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September - October 2011Vol.17 No.1TracksLutheran Campus Ministry (ECLA) at Northern Michigan UniversityA few weeks ago, on a beautiful Sunday morning, I had a brief conversation with a young adult on a sidewalk outside a local church where we’d both just experienced a worship service. She was agitated and disappointed. “I grew up in this kind of a religion, but everything is changed, the hymns are different,” she remarked. I asked when the last time she’d worshiped in a congregation. Pausing for a moment, she responded, “Probably twenty-years ago.” C.S Lewis had it right, along with our friends in the Buddhist tradition: Everything is changing, all the time, especially those relationships rooted in memories most precious to us.” This uneasy truth is a gift from ministries such as ours in university settings. We walk alongside young men and women who have left home, are out on an adventure. Over years, I’ve discovered that most are not particularly interested in relating to their past. They’re here to test a great Mystery, to re-invent themselves with new experiences and relationships. And this is how it should be. They need to live in the “now” of exploring, risking. They need our blessing.
The key to appreciating such shifting-faith positions is we choose to believe there’s a living God, ever changing, ever challenging to make our world new, more compassionate, more whole. In the words of William Young, author of The Shack, quoting the Holy Spirit who is chuckling in this captivating story, offering instructive advice while dressed like a freaked out hippie:
“This isn’t Sunday school. 
Weekly Rhythms
WELCOME TO THE GATHERINGOur mid-week student/community worship begins each Wednesday during the academic year, at the NMU University Center (2nd floor), starting September 7. Look for the Gathering (ELCA) welcome banner. This brief worship service is the heartbeat of our campus ministry life. Using a lyrical liturgy from Holden Vespers, we seek to provide a restful reflective time of prayer to carry us through the week. We would be delighted to have you join us—students, community members, faculty and staff. We invite you to stop by. GAUDEAMUS Joy-filledEach Sunday evening from 6-7 p.m., beginning September 18, we come together for student dinners, in the fellowship hall of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Provided by members of our Covenant parishes (St. Mark’s and Messiah), this is a come-and-go occasion with guest NMU faculty and community folks joining us for a time of informal conversation. Held at 1318 W. Presque Isle Ave. (across from NMU’s Cohodas building). Look forward to some home-cooked healthy food and a chance to meet new and old friends. 
SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL SERVICE & TREE PLANTING
This brief service will be held Sunday, September 11 from 4:30-5 p.m. at NMU. Watch for specific location on our Facebook Lutheran Campus Ministry fan page or call (906)360-1590. COMMUNITY & NMU LOCAL HUNGER RELIEF PROJECTWe are happy to share news that LCM received a World Hunger Relief grant for a community student project. This program, also sponsored by Messiah and Prince of Peace Lutheran Churches, provides hands on education to assist faith communities serving impoverished people at the local and international levels. Lutherans For Local Hunger Relief is a series of workshops and events that will enable our churches to build deeper connections with spiritual life, family, friends and community. We will explore how these efforts can make a practical difference.
• Sunday, October 2 (2 p.m.) CROP Walk (Meet at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming) The following events will be facilitated by our student leaders and Jon Magnuson... • Thursday, October 6 (6 p.m.) Soup Supper and the Roots of Poverty and Hunger (Prince of Peace Lutheran Church) • Monday, October 10, 17 & 24 Book Study—Ending Hunger Now: A Challenge to Persons of Faith by George McGovern, Bob Dole and Donald Messer (Messiah Lutheran Church) • Monday, November 17 (6 p.m.) One Man, One Cow, One Planet—A DVD Discussion (Peter White Public Library, Community Room) The Samuel ProjectPastor in Residence ProgramELCA Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU
On September 27-29, we welcome Sherwood Glover who served as campus pastor at NMU from 1973-1978. He and Jeanne will be guests at Lothlorien’s Bonhoeffer Room. Sherwood will be visiting with students, local church leaders and serve as guest preacher for our mid-week Eucharist (The Gathering) held at NMU’s University Center (2nd floor) on September 28 at 7 p.m. You are invited to an informal reception for Sherwood and Jeanne at Lothlorien around our fireplace on Thursday, September 19 from 4:30-5:50 p.m. Later that evening at 7 p.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church, Sherwood will offer a special presentation and provocative discussion on “Leadership Styles for an Emerging Church.” During his years as campus pastor, Sherwood hosted a jazz show on NMU’s radio station (WBKX) every Sunday evening for 3 hours. Following his ministry here, he served as a parish pastor in Arizona, an Assistant to the Bishop of his Synod and also as a seminary instructor and leadership workshop facilitator. We will welcome Sherwood and Jeanne, as is our custom, with a hike up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain on the morning of the 29 following their arrival to watch the sun rise, share prayers and enjoy some homemade muffins and hot coffee. Join us at Lothlorien. We will leave promptly at 7:30 a.m. and return by 9 a.m. MISSION & FINANCESIn ministries such as this one, it’s a powerful, enlightening experience hanging on financially by a thread, being dependent on the support of many of you (at last count 89) who read and donate through our newsletters. One spiritual insight of working on the edge of the church’s outreach in mission is that it puts us at an epi-center of trust, courage, and gratitude. Those of you who have been a part of our strategic planning know we’d have it no other way. 
These days, engaging in a new program year, here’s our situation. One of our Covenant parishes (St. Mark’s) who’s supported us for over fifty years is stumbling and is swallowed up in its own fight for financial survival. That puts us $5,000 behind our target. Actual program costs remain lean as they have been for the last ten years, but they’ve always proved sufficient. We don’t need much, but what we receive is critical. No margins. 
For those who are able, there are several ways you can help us reach this year’s $29,000 program budget (covering Lothlorien’s heat, light, water, insurances, utilities, our Ministry Associate’s parttime position, our telephone, and program costs). (1) Thrivent financial members, can identify us as a designated recipient of benevolent dollars. (Thrivent choice). Sixteen of our contributors have already done this. Contact Marcia, our Ministry Associate, to assist you with this option (906)228-8033. (2) Use the enclosed envelope to help us out with a special gift. (3) Contribute to our NMU Lutheran Student Endowment Fund which supports work/service opportunities and travel costs for students. See our Web site: www.nmulutherans.org (4) Consider approaching your congregational council to request we be designated for special offerings in 2011-12. 
We are a resourceful community! Thanks to special donations of a handful of faculty, staff and retired NMU folks, along with special friends, we’re still working on finding funds to purchase (debt-free) a $3,000 new computer system to begin the school year. There was no choice. (Our older computers from 2001 were crashing and we were losing important data and historical records.) Pray for us! We do a lot with little. Think of your gifts as an investment in the Emerging Church. —JWM Thanks for being there! NOTES FROM THE GARDEN AT LOTHLORIEN
From Katy Nelson, Lothlorien’s GardenerThe history of the Garden(s) at Lothlorien took root in May of 2007 when a bold intention was planted, changing the identity of the property from a private home in the neighborhood, with traditional plants covering its foundation, to the new home of the Lutheran Campus Ministry in Marquette, baring its philosophical foundation of sanctuary, care of the human soul, environmental awareness and activism. The original plans included, in the front gardens, native plants beloved of bees and butterflies (& I am happy to report the front garden was full of harvesting, happy bees and butterflies this summer), native plants and grasses in the eastern side garden, and a Zen garden in back outside the south gazing window of the Bonhoeffer Room. The garden has been blessed several times and grows accordingly. During my first season in 2010 work focused on addressing neighbor's concerns about our "weeds"; integrating activist concept with community and plant growth location requirements (transplanting most of the native grasses to a garden of their own); and emphasizing sanctuary by moving the shed for meditative views from the Bonhoeffer Room, and distilling a medicinal herb garden to accompany the Serviceberry tree memoriam. NOTES FROM THE GARDEN AT LOTHLORIENFrom Katy Nelson, Lothlorien’s GardenerThis summer, the healing ministry of the gardens was transfused with new blood. In partnership with Lake Superior Hospice, cooperation with our 7th Street neighbor, Sue, and help from my gardenist partner, Michele LaScola, (helpers Steve Mahan, Chuck Morgan and Bob Groleau) to whom we are deeply indebted, The Lavender Project has begun. Of Michele's original, very holistic lavender garden design, this summer we accomplished a Hidcote lavender hedge on Sue's sloping, edge-of-the-driveway strip. And, thanks to Becky Shauver, Kristen Rogers, Lynn Montgomery, Jessica the bee-keeper and the volunteer planters and garden caretakers at Lake Superior Hospice, Hidcote lavenders from the same purchase lot are growing there. 
Munstead lavenders were generously donated to The Lavender Project by Dr. Larry Pagel, Roberta Henderson and Barb Ojibway, and these are planted along the front and back garden paths. Great thanks, too, to Helen Koski and me mum, Ruby Nelson. Other plant donations this summer include, from Michele, 4 yews to further distinguish the Serviceberry tree and a Black Lace Elderberry for the Zen garden, and from Marcia Parkkonen, a bucketful of iris planted along the Welcome Walk beside iris donated in 2010 by our school year tenant Jay's mom, Kathy. — THANKS, ALL!!! 
Need Donations: Especially useful would be hens & chicks, violets, bee balm and globe thistle. Best donated after mid-September. Please call me, (906)228-2298. 
Preventive Donation Needed: Black ground cover—the oak tree is prolific and fertile. Hundreds of seedlings took root this year and cost valuable gardening time to dig out. 
"Behold, this is the joy of His way: and out of the dust, others will spring." Job 8:19 "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth." 1 Cor 3:6 IN MEMORIUMBRUCE WAYNE MUELLER • 1961-2011
In 2001, he returned to Oregon. With his family, he established a farm in the forested hills of Western Oregon and continued to work as veterinarian for the state. He was a competitor until the end of his life, finally losing a 3-year battle with cancer. Over the years in sermons, I would use insights and experiences from our time long ago together in the Pacific Northwest. A year ago in April, I had a chance to stop by and visit Bruce. We walked his farm, his son Seth taking my hand in his. I kept up with occasional phone calls. Last week, the day before he died, I Fed-Xed a small sprig of cedar (a sacred plant of the Ojibway) taken from the shores of Lake Superior. I asked his family to whisper a prayer from me in his ear that we lifted up here at our NMU ministry. They kindly did so. Kathryn told me on August 20 the cedar was placed with his body in a hand-made oak casket during his funeral in Sheridan, Oregon. Prayers are with you Kathryn and children Patrick, Tabitha, Silas and Seth. The legacy, Bruce, of your life of joy and service shines bright and is remembered here in far-away Michigan, up North on Superior’s forested shores. IN MEMORIUMJONATHAN CLARENCE NELSON • 1933-2011
Years ago, he was seminary roommate with Robert Sutherland, one of our distinguished retired pastors in our Northern Great Lakes Synod. One of John’s passions was working with incarcerated inmates in state penitentiaries in Deer Lodge, Montana and Monroe, Washington, which he faithfully visited every week for 45 years. He loved to laugh and sing and was a captivating storyteller. He was married for 52 years and along with his wife Juni raised 13 children—the majority of them adopted. He never received acknowledgement that many of us in the church thought he deserved. For years, I was puzzled why our ELCA seminaries never invited him, an exceptional theologian and activist, to teach and speak. My good friend and colleague June Eastvold put my mind at rest when she put it this way, “Prophets are not called. They’re sent.” COMMUNITY NOTESIvy (Lange) Finkenstadt (Class of 1999) one of our former student leaders at NMU, continues work as an attorney in Washington DC as an advocate for ex offenders in the criminal justice world. She met the campus pastor and his wife in DC in June at her local church and they spent the afternoon together over pizza watching the Women’s World Soccer Finals. 
Hurrah to Scott and Stefane Ehle on the birth of their son Mark Steven. Scott (Class of 2003) also served as a leader with us here at NMU and now is an ELCA parish pastor in Fairwater, Wisconsin. Scott officiated in July at the wedding of Ryan Howe and Heather Ewaldt. Ryan served as part of our ministry leadership team during his years at Northern and is responsible, in 2003, for naming "Lothlorien" as our campus house. After serving in the Peace Corps in the Ukraine, he now teaches, along with his new wife Heather, in Alaska. 
Congratulations to Marci Meister and Josh Anderson who were married August 20 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marquette with the campus pastor officiating. Several of our trees and plants in Lothlorien’s garden come from Meister’s nursery. Thanks to Marcia Parkkonen, our Ministry Associate, for organizing a creative Summer Fun Family Group Series for eight weeks, in cooperation with our campus ministry. 
Farewell to good friend Emmanuel Shayo who heads back to Tanzania via the Netherlands where he’ll be exploring possibilities to study the complex role of religious dynamics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 
Our thanks to Pastor Peter Anderson, good friend and long time supporter of this ministry, who has served extraordinarily as interim Associate Pastor this past year with Messiah. And special welcome to newly ordained Pastor Amanda Kossow, former student at NMU, who, after completing her theological studies at Wartburg Theological Seminary, joins the ministry team at Messiah. 
SHARING MINISTRY RESOURCESThese past weeks the campus pastor served as guest preacher and liturgist at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (Marquette) and Grace Lutheran Church (Ishpeming). He traveled to Grand Marias, Minnesota as clergy representative for the Lake Superior Binational Forum and will be a guest presenter for a Conference of Food and Health at Marquette General Hospital on September 30. He’s also been involved developing a grant proposal in partnership with Bishop Tom Skrenes and the ELCA’s Great Lakes Synod for a Peninsula-wide People’s Garden Initiative that, if awarded, would be implemented by the Earthkeeper’s interfaith coalition. Our community at Lothlorien is also providing leadership for the world hunger initiative collaborating with community partners including Bell Hospital, Point Eagle Radio One, Why Not Marketing and the Campus Ministry Association at NMU. Our campus ministry’s guest accommodation (The Bonhoeffer Room) is once again available for use by clergy, their family members, volunteer church workers and church agency representatives. We’re located a block away from the Marquette General Hospital and a few hundred yards from NMU’s campus. 
This is Lothlorien’s gift back to the faith community. There is no cost involved. For reservations, contact Marcia at 906-228- 8033. A WORLD LIVES IN YOU...During days of homesickness for many freshman , but also experiences of loss for parents sending off their children into a rough and tumble world of young adulthood, take comfort. Here’s a few wise words from a gifted writer and theologian... "You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world, but a world lives in you." —Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth Campus Ministry Staff & VolunteersLutheran Campus Ministry (ECLA)A Ministry of the Northern Great Lakes Synod
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If we’re honest, most of us, both young and old, prefer the familiar, especially when it comes to religion and spiritual experience. The danger is that we get stuck in memories, a time when we were children, either encouraged or forced into religious education. When we return for a revisit, we forget, like my friend did that Sunday morning, that life keeps changing and so does the church’s understanding of itself. These days our ELCA tradition ordains women, unapologetically refuses to be kidnapped by literal interpretations of Scripture, blesses gay and lesbian unions, and shows deep respect for faith traditions both Christian and non-Christian. Practices and beliefs like these would have most of our Grandparents rolling over in their graves.
Student leaders from the Campus Ministry Association, in collaboration with our community at Lothlorien and the Roman Catholic Newman Center...
is holding a 30-minute time of reflection and prayer to remember 9/11. All are welcome!
Please join us for the following events:
Over the last 3 years, 5 pastors have graced us as special guests with their presence in our community for a time of personal renewal, dialogue and conversation: Scott Ehle–Spring 2009, Steve Gauger–Fall 2009, Lee Goodwin–Spring 2010, Chang Nyikako–Fall 2010 and Kim Beckmann–Spring 2011.
Bruce was one of the first student leaders I met in campus ministry back at Oregon State University in 1980. He was a born leader, a quiet, upbeat worker, a chore guy, someone who held clear goals tempered by remarkable compassion and empathy. After completing studies in Veterinary Medicine, he headed off to the Peace Corps with his wife Kathyrn in 1986, then worked with a Lutheran (ELCA) mission effort as a veterinarian improving herd health and animal production for 4 years in Senegal.
A few weeks ago, Diana and I drove over to Moose Lake, Minnesota for the first of two memorial services for Jon Nelson, former campus pastor in Missoula and Seattle, one of most prophetic voices in the Lutheran Church and wider interfaith community in the Pacific Northwest. He was a mentor for me, a leader in social justice and peace efforts. He worked tirelessly for human rights of the homeless, gay-lesbian persons, the disabled and Native Americans. He followed his words with action, including multiple jail sentences for non-violent civil disobedience. 