Lutheran Campus Ministry (ECLA) at Northern Michigan University

It’s a few days before Mardi Gras. On the edge of New Orleans’ French Quarter, just off Rampart Avenue. Tonight outside our rented apartment the stench of garbage fills the warm evening air. I’m here for a campus ministry staff retreat where seven of us have come from across the country to ponder challenges of economic downturn, changing trends of university students and the emerging spirituality of a modern culture shaped by reality shows and mega churches. Candlelight flickers in the soft shadows of the living room. A loaf of bread and cup of wine is set on a wooden table. Words of a simple prayer and Psalm are lifted up.

The next afternoon, we step off a trolley car on St. Charles Avenue. We travel a few steps and the conductor shouts, “Hey, you’re going the wrong way!” One of our colleagues, familiar with this neighborhood, turns and says with a smile, “We’re going to see a friend.” The conductor looks puzzled. St. Charles Avenue happens to be a dividing line for the upscale Garden District, home of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Anne Rice and other celebrities. We’re headed in the opposite direction. Into one of the most crime-ridden neighborhoods in New Orleans.

A while later, we sit chatting informally in the modest, windowless sanctuary of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. You can hear sounds of hammers and skill saws outside. Volunteers from a mid-west congregation are renovating a nearby home. The local pastor is African-American—a former 1960’s Black Panther from Chicago. He radiates a peculiar mix of warm hospitality and street savvy. He’s fully engaged with our questions, calling people on the street by first name while strolling with us around the neighborhood, describing his dream of a community garden, pre-school and health clinic.

Our day ends with time in a New Orleans cemetery. We linger under the warm sun in conversation with a cemetery employee wearing a nametag “Research Director/ Custodian.” We learn his father worked as a gravedigger in this same cemetery. Slouching on a tombstone, with an easy sense of humor, he shares with us stories about “wacko” tourists, the ups and downs of handling corpses, and what it’s like to try to maintain 1600 tombs dating back to the 18th century. Curious, I ask if he’s had any mystical, spiritual experiences in this place at night. He pauses, a beer can by his side, then replies with a smile, “No. It’s the live ones I worry about.”

Plenty of “woo-woo” spirituality is available these days on the cultural market. Most of it is fashionable, enticing, convenient. It also doesn’t require much of anything from any of us. I personally prefer insights from second-generation gravediggers. And the kind of on-the-street wisdom found in a leader of a dilapidated, boarded-up church on the wrong side of New Orleans.

Weekly Rhythms

THE GATHERING and
“STORIES OF FAITH”

Wednesdays, 8 p.m.
The Nicolet Room
University Center, 2 floor
Look for the LCM banner

The Gathering, our student and community mid-week worship, continues through March 25, 2009 (Ash Wednesday) at 8 p.m. in the University Center, second floor. Watch for the LCM banner. Special thanks to Pastor Lee Goodwin and Gisele Duehring for serving as guest speakers these past weeks.

During the Lenten season we’ll be meeting at 701 W. College (Lothlorien) for “Stories of Faith” at 8 p.m. Community members from different walks of life will be joining us to share their candid insights into their experiences with the church and their own personal spiritual journey. We welcome friends and visitors to join us for this time of quiet reflection and prayer. “Stories of Faith” begins on Wednesday, March 11.

There will be no gathering on March 4 due to NMU’s spring break.

GAUDEAMUS

(Latin for joy-filled!)
Sunday Evening Student Suppers - 6 p.m.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall,
1318 Presque Isle Avenue - Marquette

Our theme these past weeks has been “Faith and Food: A Search for Health, Spirituality and Economic Justice.” Thanks to special guests Michael Broadway (NMU Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences), Natasha Gill (Marquette Food Co-op), Peter Claybaker (Marquette Baking Company) and Mike Grossman (Family Practice Physician).

Homemaker Jan Schultz will be joining us from Rapid River on Sunday, February 22 with insights from her own journey into the world of nutrition and wellness.

There will be no Sunday evening dinner on March 1 due to NMU’s spring break.

A shout of thanks for the homemade food brought to us by volunteers of the Messiah and St. Mark’s community.

THE DYNAMICS OF FAITH

Students, friends and community members...
You are invited!

Wondering about the bizarre expressions of religion and wacko spirituality that dominate the contemporary world?

A four-part series of small-group discussions using film clips and current news stories on the ups and downs of spirituality and religion.

Guaranteed to change the way you think about doubt and faith, the Bible and everything you learned in Sunday school. Not for the faint-of-heart! Rated XXX!

Based on the writings of theologian Paul Tillich.

Facilitated by Campus Pastor Jon Magnuson and NMU student Zachariah Shipman, with special guests Pastor Scott Ehle and Don Dreisbach (NMU’s Department of Philosophy).

Sunday evenings at Lothlorien
701 West College Avenue • Marquette
7:30-8:45 p.m. March 15, 22 & 29 and April 5

Tuesday evenings at Messiah Chapel
305 Magnetic Street • Marquette
7:30-8:45 p.m. March 17, 24 & 31 and April 7

SHARING MINISTRY RESOURCES

In recent weeks, NMU students Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson made public presentations at Messiah Lutheran Church, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and NMU’s Skill-Builders on their recent experiences with Lutheran World Relief and the Fair Trade coffee movement in Nicaragua. NMU student Ben Scheelk also presented insights on his community organizing work with Northern Michigan’s interfaith EarthKeeping environmental movement at NMU Skill-Builders event in February.

From December-February, the campus pastor preached at Messiah and St. Mark’s Lutheran Churches, Eden Lutheran in Munising and Grace Episcopal Church in Ishpeming. He served as guest homilist at the Interfaith Shalom Peace and Justice service at St. Mark’s in December.

In December, the campus pastor also served as liturgist and preacher at Grace Lutheran in Gwinn. In February, he provided mediation for internal issues with the U.S. delegation of the Lake Superior Binational Forum, a citizens advisory group sponsored by both the Canadian and United States governments.

In recent weeks, the Bonhoeffer guest room at Lothlorien provided overnight accommodations for Pastor Lee Goodwin with the Sabbath Project. This room is available to any lay, clergy leader or guest from our Synod and the ELCA. We provide this gift at no cost. Since 2003, the Bonhoeffer room has been used for 142 nights (an estimated savings for the Synod and ELCA of $12,360).

To make reservations, call (906)228-5494

EATERS’ BILL OF RIGHTS

In February, Michael Broadway, Associate Dean of NMU’s Department of Arts and Sciences and Interum Director of NMU’s Honor College, kicked off our Sunday Evening Dinner Series (Gaudeamus) with “Faith and Food: The Search for Health, Spirituality and Economic Justice”

He led an insightful, energized discussion based on an “Eaters’ Bill of Rights,” put together by the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

Next time you sit down to share a meal ponder this!

• Eaters have a right to food.
• Eaters have a right to safe food.
• Eaters have a right to nutritious food.
• Eaters have a right to food with country of origin labels.
• Eaters have a right to food with labels for genetic modification.
• Eaters have a right to know whether food has been genetically modified.
• Eaters have a right to food produced without harming air, water or land.
• Eaters have a right to food produced under socially just circumstances.
• Eaters have a right to know the conditions of their food production.
• Eaters around the world have a right to a secure food system.
• Eaters have a right to good food at a fair price.
• Eating is a moral act.

LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF PROGRAM:

INTO THE HILLS OF CENTRAL AMERICA

In January 2009, NMU students Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson traveled into Nicaragua, thanks to many of you, to explore and connect with a hard-hitting Lutheran World Relief Program that works with poor rural farmers and the Fair Trade coffee movement.

“Six months ago, I never would have thought that I would be traveling into Nicaragua to learn about Fair Trade coffee? I don’t even drink the stuff! But thankfully, coffee alone was hardly the point of the trip. The Lutheran World Relief Study Tour that Lisa and I attended this past January was much more than either of us expected it to be. It wasn’t until I was in Nicaragua that I began to realize what an active role LWR plays in the global mission. Their “vision statement” essentially says that they picture a world in which all people are able to live in “justice, dignity and peace.” Lisa and I were able to see this firsthand, by meeting with the farmers, visiting with their families and hearing their stories. Their passion for their heritage and culture was obvious in the way they enthusiastically spoke of their dreams for the co-op and their community.”

“During our home-stay in La Reyna, I was struck most by a young woman of the cooperative. A single mother, Darling, who is the coordinator of the EcoTourism Initiative for Nicaragua. She attended an university and had just purchased her own house. She is an amazing individual. She and the people of her village did not want handouts—they wanted the respect of working side-by-side with LWR and bettering the community together. We saw the “fair trade model” not only working, but thriving, under the “accompaniment model” that is utilized by LWR and its partners. This trip to Nicaragua was an amazing opportunity to see the church at work in the global community and to witness the impact the faith communities can have on justice and economics in the international community.“ —Sarah

This story is continued on next page.

LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF PROGRAM:

INTO THE HILLS OF CENTRAL AMERICA (continued)

“The study tour to Nicaragua was a life changing experience that I will never forget. What touched me the most was seeing how the co-ops functioned and the pride that everyone had about the cooperatives and what was happening there, especially the role of the women in the leadership of the cooperatives. It helped me to put “faces” to the process of Fair Trade. Before this trip I had limited knowledge of what exactly Fair Trade meant and now I understand it on a deep, personal level.”

“The best part of this study tour is that the knowledge and experiences I now have can be shared and spread to impact the Fair Trade world in a positive way. It is impossible for me now to not think about the individual people that are a part of the Fair Trade process—I have a deep respect for them. I hope to share that feeling of respect to my friends, families and many churches in the Upper Peninsula. Study tours can change your mind set about many areas of your life—I hope everyone can experience one someday. “ —Lisa

View Article

THE SAMUEL PROJECT: PASTOR IN RESIDENCE

MARCH 29-APRIL 2, 2009
SCOTT EHLE
Zion Lutheran Church • Fairwater, Wisconsin

The Old Testament tells us Samuel was called in the night to a vocation of spiritual leadership for his people. Our campus ministry welcomes Pastor Scott Ehle, former LCM/NMU student leader, to our “first” Pastor in Residence program. Scott now serves as an ELCA parish pastor in Fairwater, Wisconsin after completing his studies at NMU and Wartburg Seminary.

Scott will be staying in the Bonhoeffer room and will serve as guest facilitator at our “Dynamics of Faith” discussions at both Messiah and Lothlorien. Scott will also serve as guest presenter at our Lenten Series “Stories of Faith.” He will be available for informal conversation and will “roam the campus” as a colleague and field theologian. We intend this time for Scott to be one of renewal, rest and creative dialogue.

*Scott was one of our first delegates into the villages of war-torn El Salvador. He worked on service projects in Appalachia and inner-city Detroit. Along with leading numerous student/ community theological studies, he led a student team that successfully challenged the Synod in 2003 to establish Lothlorien, the first Lutheran (ELCA) campus ministry student house at Northern Michigan University.

MISSION OUTREACH and Financial Notes

Our 2008 fiscal year has come to a close. Our two Covenant churches (St. Mark’s and Messiah) along with 14 partner congregations and 86 individuals (58 giving units) helped us reach our program goal of $30,500. We’ve held the line at this figure for the last three years. We will do the same for 2009. Thanks to all of you who helped us reach this goal! We are a small, modest, remarkably resilient ministry thanks to diverse funding streams. Individual contributions serve as the key link for our survival as Synodical and church-wide programs continue to be dismantled across the country. Our goal is to strengthen our baseline in 2009 with 100 individual donors and 25 congregations.

Here’s a glimpse of how our community is meeting the economic downturn with wise stewardship practices:

(1) No increase (since 2005) in program budget.
(2) Maintaining an all-natural, native plants landscape at Lothlorien with a solar fountain, rain garden and herb garden (one of the first such landscapes in Marquette).
(3) All snow shoveling and lawn mowing are done by hand.
(4) Ongoing conversations with students about economic responsibility, credit issues and savings.
(5) Modeling a spirit of joyful generosity in the face of severe financial cutbacks by tithing 10% of individual and parish donations to the wider work of the Synod. Sharing the Bonhoeffer guest room (at no cost) with church workers, clergy and other visitors involved in the work of the church.
(6) Purchasing no goods or appliances on credit.

Thanks for remembering us with your prayers and gifts!

COMMUNITY NOTES

Welcome to Zachariah Shipman who joins us as part of our LCM student leadership team. Zach is a sophomore from Nevada majoring in economics and business. He will be assisting the campus pastor in a “Dynamics of Faith” discussion series in March and April.

Our campus ministry is about to launch a “Wisdom Circle” of elders from our neighboring faith communities to meet with LCM student leaders on a periodic basis each semester providing insight and support for our outreach work. Thanks to Helen Koski for serving as coordinator. This will be a “first” in campus ministry settings across the country!

Special thanks to NMU musician and LCM Board Vice-Chair Jenna Geueke who will be working with Zachariah Shipman to organize a “Seminary Road Trip” in early April for young adults from around Northern Michigan interested in exploring church vocations. This seminary is four days! And 1200 miles! Thanks to Bishop Tom Skrenes and the Northern Great Lakes Synod for their support and encouragement in this venture.

Our prayers go with Erika Niebler, NMU nursing student, who will be traveling on behalf of our campus ministry with Rev. David Van Kley and a delegation from Messiah and St. Mark’s into Columbia, one of South America’s “hot spots,” to build relationships with the faith communities in that country’s capitol city. Two physicians also will be traveling as part of the team to explore medical networks between U.S. volunteers and local hospitals.

One winter afternoon eight years ago, NMU business faculty member Larry Pagel met with community leader Ellwood Mattson to begin plans to establish an NMU campus ministry endowment fund, proceeds to be used for travel by students on service/work projects. Thanks Larry for continuing your excellent leadership in this venture.

Farewell to Marcus Pera and Adrianne Heskin, ELCA Deployed Staff for the National Campus Ministry of the ELCA. They are among campus ministry national staff whose positions have been terminated due to funding issues in the wider church. Both have been long-time colleagues of the present NMU Lutheran campus pastor. They served in extraordinary ways to carry on our churches’ outreach to 140 colleges and universities across North America.

A big “Thank You” to Pastors Fred Kinsey and Kim Beckman, now Chicago residents, for the renewal of a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine which lies each week on our living room table along side a copy of the theological journal, The Christian Century.

NOTES ON LOTHLORIEN

The name of our student center, Lothlorien, comes from the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, a translator of the Jerusalem Bible and the author of the beloved series Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien, a close friend of C.S. Lewis, portrayed Lothlorien as part of a mythical and magical (spiritual) landscape, a place “Where time passes differently.” We honor that, having two wooden clocks on the wall in our office, mounted under each other. One is upside down. Tolkien also wrote that Lothlorien was ” born out of a song.” We seek to provide just such a place where worlds meet. Where students, staff, faculty and friends find rest and, after hearts break and hopes lost, courage to dream again.

EARTHKEEPERS

A part of the heart of the interfaith environmental initiative launched in 2004 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been carried by NMU student EarthKeepers. Leslie Putnam, NMU chemistry department, serves as advisor and students Ben Scheelk and Sarah Swanson provide current leadership.

Two goals being lifted up in 2009 are a project of community gardens at churches and synagogues across Northern Michigan and a coordinated tree planting effort that will involve—depending on financial resources—50,000 trees. Sarah and Ben will be meeting with the interfaith planning team representing ten faith traditions for a strategic retreat in early March. We’ll let you know when details are finalized! Faith communities represented are Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, United Methodist, Unitarian Universalist, Baha’i, Buddhist, Presbyterian, Quaker (American Friends) and Episcopal.

Campus Ministry Staff & Volunteers

Lutheran Campus Ministry (ECLA)

A Ministry of the Northern Great Lakes Synod & Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Most of the time we are in danger of forgetting that we cannot
do what God does, and God will not do what we can do.
—Oswald Chambers

Jon Magnuson, Campus Pastor
Carolyn Jean, Ministry Associate

Student Leadership Team

Sarah Swanson
Zachariah Shipman
Erika Niebler

Board of Directors

Rev. Warren Geier, Chair
Peter Claybaker, Treasurer
Jackie Greising, Secretary
Helen Koski
Lesley Putman
Dulcey Heinzelman
Rev. Virginia Eggert
Michael Broadway
Jill Krah, Financial Secretary
Tom Reed, Naturalist

Covenant Congregations: St. Mark's and Messiah

Lothlorien “Where Time Passes Differently”
Lutheran Campus Ministry (ELCA)
701 W. College Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855

(906)228-8033
www.nmulutherans.org
lcmnmu7@charter.net