Clare’s Story of Joy

I don’t think anyone will disagree when I say Joy is found in the little things in life. It is witnessing the golden sun setting in a parking lot after a long day. It is receiving a kiss on the cheek from my dad while we cook dinner. It is singing my favorite song in the car on the way to see my favorite people.

This is obvious to me now, but it wasn’t always so clear. I was very ambitious when I was young, and I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well in school. I was adamant that I would get a PhD in astrophysics from Yale one day, and that required me to put my head down in my studies today and every day until then. My daily schedule was school, a few hours of extracurriculars, dinner, homework, sleep. As much as I thought I was having fun, because there are many fond memories, this lifestyle did not make me Joyful. But then my time in high school was very abruptly cut short by Covid-19.

As with everyone, this was not a Joyful time, but a long and hollow time. For the first time since I was a child, no one expected anything of me for hours at a time, something I acknowledge was a privilege, but I spent much of that time wandering my neighborhood searching for something to do. There was much to grieve in that space, and I painfully learned how precious those little Joys really were, because they certainly weren’t promised to me. Still, even in those lonely times, I still watched the sun set, I still cooked dinner with my dad, and I still sang in the car. They were just a little bit harder to appreciate, but it was through those Joys that I was able to piece some semblance of who I was without all the expectations.

I did not grow up religious, nor did anyone in my family and I’m still not fully comfortable talking about God and Jesus in such big and grand terms in my own life. However, I have come to feel that these little Joys is God speaking to me. Mostly, His message is to slow down, to savor the life I’ve been given, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. Sometimes, those moments remind me of those who cannot afford to savor it, at least not for very long, for those who must keep working to eat, or for those who have lost so much that savoring feels impossible.

When I think about my mission or calling, I almost always come back to this – Joy. In my own life, I have let go of many of my prescribed ambitions of success and have instead been taking things one step at a time, keeping these little Joys in mind. But God calls me to go further than that, to bring Joy to those around me, either by sharing in celebration or by providing relief from burdens.

At the end of the day, I think that’s why I keep coming back to LCM despite my background. This community of people has helped connect this calling of mine into a tangible life purpose by bringing Joy to everyone we can, through kindness, service, and love. I may not be able to say much about God’s purpose for us on earth, but I hope that everyone may stop and enjoy the sunset every once and awhile.

Sydnie’s Story of Belonging

I have never been someone who envisions myself as a part of something. I contribute to things. I participate when required. I have friends. I have…

Shelby’s Story of Hope

I am a senior studying Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. After undergrad, I am planning on going into environmental law and policy. I have been involved…

Exploring God’s Call(s) in Your Life

Vocation is an English word that grows from the Latin root, vocare, which means “to call.”  As people of God, we are called by the one who…

Be Community Together

Written by Pastor Kate

As humans, we are made to be in relationship with one another, and in relationship with God. The Bible tells us that we are “The Body of Christ,” in this world, mysteriously bound together with one another, sharing in both the joy and sorrow that each member feels.

We need people and actual communities that can remind us of our belovedness in the eyes of God. We need people who will honor who we are, and who we are becoming. We need communities that recognize that mistakes happen when people take risks and try new things, and are willing to forgive and continue living together.

This is a beautiful idea, am I right? But it can be especially hard when our culture tells us that we can do it all on our own, and that we should do it on our own. It can be hard when the hustle and grind are given priority over the complexity and slowness of building meaningful relationships. It can be hard when you’re simply too overwhelmed, or sad, or worried to leave your room.

This is exactly why we need God and why we need one another. We know that life, even life at college, can be deeper and more meaningful, it can be slower and more connected, than what we are told is possible by the world around us. It is wildly countercultural, and so we need to be reminded of this in our friendships, our weekly rhythms, and in the ways we choose to spend our time. Loneliness and isolation can creep into your life in college, even when you are surrounded by people. It will help greatly if you can find folks that seek to understand you, that care about your past and your future, and that honor those places in you that are broken, and healing.

We hope, of course, that you will find this kind of belonging within LCM, and that you soon consider yourself a part of this community. But we can’t do that unless we get to meet you, which is really the first step. So whether you’ve never walked through our doors, or have been wanting to get a little more involved, know there are opportunities for you to connect!

One way we live into this idea of fostering belonging and connection to one another is through our small groups! Small groups are an excellent way to dive into our community, meet new friends, and talk about faith and spirituality with other students in a smaller setting. We have four different small groups this semester and we hope you find one you are interested in checking out — two are beginning tonight!

Please keep an eye out for our emails, and let me know if you have any questions! I hope to see you soon!
-Pastor Kate

 

Welcome Class of 2027!

Written by Emma Gray, LCM Student Leader

Dear incoming freshmen,

Thinking back to when I was in your shoes last fall, I remember the flood of emotions that came with moving into a new dorm, starting new classes, and experiencing Welcome Week for the first time. There was nervousness, excitement, and just overall fatigue that came from uprooting what felt like a comfortable environment at home over the summer.

When I first arrived at the University of Minnesota, I knew I wanted to start looking for a church community to join. My church and youth group from home were pretty small and tight-knit, so I was a bit nervous about finding a group like that in the middle of such a huge campus.

After seeing a poster in Coffman Student Union, I came to one of LCM’s first student worship nights of the semester (pause). I immediately felt like it was where I was meant to end up just after my first night there. The people and student leaders were so welcoming, accepting, and excited to meet me. It was also very clear to me that this church aligned with my values, which was a refreshing aspect to find in a faith community.

Shortly after attending student worship every week, I was invited to join Freshmen Bible Study. This intrigued me because I was interested in getting to know more people, especially other freshmen, more personally at church. After getting to know the other freshmen in the Bible study, I felt like I could open up more and be myself, which was a new feeling for me since I was still trying to find my place at the U.

This year, I will be leading the Freshmen Bible Study, and genuinely cannot wait! I found such a loving and comforting home at LCM last year and am so excited to meet new faces who can hopefully find the same things I did here. My hope for all of you is that you are able to find spaces and people that make you feel loved and worthy of who you are, not who you feel you could or should be. Whether that is at LCM or another space on campus, I encourage you to seek that out and pay attention to how different environments affirm you, and make you feel!

If you have any questions at all, about literally anything, LCM-related or not, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! I would love to hear from you and am happy to help with anything – I know the first couple weeks of freshman year are a lot. You will find your people, even if it feels hard at first. Remember that you are awesome and you are here for a reason!

-Emma
gray0694@umn.edu

Welcome New Students!

As I start my third year at the University of Minnesota, I remember my first semester on campus. The advice I got from everyone I knew who had already…

Report Back – Listening Project 2021

As a campus pastor, I am well acquainted with the rhythms of saying goodbye and saying hello. As we  savor the gifts of one particular generation…