Lutheran Campus Ministry (ECLA) at Northern Michigan University

A week ago an environmental meeting brought me over the border into Canada along the far north side of Lake Superior. I stopped with my traveling companion on the edge of a Provincial Park at an out-of-the-way road stop called Sand River or “Pishiini” in Ojibwe.

The river’s falls were in full, thunderous form, rock and earth shaking as one approached the forested riverbank. Downstream we stopped and asked a fisherman if fish dare swim up the river to spawn. I asked, “Is this possible?” He replied without blinking, “Rainbow trout make this journey up through these falls every spring.” I was stunned by his reply, then quietly assured myself this could be nothing more than a weekend fisherman’s fantasy.

The next morning, during a break in the conference workshop, I talked about my riverbank conversation with a renowned fish biologist from Toronto. “Almost impossible to believe, isn’t it? But it’s true,” he said. “Those trout literally jump dozens of feet in the air as they make their way up against the current over the falls. I’ve seen them.”

Later that afternoon, I talked with a colleague of mine, a retired speech pathologist and outdoorsman from Wisconsin. He made a reference to a Danish expression “kayak zimmel hidden.” I was curious. Translated the phrase means “loss of horizon.” In Northern latitudes among traditional Native populations, it refers to a moment when fog comes in over the water and there’s a loss of horizon and orientation. Such times become cause for panic, he said. In colder climates like those in the North Sea, they often mean death.

As far as challenges facing young adults? Don’t fool yourself with stereotypes of students immersed in weekend parties. Theirs is an intense struggle. Spiritual communities have a chance to provide a compass. They also can provide, if the time is right, support and energy for young people to find the courage, and purpose to swim upstream against heavy odds, forging, leaping, building step by step, lives of real depth and meaning. It’s a peculiar kind of work. And a noble task to which our campus ministries are undauntedly committed.

Weekly Rhythms

REFLECTIONS ON... GAUDEMAUS, STORIES OF FAITH and THE GATHERING

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

Throughout the academic year our weekly, community life revolves around Sunday evening shared meals and mid-week prayer gatherings. During weeks of Lent “Stories of Faith” provide a chance to explore the ups and downs of what it means to integrate a personal life of spirituality, courage and hope. This year we thank our friends Ray Hasenauer, Myrtle Hutter, Kyra Fillmore, Scott Ehle and Linda Carlson for being special guests those Wednesday evenings around the Lothlorien’s fireplace.

Again this year, our warm thanks to John and Linda Carlson for helping coordinate the gifts of home-prepared meals during the semester for our Sunday evening student dinners. NMU student leader Erika Niebler organized our discussion series this semester on “Faith and Food” and “Gaudeamus Goes Global,” with guest presenters that included singer/drummer/NMU graduate student Emanuel Sanyo from Tanzania. Zach Shipman and Emanuel also represented our ministry leading Sunday worship at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Escanaba this semester.

THE DYNAMICS OF FAITH

A special contribution of campus ministries across the country is to invite students to an engagement with an “adult” faith that’s rooted in critical thinking and ethical sensibility.

This past April, nineteen NMU students and community members participated in our discussions on Paul Tillich’s Dynamics of Faith, a hard-hitting look at the varieties of religious experience. Participants included faculty members from NMU’s Department of Philosophy, staff from Marquette General Hospital’s Department of Behavioral Health, retired teachers, prisoner staff, service workers, librarians and NMU students.

Special thanks to NMU student leader Zach Shipman who assisted the campus pastor in this four-week series. Zach did an extraordinary job of summarizing our discussions and offering insights from politics, scripture and contemporary films. Also appreciation to NMU faculty member Don Driesbach and parish pastor Scott Ehle for their presence with us as guest facilitators!

FINANCES AND MISSION

We work with young adults who are struggling to make sense of their faith, sorting out their vocations. Campus ministries across the country do extraordinary work with very few resources. This is one of the best investments in the church’s mission. This year we’ve sent three young people into Central and South America to work with the poor and we’ve been covered by media stories from Lutheran World Relief, the Mining Journal and Marquette Monthly.

We’ve hosted the first prominent Islamic religious leader ever to visit the NMU campus and two of our student community leaders helped organize and implement the planting of 12,000 trees by over 100 congregations across the U.P. on Earth Day. Student teams have led Sunday morning adult forums in Escanaba and Marquette, sang and drummed in area churches, led study groups on the Dynamics of Faith and volunteered at homeless shelters.

None of this would have happened without the support of you, our individual donors and partner congregations. Your gifts are appreciated more than you will ever know. This is a difficult time of the year for us as we move into the summer. Please remember us in your prayers and with your gifts. Rest assured, we’ll be in touch.

2009 Program budget: $30,500 • Income through 5/1/09: $8,331 • Every dollar helps! We continue to tithe (10%) all individual donations to the wider work of the Synod, unless otherwise designated.

SHARING MINISTRY RESOURCES

During the months of March and April, the campus pastor officiated at the wedding of Dan Rydholm and Kathleen Heideman, preached at Messiah and St. Mark’s and also served as part of a preaching series on Good Friday for the Great Marquette Lutheran (ELCA) Parish.

He served as a presenter with NMU’s student-directed Sacred Planet series and traveled to Terrace Bay, Canada to serve as a clergy representative with the EPA’s Binational Forum, a citizens advisory group that provides public input to government agencies regarding environmental safeguards for Lake Superior. He also assisted Bishop Tom Skrenes and other faith leaders to help organize the 2009 Earth Day tree planting effort across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Lothlorien’s Bonhoeffer Guest Room has now been utilized by clergy, seminarians and church workers for 154 nights since 2003. We are delighted to announce the Guest Room will be available, once again at no cost, beginning September 2009. Please feel free to call for reservations. (906)228-8033

Pilgrimage to South America, February 2009

It was a privilege to share this trip to Colombia with our delegation of eight wonderful people and to represent Messiah Church and our campus ministry. Spending time in the slums of Bogota was a humbling experience. I was constantly amazed by the hospitality and kindness that was extended in my direction. Pastor David Van Kley led the way, building relationships with their Lutheran community.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was to walk the hillside with farmers wearing wool ponchos and hats, tending their fields with oxen-drawn plows. I would encourage those interested in building cross-culture bridges to join this effort. As a nursing student, my eyes opened to a whole new world.

—Erika Niebler

CARE OF CREATION

In 2004 religious leaders from ten faith traditions signed an Earthkeeping Covenant, pledging to educate and assist in mobilizing their congregations in practical environmental efforts. From the beginning NMU students provided key input on organizing volunteers and bringing energy and vision to the interfaith environmental work.

On May 2, an astonishing 12,000 trees were distributed to over 100 congregations and the following day reverently planted (in four hours) across Michigan in fifteen counties. NMU students Sarah Swanson and Ben Scheelk served as key components in this year’s Earthkeeping Initiative. Sarah has served as the Earthkeeper NMU Student Project leader for the last year. We lift up Ben and Sarah for a marvelous piece of work!

Ben and Sarah also organized the NMU Sacred Planet series this April with guest speakers that included U.S. Forest Service botanist Jan Schultz, Native American cultural leader Earl Mishigaud and NMU faculty members Rodney Clarken and Paul Lehmberg. Kyra Fillmore, Earthkeeper Communications Coordinator, also served as a special presenter. On Earth Day, Lothlorien’s friend Obadiah Metivier and the band “TerraCotta Half-Life” closed the series with an on-campus concert and students danced into the night.

SONGS, SIGNS & SYMBOLS

A CALL TO WISE STEWARDSHIP

The world as we know it is changing rapidly. Less than five years ago “greening” was a word ascribed to left-wing politics. Now America’s largest industries are jumping on board. The writing is on the wall. Many of our campus ministries are quietly providing leadership for our church in this area.

We’ve done so since 2004 with the planting and blessing of one of the first native residential landscapes in Marquette County. All materials are recycled at our community center. Tom Reed, a social worker and naturalist has been preparing teas made from local herbs for each of our meeting. He also has planted a culinary garden, planted several trees on our property, has installed a solar fountain and has provided care for our rain garden.

Each of our campus ministry board meetings has a time set aside for discussion of energy conservation and wise-use of resources. All candescent lights have been replaced by energy-conserving bulbs.

Since 2004, the Lothlorien members of our student community have provided assistance for churches in the Upper Peninsula in collecting 47 tons of hazardous household materials and 320 tons of electronic waste.

REFLECTIONS from SCOTT

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

During my years as a student at NMU, I would often describe Lutheran Campus Ministry to other people as being like a slingshot. Although the ministry’s offices were located at that time in a dorm room, through the vision and support of staff, students and covenant parishes, my fellow students and I were able to engage in ministry settings all over the world. Among my favorite memories were an ecumenical service trip with other NMU campus ministries to work in the soup kitchens of Detroit, a journey to El Salvador to meet a congregation in which Campus ministry, St. Mark’s and Messiah Lutheran Churches had established a relationship, and leading book studies on life and faith in area churches.

These are only a few examples of the many times the campus ministry “slingshotted” me out into the world. During these years my faith deepened. It was in large part through the guidance of Lutheran Campus Ministry in that time when I discerned a call to ordained ministry.

So it was with anticipation and humbleness that I returned this past March to serve as Lothlorien’s first “Pastor in Residence.” The current LCM home on College Avenue was purchased after my senior year, but now I have had the opportunity to see firsthand that although the setting of the ministry had changed, the mode of operation is very much the same.

This story is continued on next page.

REFLECTIONS continued . . .

Students and others connected with LCM are still active locally, nationally and internationally. Whether it was the Tillich studies taking place on campus and at Messiah Lutheran, making national headlines through their work in the Earthkeepers Project or standing in solidarity with the coffee farmers of Central America, members of the Lothlorien community are making an impact not only in their own lives of faith, but in that of countless others as well.

The heartbeat remains the same! Those familiar with LCM know that everything they do is an extension of their midweek worship and Sunday Evening Gaudeamus meals. Acts of worship and fellowship are what keep the ministry grounded and connected as a community of faith.

There is no doubt about it, there are many challenges that lie ahead for the whole church. Declining membership, financial viability, questions of stances on social justice issues make this period in church history among the most defining times ever. But I am given great hope for the future when I encounter the optimism and energy present in today’s Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.

THE SAMUEL PROJECT:

PASTOR IN RESIDENCE, 2009-2010

This spring Pastor Scott Ehle joined our community from Fairwater, Wisconsin where he currently serves as a parish pastor. Scott was our first “Pastor in Residence.” As a special gift to our ministry, he left behind a DVD version of the movie “The Boondock Saints.” Thanks Scott!

In October of 2009 and March of 2010 we plan to continue this program. Pastors from our Northern Great Lakes Synod will be offered a respite from their normal pastoral responsibilities as our special guest. They will be invited to spend three days with us, sharing insights, relating to students, spending times in coffee shops, taking naps, using our library and roaming our community as a “field theologian.” Feel free to contact our office for more information!

COMMUNITY NOTES

Special thanks to NMU faculty members Michael Broadway (Messiah Lutheran) and Leslie Putnam (Eden Lutheran: Munising) who completed terms as board members with our campus ministry this academic year. Michael’s insights were much appreciated in our meetings. We were able to “step-up” our meetings with the use of computer generated minutes, agendas and reports. Leslie served as an advisor for our student Interfaith Earthkeeper organization on campus.

Our prayers go with Pastor Lynn Hubbard from Eden Lutheran in Munising and his wife Pastor Deborah Haffner Hubbard who begin a new life and work in ministry among the Navaho people in Arizona. Lynn was a key supporter of Lothlorien’s mission during his years here among us. He brought the finest of theological sensitivity and deep spirituality to the work of our Synod.

Also a shout of thanks for Pastor Peter Andersen (Christ the King) on his retirement from full-time parish ministry at the end of June. Peter and the folks at Christ the King were solid partners with our ministry over the last twelve years. We welcome both Peter and his wife Marilyn as they soon join us in Marquette to begin a new chapter in their journey!

Our appreciation to Pastor Jim Duhring (Prince of Peace) who helped lead our Wednesday evening student worship (The Gathering) in April. Farewell and thanks to Pastor Margie West (United Methodist) who has served as the Methodist Campus Pastor at NMU and will be retiring from that position in June.

We welcome back this summer NMU student Lacey Heinzelman who returns from a break in Colorado. Lacey served as one of our student leaders in the fall of 08’ and worked at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp for several summers. Her sister Dulcey continues to serve as our board representative from St. Marks and provides music for mid-week gatherings. Lacey will be joining our leadership team once again, in the fall.

Special thanks to NMU students Ben Scheelk and Sarah Swanson who provided key leadership with the interfaith Earthkeeping Initiative this year. Ben will be carrying on leadership for the Earthkeeping work in the fall of 2009. Sarah, who has served as one student team leaders these years at Lothlorien will be preparing for graduation in December!

Seth Tuuri will be returning to Marquette this summer with Kerri Luchs to celebrate the baptism of their new daughter Katja Mary Belle in the waters of Lake Superior in July! Seth is a firefighter in Petaluma, California and served as one of our key student leaders during 2003-2005 and gained a reputation as being one of our best theologians during his days at NMU. During one summer he also won first place for baking a blueberry pie at the Marquette County Fair!

END-OF-WINTER-SEMESTER CELEBRATION

APRIL 26, 2009

Gracious and Holy One, Give us wisdom to perceive thee Diligence to seek thee Patience to wait for thee Eyes to behold thee A heart to meditate upon thee And a life to proclaim thee…

—St. Patrick (5th Century)

A prayer carried back during Easter week, 2009 from Westminster Abbey, London

Campus Ministry Staff & Volunteers

Lutheran Campus Ministry (ECLA)

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

Who's to make the call between ridiculous and reverent?
—Barbara Kingsolver

Jon Magnuson, Campus Pastor
Carolyn Jean, Ministry Associate

Student Leadership Team

Sarah Swanson
Zachariah Shipman
Erika Niebler

Board of Directors

Pastor Warren Geier, Chair
Peter Claybaker, Treasurer
Jackie Greising, Secretary
Helen Koski
Pastor Tim Bernard
Pastor 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