely committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will continue to be a place of opportunity and support for all. We will continue to use our knowledge, our talent, our time, and our energy to advance the cause of truth and to pursue justice.
Our path is clear and that was never going to change however the presidential election turned out. We remain grounded in our values and we remain committed to each other.
October 2016 Wesley Foundation Update
Greetings,
University students have completed most if not all of their midterm exams, projects and papers. It has been a stressful time for them. Please continue to be in prayer for the students, faculty and staff during this busy time of year. Please also be in prayer for the Wesley Foundations and United Methodist College Campus Ministries as they continue to provide support, spiritual growth, worship and a place to call home for these students.
University students have completed most if not all of their midterm exams, projects and papers. It has been a stressful time for them. Please continue to be in prayer for the students, faculty and staff during this busy time of year. Please also be in prayer for the Wesley Foundations and United Methodist College Campus Ministries as they continue to provide support, spiritual growth, worship and a place to call home for these students.
University of Iowa
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
"For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy." -Shirely Erena Murray
"For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy." -Shirely Erena Murray
This week at the UI Wesley Center, we've been gathering around new tables, in a newly repainted and reimagined gathering space. These tables are solid. They are heavy. They are meant to hold substance: food, conversation, questions that have many answers or no answers, laughter & tears, communion.
On Monday, a student who has never been to the Wesley Center before asked to talk for a minute. They were questioning parts of their religious background, parts of their belief system, and parts of their identity. We talked, over coffee. As our conversation wrapped up, I invited them to come to the Wesley Center, to continue the conversation in community. "Would there really be a place for me there?" the student asked. "Yes," I said honestly (and gratefully.) There is a place for you at the UI Wesley Center. There is a place for you at this table.
On Tuesday, we gathered around these tables to hear Lisa Covington, our guest at that evening's Tuesday Table: Spiritual Biography series, share from her work as a scholar-activist for social change, racial justice, and culturally competent communities. "I didn't get here by myself," Lisa began. She quoted Audre Lorde, "Without community, there is no liberation..." As a black woman speaking to a predominantly white community, it was our job to complete that quote. "Without community, there is no liberation...but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist." We spoke of our observations about race, community, violence, sacred space, spiritual belonging. Lisa drew on MK Asante Jr: "When you make an observation, you have an obligation." What observations are you making about your life, our collective life, our political and religious and economic collective life? What obligations arise from these observations?
On Wednesday, we gathered for Bible Study. "What grounds you, and what raises you up?" one student asked. The sharing grounded us, and raised us up. This group, this gathering. Being responsible to my community. A sense of awe. Relationships that are real. God's persistent calling on my life. Interesting, passionate people. People who help remind me of my purpose. Prayer time on my porch. Working with others for a common purpose. Knowing God's love and care and possibilities exceed my planning, and my wildest imagining. Gathering at table. What grounds you? What raises you up?
On Monday, a student who has never been to the Wesley Center before asked to talk for a minute. They were questioning parts of their religious background, parts of their belief system, and parts of their identity. We talked, over coffee. As our conversation wrapped up, I invited them to come to the Wesley Center, to continue the conversation in community. "Would there really be a place for me there?" the student asked. "Yes," I said honestly (and gratefully.) There is a place for you at the UI Wesley Center. There is a place for you at this table.
On Tuesday, we gathered around these tables to hear Lisa Covington, our guest at that evening's Tuesday Table: Spiritual Biography series, share from her work as a scholar-activist for social change, racial justice, and culturally competent communities. "I didn't get here by myself," Lisa began. She quoted Audre Lorde, "Without community, there is no liberation..." As a black woman speaking to a predominantly white community, it was our job to complete that quote. "Without community, there is no liberation...but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist." We spoke of our observations about race, community, violence, sacred space, spiritual belonging. Lisa drew on MK Asante Jr: "When you make an observation, you have an obligation." What observations are you making about your life, our collective life, our political and religious and economic collective life? What obligations arise from these observations?
On Wednesday, we gathered for Bible Study. "What grounds you, and what raises you up?" one student asked. The sharing grounded us, and raised us up. This group, this gathering. Being responsible to my community. A sense of awe. Relationships that are real. God's persistent calling on my life. Interesting, passionate people. People who help remind me of my purpose. Prayer time on my porch. Working with others for a common purpose. Knowing God's love and care and possibilities exceed my planning, and my wildest imagining. Gathering at table. What grounds you? What raises you up?
Iowa State University
In addition to the meals, studies, midnight breakfasts, volunteer opportunities, and just for fun events, the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University is currently trying to build our alumni database. We are looking to start having annual Alumni Reunions during homecoming starting this year. If you are an alum of the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University please complete the Alumni Form and share it with others to help us build the Wesley Foundation Alumni Database.
Please also help us spread the word about the
Iowa State University Wesley Foundation Alumni Reunion
Sunday, October 30th
8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary
Noon- Lunch, building tours to follow
1:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Mystery Party
Worship services will be at 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary. It would be great to have you at worship.
Join us for Lunch in the Student Lounge with current students and alumni. There will be building tours and a chance to reconnect with other alums. Contact Lisa at [email protected] to RSVP so we can make sure that we have enough food for lunch.
There will also be a Mystery Party from 1:30-4:30 p.m. which we would love to have you attend. Here's a note from Rev. Jim Shirbroun about this mystery.
"In brief, the mystery involves much less reading and much more flat-out-fun stuff and inter- action than before. I'm REALLY looking forward to the reactions of "veterans" of our past mysteries when they experience this new style...AND, if you're new to our Wesley mysteries YOU are going to have lots of fun, too...I GUARANTEE it! You'll be begging us to do another one VERY soon. I've TRULY NEVER been so excited about hosting a mystery and helping you all have a hyper-fun time with friends while you make NEW ones. People are DEFINITELY going to be talking about this for weeks. Don't be left out...Get signed up TODAY!"
Some Mystery Party basics:
Date: Sunday, October 30th
Time: 1:30-4:30(ish) p.m. (you might not want to stop but we'll officially be done bu 4:30 p.m.. There's always the possibility of a "post-party" party, right!?!)
Costumes: encouraged but not required. You'll receive costume ideas and basic character information in your confirmation email once you sign up.
Who's invited?: Current Students, Wesley Foundation Alumni, Family, Friends, Everyone!
Location: Student Lounge at Collegiate UMC/Wesley Foundation 2622 Lincoln Way (2nd floor of main building on Lincoln Way side)
To sign up for the mystery, email [email protected] with your name. Subject line: "Mystery signup" Sign up by Sunday, October 23rd at 7 p.m.
Please also help us spread the word about the
Iowa State University Wesley Foundation Alumni Reunion
Sunday, October 30th
8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary
Noon- Lunch, building tours to follow
1:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Mystery Party
Worship services will be at 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary. It would be great to have you at worship.
Join us for Lunch in the Student Lounge with current students and alumni. There will be building tours and a chance to reconnect with other alums. Contact Lisa at [email protected] to RSVP so we can make sure that we have enough food for lunch.
There will also be a Mystery Party from 1:30-4:30 p.m. which we would love to have you attend. Here's a note from Rev. Jim Shirbroun about this mystery.
"In brief, the mystery involves much less reading and much more flat-out-fun stuff and inter- action than before. I'm REALLY looking forward to the reactions of "veterans" of our past mysteries when they experience this new style...AND, if you're new to our Wesley mysteries YOU are going to have lots of fun, too...I GUARANTEE it! You'll be begging us to do another one VERY soon. I've TRULY NEVER been so excited about hosting a mystery and helping you all have a hyper-fun time with friends while you make NEW ones. People are DEFINITELY going to be talking about this for weeks. Don't be left out...Get signed up TODAY!"
Some Mystery Party basics:
Date: Sunday, October 30th
Time: 1:30-4:30(ish) p.m. (you might not want to stop but we'll officially be done bu 4:30 p.m.. There's always the possibility of a "post-party" party, right!?!)
Costumes: encouraged but not required. You'll receive costume ideas and basic character information in your confirmation email once you sign up.
Who's invited?: Current Students, Wesley Foundation Alumni, Family, Friends, Everyone!
Location: Student Lounge at Collegiate UMC/Wesley Foundation 2622 Lincoln Way (2nd floor of main building on Lincoln Way side)
To sign up for the mystery, email [email protected] with your name. Subject line: "Mystery signup" Sign up by Sunday, October 23rd at 7 p.m.
Drake University
Pause
At the edge of the thicket,
I saw a comma,
So I paused.
I saw a comma,
So I paused.
I teach critical thinking and writing at Drake University, or so it seems. In truth, I teach my students to pay attention. W.H. Auden wrote that paying attention is a form of prayer, so you could say that I teach my students to pray.
The butterfly in this photograph belongs to the Brush-footed Butterfly family. It is wary; the silver marking on its hind-wing is the source of its name, Eastern Comma.
Ted Lyddon Hatten
The butterfly in this photograph belongs to the Brush-footed Butterfly family. It is wary; the silver marking on its hind-wing is the source of its name, Eastern Comma.
Ted Lyddon Hatten
University of Northern Iowa
UNI student Megan Capek and Illiff Journey student Jordan Derhammer arrange the worship center each week for our 9 pm worship service at Threehouse. Last semester one connecting image was a rope/twine that reminded us of the old practice on the early farms of tieing a rope from the backdoor of the farmhouse to the barn, in the winter, so that when the inevitable blizzard happened, they would be able to find their way to the safety of the house. The semester started with our rope winding outward from the worship center through the front door towards the UNI campus.
This semester the theme was based on the Christchurch Cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand. Following the devastating earthquakes in 2011, the old cathedral, a symbol of the presence of the Church and a symbol of the city and country, was severely damaged but left standing while they sorted out what to do - repair/renovate or build new. An interim cathedral was built using shipping containers, cardboard tubes, shards of the stained glass from the old cathedral wreckage and other materials. Originally intended to be temporary, it has emerged as a new symbol of resilience and being able to look to the future. It is not without controversy, however, as some want to make the "Cardboard Cathedral" the permanent cathedral while others are fighting to preserve/restore the historic cathedral somehow.
Megan and Jordan began including some cardboard elements each week in the worship center, culminating in Cardboard Cathedral #Threehousestyle. We talk about how we build our lives of meaning and faith from the materials we have and discover about ourselves. We add the weekly communion of celebrating God's including presence along with the efforts we support to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God."
This semester the theme was based on the Christchurch Cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand. Following the devastating earthquakes in 2011, the old cathedral, a symbol of the presence of the Church and a symbol of the city and country, was severely damaged but left standing while they sorted out what to do - repair/renovate or build new. An interim cathedral was built using shipping containers, cardboard tubes, shards of the stained glass from the old cathedral wreckage and other materials. Originally intended to be temporary, it has emerged as a new symbol of resilience and being able to look to the future. It is not without controversy, however, as some want to make the "Cardboard Cathedral" the permanent cathedral while others are fighting to preserve/restore the historic cathedral somehow.
Megan and Jordan began including some cardboard elements each week in the worship center, culminating in Cardboard Cathedral #Threehousestyle. We talk about how we build our lives of meaning and faith from the materials we have and discover about ourselves. We add the weekly communion of celebrating God's including presence along with the efforts we support to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God."
September 2016 Wesley Foundation Update
Greetings!
Here's a glimpse inside some of the many things that are happening at the four Wesley Foundations in Iowa. Feel free to share these stories with others. There are many beginning of the year events and activities to help students get connected and find their home away from home at the Wesley Foundations.
Here's a glimpse inside some of the many things that are happening at the four Wesley Foundations in Iowa. Feel free to share these stories with others. There are many beginning of the year events and activities to help students get connected and find their home away from home at the Wesley Foundations.
University of Northern Iowa
This month we would like to spotlight our intentional living community, the "Green House". Participant Jordan Derhammer explained her experience so far this way: "Living in the GreenHouse has been a great experience. Yes, there are times that it can be challenging, just like any family. I'm looking forward to see where God is going to move in the house and community". We would like to thank all of the congregations and individuals who have helped us get the house ready for our students.
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We kicked off our school year with our annual block party on August 28th. It was a great time joining together with our community and students with live music, 9 square and home made pies. Our students and staff are excited and hopeful for how God is going to move through our ministry and campus.
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University of Iowa
What makes you weep? What gives you hope?
On Wednesday afternoon, we gathered around a lit candle, a pile of chocolate, and a single golden zinnia to read Jeremiah 8:18-9:1. "No healing, only grief; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people all across the land...The harvest is past, the summer has ended, yet we aren't saved. Because my people are crushed, I am crushed; despair overwhelms me. Is there no balm in Gilead?"
This weekly Bible Study is a chance to dive deep, into the text, into our lives, and into what matters most. What makes us weep, and what gives us hope. And so, we share with you:
We weep: out of exhaustion, when the pace of life is too frenetic and the systems of injustice we encounter and are called to confront are unrelenting; at apathy; at ignorance that leads to human cruelty; when there's no desire to push through that ignorance; when the United Methodist Church (or any church) lives as a system of oppression, rather than a community of liberation; when our life choices reflect a deep and abiding despair; when folks are caught in systems that don't allow them to make life-affirming choices; at our abuse and disrespect for Nature.
We find hope: in gathering together with people who share in honest conversation about things that matter; in the passion and excitement of new beginnings; when folks rise up in solidarity, and confront cruelty together; in folks living with integrity within systems of oppression, resisting the forces of silence and complicity; in extending invitations to folks who are isolated, or alone; in new and sustained passion for changing systems of injustice; when folks realize their power, and rise up.
On Wednesday afternoon, we gathered around a lit candle, a pile of chocolate, and a single golden zinnia to read Jeremiah 8:18-9:1. "No healing, only grief; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people all across the land...The harvest is past, the summer has ended, yet we aren't saved. Because my people are crushed, I am crushed; despair overwhelms me. Is there no balm in Gilead?"
This weekly Bible Study is a chance to dive deep, into the text, into our lives, and into what matters most. What makes us weep, and what gives us hope. And so, we share with you:
We weep: out of exhaustion, when the pace of life is too frenetic and the systems of injustice we encounter and are called to confront are unrelenting; at apathy; at ignorance that leads to human cruelty; when there's no desire to push through that ignorance; when the United Methodist Church (or any church) lives as a system of oppression, rather than a community of liberation; when our life choices reflect a deep and abiding despair; when folks are caught in systems that don't allow them to make life-affirming choices; at our abuse and disrespect for Nature.
We find hope: in gathering together with people who share in honest conversation about things that matter; in the passion and excitement of new beginnings; when folks rise up in solidarity, and confront cruelty together; in folks living with integrity within systems of oppression, resisting the forces of silence and complicity; in extending invitations to folks who are isolated, or alone; in new and sustained passion for changing systems of injustice; when folks realize their power, and rise up.
Iowa State University
The semester is off to a great start at the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University. Before classes started we had a grill out where we served 33 students. The next day we served watermelon to the 400+ members of the Iowa State University Cyclone Football 'Varsity' Marching Band.
We have had many delicious meals together (Lunch on the Landing, Sunday Supper, and of course our first FREE midnight Breakfast of the semester where we served 385 students on a rainy night). We have worshiped together, we have studied together, we have served together and we have tried to prepare ourselves for the future.
We have had many delicious meals together (Lunch on the Landing, Sunday Supper, and of course our first FREE midnight Breakfast of the semester where we served 385 students on a rainy night). We have worshiped together, we have studied together, we have served together and we have tried to prepare ourselves for the future.
We have three studies that are currently taking place this semester. "Painting the Stars" is a video and discussion series where we explore how science and religion can work together. We have 11 students involved in that study. For our book study a group of students is reading the book "Five Marks of a Methodist". We also gather to watch clips from the TV show Religion and Ethics Newsweekly and discuss important events and social issues in the context of our relationship with God.
A group of 21 packed Meals from the Heartland on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. The process for packaging the meals is an assembly line. In an hour a person fills approximately one box which is 36 meals. The meals are delivered to starving people around the world.
We are in the second year of our program called Study Buddies. This is a tutoring program with the kids from the local homeless shelter. We are currently working with 8 kids and we have 10 college students that are working with the kids. We help the kids with homework and when they don't have homework we work on educational games, worksheets, flash cards, and developing social skills.
To help college students prepare for the upcoming career fair, we offered a resume workshop and mock interviews. These are a few of the many events and activities that have been happening at the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University.
A group of 21 packed Meals from the Heartland on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. The process for packaging the meals is an assembly line. In an hour a person fills approximately one box which is 36 meals. The meals are delivered to starving people around the world.
We are in the second year of our program called Study Buddies. This is a tutoring program with the kids from the local homeless shelter. We are currently working with 8 kids and we have 10 college students that are working with the kids. We help the kids with homework and when they don't have homework we work on educational games, worksheets, flash cards, and developing social skills.
To help college students prepare for the upcoming career fair, we offered a resume workshop and mock interviews. These are a few of the many events and activities that have been happening at the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University.
Drake University
Brokenness, Beauty, and a new world waiting to be born.
From the Carnival de Resistance,
Dry painting and installation by Ted Lyddon Hatten, 2016
Dry painting and installation by Ted Lyddon Hatten, 2016
August 2016 Wesley Foundation Update
Greetings!
This is a stressful time of year for students, teachers, and parents. Students await the excitement of a new adventure; possibly a new school, new teachers, possibly a whole new living situation. Teachers or professors have the prep work, possibly teaching a new grade or class for the first time. For parents it can be a challenge to watch their children grow; ponder where life will take them, if they have the skills that they need, if they will find community. All of the Wesley Foundations are hoping to ease the anxiety and make the transitions easier for college students and their parents. Please be in prayer for students, teachers, parents and Wesley Foundations as the school year is just around the corner.
University of Northern Iowa
As summer comes to a quick close, we want to sit back and reflect on what we did this summer and share our hopes for the coming year. The summer months were full of students coming in and out of Threehouse, utilizing our building. We had bonfires every other Friday, which allowed students to connect during the summer. The students attended some good ole' WaterlooBucks baseball games. Students were also able to take a breather and enjoy the wonderful George Wyth Lake several times this summer. Recently, students sat around the tv, ate pizza, and rooted TEAM USA during the Opening Olympic Ceremony. We are looking forward to what this coming semester has in store for Threehouse.
This month students were able to move into the the GreenHouse, the intentional living community. They are excited and open to this new adventure of living and growing with others in faith. Even though the house is inhabited, work still needs to be done in the house. The house has come such a long way and we are so thankful for! Please let us know if you want to help out in anyway! We are always taking volunteers and donations for the GreenHouse.
This month students were able to move into the the GreenHouse, the intentional living community. They are excited and open to this new adventure of living and growing with others in faith. Even though the house is inhabited, work still needs to be done in the house. The house has come such a long way and we are so thankful for! Please let us know if you want to help out in anyway! We are always taking volunteers and donations for the GreenHouse.
Drake University
The Fall semester at Drake is about to commence, and the Wesley House is ready to host a wide variety of events and gatherings. Our prime location affords us many opportunities to engage with students, faculty, staff, and the wider community. We are planning to put our resources toward furthering and deepening the community's dialogue around issues raised by the upcoming election, with particular attention toward inter-faith dialogue.
Drake continues to see changes in leadership now that our new president has assembled a team to meet the stiff challenges that face higher education in the 21st century. These shifts are presenting new opportunities for the Drake Wesley Foundation to serve in important ways related to sexual violence on campus.
Thank you for your continued support of students through campus ministry.
tlh
Drake continues to see changes in leadership now that our new president has assembled a team to meet the stiff challenges that face higher education in the 21st century. These shifts are presenting new opportunities for the Drake Wesley Foundation to serve in important ways related to sexual violence on campus.
Thank you for your continued support of students through campus ministry.
tlh
Iowa State University
This is the week when most of the new students move in at Iowa State University. We serve pancakes on the patio for move in days. This is a chance for students, parents, siblings, roommates to take a break from the moving and enjoy some FREE food. We also offer our parking lot each year during move-in days to ease the burden of finding parking. We received a nice note from a family about their experience
My daughter received your Wesley Foundation newsletter welcoming her to Ames, IA & Wesley - THANK YOU for your neat newsletter full of fun, safe events for the college kids. What a great outreach!
We took our Freshman daughter to her dorm yesterday for move-in day. Having the offer to park so close in your Sheldon Ave parking lot was a WONDERFUL BLESSING for us middle aged parents on a nice sunny & hot summer day. We used your parking lot for a few hours, it made our move-in experience even nicer.
I hope my daughter comes for your midnite pancakes in September. I'll send her your website link. She loved pancakes.
THANK YOU! :)
Other activities for the week include several grill outs, delivering cookies to new students, and serving watermelon to the Iowa State University Cyclone Football 'Varsity' Marching Band. To learn more about some of the beginning of the year activities please view an electronic version of our summer mailing.
My daughter received your Wesley Foundation newsletter welcoming her to Ames, IA & Wesley - THANK YOU for your neat newsletter full of fun, safe events for the college kids. What a great outreach!
We took our Freshman daughter to her dorm yesterday for move-in day. Having the offer to park so close in your Sheldon Ave parking lot was a WONDERFUL BLESSING for us middle aged parents on a nice sunny & hot summer day. We used your parking lot for a few hours, it made our move-in experience even nicer.
I hope my daughter comes for your midnite pancakes in September. I'll send her your website link. She loved pancakes.
THANK YOU! :)
Other activities for the week include several grill outs, delivering cookies to new students, and serving watermelon to the Iowa State University Cyclone Football 'Varsity' Marching Band. To learn more about some of the beginning of the year activities please view an electronic version of our summer mailing.
University of Iowa
At the beginning of August, I experienced the gift and delight of vacation with my family. We went to a beach we've been visiting since I was a little kid. It's a simple beach; there are no fancy resorts, expensive golf courses, or elaborate entertainment. Just sun, sea, and sand. (And delicious seafood, caught fresh and local each day.) It is, for all of us, a place of renewal, reconnection, and retreat. During this vacation, for the first time in my life, I got to see baby sea turtles hatch, and wobble their way to the ocean. There was something so holy and haunting about beholding the precarious, urgent, thrilling, not-to-be-taken-for-grantedness about their journey.
While the new and returning student making their way to the University of Iowa right now are certainly not babies, they are often experiencing their own forms of hatching: embarking on new journeys of faith, identity, vocation, relationship, and discovery. It is holy and haunting to behold their precarious, urgent, thrilling, not-to-be-taken-for-granted journeys.
This semester at the UIowa Wesley Center, we're hosting a Spiritual Biography series during Tuesday Table, our weekly gathering at table for real food, real conversation, and real connection. Each week, guests will share about their spiritual and religious journeys, reflecting on how these journeys have formed and informed their sense of vocation, identity, and faith. I have a feeling the conversations, both around the table and beyond, will be holy and haunting to behold.
Blessings on your journey, in all its wobbly wonder.
While the new and returning student making their way to the University of Iowa right now are certainly not babies, they are often experiencing their own forms of hatching: embarking on new journeys of faith, identity, vocation, relationship, and discovery. It is holy and haunting to behold their precarious, urgent, thrilling, not-to-be-taken-for-granted journeys.
This semester at the UIowa Wesley Center, we're hosting a Spiritual Biography series during Tuesday Table, our weekly gathering at table for real food, real conversation, and real connection. Each week, guests will share about their spiritual and religious journeys, reflecting on how these journeys have formed and informed their sense of vocation, identity, and faith. I have a feeling the conversations, both around the table and beyond, will be holy and haunting to behold.
Blessings on your journey, in all its wobbly wonder.
July 2016 Wesley Foundation Update
In the midst of the transition let us offer a prayer.
Loving God,
We thank you for the parents, role models, pastors, christian educators, teachers, counselors and friends of the students that will soon be leaving for college. We thank you for the wisdom, strength, courage, and love that the students have learned through these leaders. Please be with everyone through this time of transition. Help them to all feel your warmth, love and presence as they embark on this new adventure. Help these students to find what they need to continue growing in their faith.
Amen.
Loving God,
We thank you for the parents, role models, pastors, christian educators, teachers, counselors and friends of the students that will soon be leaving for college. We thank you for the wisdom, strength, courage, and love that the students have learned through these leaders. Please be with everyone through this time of transition. Help them to all feel your warmth, love and presence as they embark on this new adventure. Help these students to find what they need to continue growing in their faith.
Amen.
University of Iowa
Over the summer, most of our regular programming comes to a pause. That does not mean our ministry or witness is on hold, however. Our weekly Bible study continues, and continues to offer space for rich, meaningful, and challenging conversation. Every Wednesday morning we gather--UI students, staff/faculty, area clergy, members of the Iowa City community--and wrestle with the biblical texts, our faith, justice, and the call of discipleship. And, summer means even more cups of coffee with students, and one on one conversations about faith formation, vocational discernment, identity, and how following Jesus demands our loving and prayerful attention to the woundedness of our world, and injustices within and beyond our church. This last week, the UMW from St. Paul's UMC in Cedar Rapids visited, and over coffee we shared in conversation about the values of campus ministry, the spiritual needs of college students, and our connectional responsibilities toward one another. The time together was a gift. This coming Sunday, the UI Wesley Center is excited to host the initial organizing meeting for an Iowa City chapter of SURJ (Standing Up for Racial Justice), a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial justice. (http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/about) As you move through this summer, may your days hold picnics and cookouts and camping. But, may our hunger for fresh sweet corn and snap peas not overwhelm our hunger for justice, kindness, and beloved community. May our attentiveness to poolside and backyard parties not distract from our attentiveness to systemic injustice and oppression. May our desire to escape the summer heat not keep us from confronting our complicity in systems of power and oppression that wield death, destruction, and harm. May the summer moments of pause provide space and time for spiritual formation and reflection, and renewal and expression of faith-filled commitments.
Iowa State University
The Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University is getting ready for another busy year. In the next week, you should receive a copy of the summer mailing in your mailbox. The summer mailing highlights some of the many things that will be happening this fall. Please share all the details with any students you know that are attending Iowa State University. If you do not receive a copy of the summer mailing, please contact [email protected] and we will send you a copy.
Here are a few of the things that we are preparing for this fall. We will once again serve Pancakes on the Patio during move-in days. We will be serving watermelon to the Iowa State Cyclone Football Varsity Marching Band on Thursday, August 18th. Several welcome picnics have been planned to kick off the school year along with the student receptions in between worship services the first two weeks of classes, and fun activities each evening during the first week of classes including a free meal, Christ Clips (a chance to watch a current movie and discuss where we saw God in the film), cooking soup for a weekly community meal, a game night, and yard games.
This year we will doing a Wesley Foundation t-shirt and we are looking for students to design it.
Students may enter the WF T-shirt Design Contest by submitting either a PDF or hard copy of your design to Jackson ([email protected] or Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014 Attn: Jackson) by August 10th. The winner will receive 2 free t-shirts in addtion to seeing their design on shirts across campus! There are many t-shirt background colors available. Voting will take place from August 14th thru August 21st. Here are the guidelines:
This year we will doing a Wesley Foundation t-shirt and we are looking for students to design it.
Students may enter the WF T-shirt Design Contest by submitting either a PDF or hard copy of your design to Jackson ([email protected] or Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014 Attn: Jackson) by August 10th. The winner will receive 2 free t-shirts in addtion to seeing their design on shirts across campus! There are many t-shirt background colors available. Voting will take place from August 14th thru August 21st. Here are the guidelines:
- Include the words "Wesley Foundation"
- Design up to 5 colors on one side of the shirt (design is for the front of the t-shirt only)
- Legible font
- Refrain from using copyrighted images like Cy
- Include one of the following:
- www.cwames.org
- Wesley Foundation at Iowa State University
- Ames, Iowa
- 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA (50014 optional)
University of Northern Iowa
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Threehouse: A Wesley Foundation has been working hard to prepare for students to move into our new intentional living community house this fall. We have had multiple work days in which current students, alumni, staff and community members have come together to make great strides in completing this project. The Threehouse community is excited to welcome students to the house this fall, and would appreciate support in donating household items. Currently there is a registry at Target look under First Name: Three Last Name: House.