PSF at WVU

Sermon, January 29

2012-01-30T07:07:00.000-08:00

2012-01-29T04:33:00.000-08:00

Click here to see the videos referenced in the sermon today: CBS News Interview and Link to the 'Love Jesus but Hate Religion' video

A you tube link

Some other interesting articles
Six reasons why youth leave church
Five Myths about Young Adult Drop Outs
You Lost Me

2012-01-24T08:46:00.001-08:00

We need to nail down thevolunteers for Sat. Feb. 25 empty bowls. Remember PSF will purchase tickets for volunteers and if possiblevolunteers can offer a small donation to PSF to offset costs. A ticket makes sure you get your own ceramicbowl and soup! We are planning onvolunteering at the time listed below. Click here for Empty Bowls information.

Empty Bowls Volunteering,Saturday, February 25 from, 12:15-2:30 pm (come for lunch beforehand)

1. beverage serving and table bussing. or, 2. replenishing the large water/coffeecontainers and carting them back to the service areas.

Another service opportunity will be March 4--helping to prepare and serve the pancake breakfast. We will also have a group outing to craft center or Wow factory to paint bowls for the empty bowls event--stay tuned.

Getting out and serving

2012-01-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

Rosenbaum Family House
Mon County Habitat for Humanity
Mon County Empty bowls
Caritas House

Here are some links to place where we can serve in Morgantown.

Welcome Back

2012-01-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Spring 2012 semester!! Hope you had a great break. Several of us traveled with a group from the Marshall Presbyterian Campus Ministry to the College Conference at Montreat last week. It was amazing. We are already looking forward to the 2013 Conference January 2 - 5!!!

We will start meeting this Wednesday, January 9 at 7 pm at the Campus Ministry Center/map in sidebar. As always, dinner is free and starts at 7 pm, the program begins shortly after 7:30 pm. Our opening program is -- worship and communion. All are welcome. Next week we will worship again and have some fun catching up and getting know each other. . . Hope to see you there. It is never too late to join.

Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011

2011-12-05T08:13:00.001-08:00

Here is the link to the sermon preached yesterday at First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown on Isaiah 40:1-11. It includes hyperlinks (that worked recently) to the entire video from 60 minutes (clip shown in worship), and to the article referenced in worship. Sermon link

Winter Break

2011-11-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

Do you want to start 2012 off on the right foot and get out of the house over winter break? Then join the PSF at the 2012 Montreat College Conference. Every January, students from WVU and Marshall join hundreds of other college students in Montreat, NC at a conference that features exciting worship, great keynotes, times to hang out, and awesome workshops.

It is a great chance to meet college students from all over the country and to get grounded in your faith as you start another year. The conference is January 2—5, 2012. We will leave from Morgantown, WV and Charleston, WV in the morning on Monday, January 2 and return late on January 5.

Money will be due Wed. Nov. 30. Checks payable to the Campus Ministry Committee. The cost for students is $50 which covers transportation, housing, meals at the conference. You are responsible for the cost of a t-shirt (if you choose) and additional meals on the way up and back.

Spring Break

2011-11-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

The Presbyterian Student Fellowship will be travelling to New Orleans March 24—31, 2012 for a spring break mission trip. We will work with the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans that is helping to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

We will attend worship on Sunday at a local congregation with former members of the PSF @ WVU.

We will fly out of Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, March 24 and return to Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday March 31. The cost of the trip will not exceed $250 for students. A deposit of $200 will be required by Wednesday, November 30 payable to the Campus Ministry Committee.

For more information about the organization:

http://www.stbernardproject.org/

We are staying at Camp Hope another link

Students will be responsible for some additional costs on the trip such as meals out on Sunday and meals in transit.

Where you can find a daily scripture reading

2011-11-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

Did you know there is a list of scriptures to read for each day (morning and evening), and a different set assigned for each Sunday as suggestions for pastors? Sort of like the Bible curriculum for the church. If you are looking for a way to start reading the Bible every day here is a link to the Devotions of the PC(USA): http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/devotions/. On the side bar is the link to daily lectionary readings. If you scroll down there is a way to have the daily readings sent to you via email! We will begin a habit at PSF of reading one of the daily readings each Wednesday night.

Grooves and Goods Party

2011-11-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Date: Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 pm (after Christmas parade) - 9 pm
Location: Campus Ministry Center
What: Party with music and good food to benefit kids in Morgantown and at WVU through Toys for Tots and the WVU Rack

Guests are asked to bring a toy or cash for Toys for Tots and/or a pack of diapers for the WVU Rack to come to the party -- their gifts gets them great music, tons of food, and holiday fellowship. The WVU Rack needs newborn and sizes 3,4,5 diapers.

The party is open to young and old and brings lots of students, children, AND members of community.

We will be working on getting donations of food for the in the coming weeks, and securing music. Stay tuned!

Block Printing Awesomeness!!

2011-10-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

2011-10-17T11:19:00.001-07:00

College Conference Information

2011-10-13T08:08:00.001-07:00

Advent Ideas and Scriptures
Above is a brief overview of advent, its themes, scriptures for one week, and questions to reflect on. Next week we begin our advent art series where we are creating block prints to be used for advent devotional cards. Take time to review the document so you can be ready to start creating a block print. We will be led by artist and teacher Debbie Palmer.

Interesting conversation that could apply to Biblical interpretation

2011-10-10T16:26:00.001-07:00

Reading the constitution
I heard this on Sunday. This is a great way to start a conversation not only about the interpretation about the constitution, but also the interpretation of scripture. What I appreciated in this article was the way it appeared that the two justices have amicable and friendly debate.

2011-10-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

A new day for PC(USA)--see article about ordination of openly gay pastor

2012 College Conference

2011-09-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Let us know if you are interested by Wednesday, Sept. 28, money will not be due until after Thanksgiving!

Notes from 9/21/11

2011-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

PSF members we could connect with other religious student orgs on this!!!
November 12, 2011
Sleep Out Saturday on Facebook
Sleep Out Saturday on the Web

Matthew 20:1-16 (Grace and God's work)
1. What word of phrase stands out
2. What rings true
3. What bothers you
4. What will you do in response
5. What will we do in response

A DECLARATION OF FAITH (1977)
CHAPTER TWO -- THE MAKER AND RULER OF ALL
(1) God created and rules in love.
God created all the worlds that are
and upholds and rules everything.
We affirm that the universe exists
by the power of God's Word and Spirit.
God has chosen to give it reality
out of the love we have come to know in Christ.
God still works
through the processes that shape and change the earth
and the living things upon it.
We acknowledge God's care and control
in the regularity of the universe
as well as in apparently random happenings.
There is no event from which God is absent
and his ultimate purpose in all events is just and loving.
That purpose embraces our choices
and will surely be accomplished.
The Creator works in all things
toward the new creation that is promised in Christ.

Links to recipes:
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Mac and Cheese Cups

Buffalo Wing Sauce
4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
1/2 cup Frank’s Louisiana Hot Sauce
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
Stir together -- add to wings or use in Buffalo Chicken Wraps

PSF Fall 2011

2011-09-21T19:54:00.001-07:00

2011-09-20T07:37:00.001-07:00

Wed. 9/21
Dinner 7 pm (tailgate theme, wear your blue and gold)
Program 7:30 pm -- God's Will? God's work?
Here is a video teaser
@Campus Ministry Center (map in side bar)

2011-09-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Grace is perhaps the most crucial concept in Christian theology because it refers to the free and unmerited act through which God restores God’s estranged creatures to Godself. (Van Harvey, Handbook of Theological terms)

Cheep Grace

Grace without price; grace without cost!

The essence of grace we suppose is that the account has been paid in advance; and because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. . . That is what we mean by cheap grace, the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner. . .

Costly Grace

Costly grace is the gospel which musts be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a person must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a person the only true life. . . Costly grace is the incarnation of God.

Dietrich Bonheoffer

We watched a clip from season 4, episode 1 of Friday night lights starting around minute 37 (Dillon Lions game), and discussed where the grace was in that scene. Here is the two minute synopsis of entire episode: Season 4/Episode 1. You can order the episode through Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix. Again focusing on the first game of the Lions.

Ended in prayer acknowledging -- places where our relationships are broken (with others and God), places we have seen God at work, and ways we will commit to living a life of faith.

Winter Break Conference

2011-09-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Join the PSF at the Montreat College Conference over winter break. We will be going with the PROWL ministry from Marshall and joining hundreds of college students for worship, reflection, and FUN. Cost for students is $50 (includes housing, food, transportation). Please confirm your plans to attend by Wednesday, Sept. 28 to wvupsf@gmail.com.

For more info: College Conference 2012

Videos from last week

2011-09-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Last week we talked about Jesus -- in our 101 Series

We kicked off the discussion with these videos: Taladega Nights – Prayer clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A0-u85aAYg; Glee—Cheesus Episode http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KklQoyIa7CM

We read some excerpts from theologians and confessions
And asked ourselves where did these things get it right? Where did they miss the mark? What was missing?
We then discussed what was essential to believe -- that Jesus was human and divine, that his life/teachings should matter and influence our lives/actions, that his resurrection makes a difference-- from freeing us from sin to freeing us to live a life of faith.

This week we discuss grace.

Here is a video we did not watch but mentioned: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/2635bb1051/jesus-is-everywhere

Sunday's Sermon

2011-08-29T12:32:00.001-07:00

Ex 3 - 4 from Sunday Aug 28: Click here for google doc

Wed. Aug. 31, 7 pm, @Campus Ministry Center

2011-08-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday's program: Free dinner (as always). Advice on how to survive college and worship/communion. Dinner starts at 7 pm, program begins at 7:30 pm. We hope to see you there. We will be giving away these awesome survival kits and a few door prizes.

What coming up

2011-08-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday

7 pm dinner, 7:30 pm program @Campus Ministry Center

August 31: Surviving College Program and Worship, 7 pm
September 7: Christianity 101: Jesus
September 14: Christianity 101: Grace
September 21: Christianity 101: God’s work
September 28: Christianity 101: Discipleship

Mission Opportunity

Sunday, September 11: Pancake Breakfast, 7 am, @FPC Morgantown (prepare and serve pancake breakfast to hungry and homeless in Morgantown)

Sunday!

2011-08-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

Ice Cream and all the fixins you can imagine

This Sunday, August 28, 7 pm

@FPC Map to FPC

Plus great door prizes (GPS, Laundry detergent, Gift Cards)

Great place to meet students and the folks at FPC

Where we meet!!

2011-08-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

Campus Ministry Center

293 Willey Street

Downtown across the street from VFW on

corner of Price/Willey, behind the DA

Parking in driveway off Price

Free dinner 7 pm every Wednesday

followed by prayer and study at 7:30 pm

First Program

2011-08-01T10:47:00.001-07:00

PSF College Survival Program

Wednesday, August 31, 7 pm

@Campus Ministry Center

Get college survival advice from upperclassmen

Free survival packs will be given away with items

picked by students as essential to ‘surviving!’

See you soon!

2011-08-01T10:46:00.001-07:00

PSF Welcome Party

Wednesday, August 24, 7 pm

FREE dinner, worship, fellowship

@Campus Ministry Center

See you in August!!!

2011-06-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hope you have a wonderful summer!
We are already excited to see you in August.
Look for us at the jump start orientation on August 19 (downtown).
Our first big event is a party at the Campus Ministry Center on Wednesday, August 24 @ 7pm.
We will partner with FPC Morgantown for an ice cream social on Sunday, August 28 @ 7 pm.

Our Lenten Studies

2011-04-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Over Lent we looked at how we could lessen our environmental impact in the world and/or why environmental issues matter to people of faith. We were grateful for folks who came and spoke. Here are links to their organizations:
Biking in Morgantown
Evans Knob CSA
Nuru International
Nuru @WVU

2011-04-29T12:25:00.001-07:00

Notes from our trip to Costa Rica

PSF leading worship this Sunday

2011-02-21T07:27:00.002-08:00

Members of the WVU PSF will lead worship this Sunday, Feb. 27 at 10:45 am at First Pres Morgantown. Come out to hear about the faith journeys of PSF members. All students are invited to stay for a free lunch after worship!!

PSF to Costa Rica for Spring Break

2011-02-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

Follow our Journey to Costa Rica next month

Other times we meet

2011-02-14T08:09:00.001-08:00

Can't make it on Wednesdays?
Here are some times to meet up with other PSFers:

Sunday, Feb. 27, 10:45 am at First Pres Morgantown (PSF members will be leading worship, and there is a free lunch afterwards for all students)

Sunday, April 3, 7 am at First Pres Morgantown (PSF and friends will be preparing the weekly pancake breakfast for the hungry and homeless of Morgantown), come by and join us in this community service

Some Thursday after spring break we will prepare a meal at the Rosenbaum Family House--look for more details
EVERY FRIDAY!! 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM -- Lunch for a buck -- that's a homecooked lunch for a dollar and fellowship with other students who participate in the ministries of the center. It is a great way to connect with PSF!!

Notes from Wednesday 2/9

2011-02-14T08:05:00.001-08:00

Tracing Paul’s faith journey

Paul’s story from a ‘third’ person perspective=Acts

Acts 8:14
Acts 9:1-6, 19b – 21
Acts 22:1-16
Acts 26:9 -23

Paul’s story from a first person perspective=undisputed epistles

1 Corinthians 1:18 – 29
Galatians 1:11-24
Philippians 3:4-16
Romans 7:15-25 (period of discouragement)
Romans 8:31-39

Major Events in Paul’s faith journey

Started out as Saul the persecutor of the church who hated Christians
Then he had an encounter with Jesus
Jesus transformed him, changed his mind (brought him to his knees)
Then he got really excited for Jesus “I LOVE JESUS”
He goes to work for the church (faces some opposition from church insiders)
Spends his life in service to God and for body of Christ

Major Themes

Either way, Paul was overzealous – he definitely went to extremes to persecute and extremes to proselytize (bring in new Christians)
A lot of people have a life changing experience with Jesus and then get really excited (camps, conferences, times of trial, etc)
God is for me
God picks the lowest, unlikely, unexpected
I try to do good, but can’t – fail at following God
Times of questioning
Everything is not easy
God is for us

Where does Paul’s story connect with your own life of faith?
Where is your journey different?
Is there one brief story you could tell that would articulate one of the stops in your faith journey (like Paul did)?

Bring those thoughts on Wednesday 2/16– we will be using that to write our own Psalm.

Thinking about our faith journey. . . some things to ponder

2011-02-07T12:05:00.001-08:00

• How is faith a journey
• Major points in your journey
• Draw a "map" of your faith journey, highlighting the highs and lows.
• Share the drawing and the story of those highs and lows.
• Afraid of sharing your faith story? Use that as the basis of your story! Tell people why you are nervous and what makes you want to share. You won't be the only one with those fears.
• Tell about a time that God surprised you.
• Tell about a joyful milestone in your life - a major win or accomplishment, or other celebration - and how that impacted your faith.
• Tell about a time that a crisis in your life impacted your faith.
• Tell about your experience in Sunday school and what it meant to you. If you didn't go to Sunday school, then how did you learn about your faith?
• What sustains your journey
• As we give thanks for the blessings in our lives, also give thanks for your faith. Share why you are thankful for where your faith journey has taken you.
• Many of the faith stories that we share are about our past. This time share something about the future. What do you hope for in the future of your faith journey and how are you working towards that?

Read some psalms
Many people turn to the psalms in times of trouble or joy. These were first composed almost like journal entries by people to God. Write your own psalm and share it. What are you going through right now - good or bad - and what do you want to say to God about it?
The psalms of the Bible are written as poetry, but you can write yours any way you wish.

First meeting

2011-01-10T07:38:00.001-08:00

First PSF meeting will be Wed. Jan 12 at 7 pm. We will start with dinner (free), and worship. Hope to see you there (map to center in sidebar)

Great trip

2011-01-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Students from WVU, Marshall, and WV Wesleyan just returned from a great trip to the 2011 Montreat College Conference.

Here is what our keynote speaker had to say about his experience:
Just back from 2011 College Conference

We also enjoyed hearing and seeing the Resurrection Dance Theatre

Amazing. See you next week, Wednesday, January 12. 7 pm (free dinner), 7:30 pm worship, @Campus Ministry Center

Care Packs and Lunch

2010-12-11T04:37:00.001-08:00

Sunday, Dec. 12 @FPC Morgantown (downtown near VFW, corner of Forest and Spruce Sts). Exam care packs given away and free lunch after worship (worship starts at 10:45 am)

Link to sermon

2010-12-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

Dec. 5: Prepare! Repent!

Here is text of sermon with pics from powerpoint and slides included. There are also some devotional links at the end and another version of the Matthew text. Also included is the visual from the children's sermon. The idea is you place each item down and do a one world prayer using the image of God. Eventually I might included texts you could look up to talk about those images.

Grooves and Goods Party Scheduled

2010-11-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

The fourth annual Grooves and Goods party featuring Moses and the Red Sea Pedestrians will be Friday, Dec. 3 from 7 - 10 pm at the Campus Ministry Center

The annual party features great food and music (grooves)

Guests are asked to bring a new toy or donation to support Toys for Tots (goods)
Stop by after Christmas Parade for great music, hot chocolate, and appetizers

This week at the PSF

2010-11-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

Last week we had a wonderful discussion with Imam Sohail Chaudhry of the Islamic Center of Morgantown (http://www.wvu.edu/~msa/;http://icmorgantown.org/)

This week our program will be a discussion of Christian themes in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. If you enjoyed C. S. Lewis’s well-known children’s book or the popular movie based on it, come find out how the story reflects the theology of the author of Mere Christianity. See you Wed. Nov. 10 at 7 pm for dinner and 7:30 pm for program. Map to center in sidebar.

Coming up at PSF

2010-10-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

October 20. We'll do some hands-on things like creating our own Celtic-inspired designs, writing an "everyday blessing" in the Celtic style, and experiencing the "caiming" ritual evoking the protection of God.

October 27 – Come take a mid-semester break with PSF. We’ll be carving pumpkins and watching Halloween-themed movies.

November 3 – PSF welcomes Imam Sohail Chaudhry of the Islamic Center of Morgantown, who will speak to us about the history, worship, and beliefs of Islam. (http://www.wvu.edu/~msa/;http://icmorgantown.org/)

Celtic Prayers cont'd

2010-10-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

We tried our hands at writing a blessing prayer using something from our every day life as a tool for seeing God. Here is one of the prayers:

Bless to me my purple pencil O God
Bless to me its twisty top erase
That wipes away my mistakes
Like you forgive me for my sins

Bless to me the constant presentation of new lead
That continues to emerge even after it is broken
Like how you are always here for me
Even though I am a broken person

Bless to me the continuous use of my pencil
That through note taking and tests never gives up on me
Just like you are always there fore me my God

Reflections on Celtic Spirituality

2010-10-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Last week (Oct 6) we welcome Rev. Kris Haig who spoke about Celtic Spirituality.

She shared with us this Celtic prayer (from Carmina Gadelica: Hymns & Incantations Collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the Last Century, by Alexander Carmichael. Lindisfarne Press, 1992) that embodies the Celtic understanding that all aspects of life point us to God, are filled with God's presence, or can be used to help us see God at work.

Prayer at Rising

Bless to me, O God,

Each thing mine eye sees;

Bless to me, O God,

Each sound mine ear hears;

Bless to me, O God,

each odour that goes to my nostrils;

Bless to me, O God,

Each taste that goes to my lips,

Each note that goes to my song,

Each ray that guides my way,

Each thing that I pursue,

Each lure that tempts my will,

The zeal that seeks my living soul,

The Three that seek my heart,

The zeal that seeks my living soul,

The Three that seek my heart.

Week 3 on forgiveness, Sept 22

2010-09-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

We continued our discussion on forgiveness tonight with guest speaker Kevin Larkin from the WVU Department of Psychology.

Here are some more notes on our discussion
Week 3 forgiveness

Upcoming Programs

2010-09-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

· Sept 22, 29—guest speaker, Kevin Larkin, professor in dept of psychology who is studying the power of forgiveness

October 6, 13, 20 – Advent and Art: Study, design, create advent devotional cards

· October 6 and 20 – guest speaker, Kris Haig, pastor at First Presbyterian Church Morgantown will lead us in a study of: Celtic Spirituality -- Recovering a Christian Connection to Creation. When the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Brittany were evangelized by Christians over a thousand years ago, they brought to their Christianity a deep connection to nature and an appreciation of ritual as a form of spiritual practice. We'll talk about some of the things that make Celtic spirituality distinctive (and timely), including the great collection of prayers, invocations, and rituals known as Carmina Gaedelica. We'll also do some hands-on things like creating our own Celtic-inspired designs, writing an "everyday blessing" in the Celtic style, and experiencing the "caiming" ritual evoking the protection of God.

October 27 – Come take a mid-semester break with PSF. We’ll be carving pumpkins and watching Halloween-themed movies.

November 10 – Our theme this week will be a discussion of Christian themes in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. If you enjoyed C. S. Lewis’s well-known children’s book or the popular movie based on it, come find out how the story reflects the theology of the author of Mere Christianity.

These are all on Wednesday nights starting with free dinner around 7 pm and programs at about 7:36 pm. All at the campus ministry center (see map on sidebar). You are always welcome--early, late, on time, occasionally!!

Week 2 on forgiveness, Sept 15

2010-09-16T12:23:00.001-07:00

Another reason why we must love our enemies is that hate scars the soul and distorts personality. . . Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with false and false with true.
Love is the only thing capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.

--Martin Luther King

Read the whole study here: Week 2 on Forgiveness

Week one on forgiveness, Sept 8

2010-09-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

“In the act of forgiveness we are declaring our faith in the future of a relationship and in the capacity of the wrongdoer to make a new beginning on a course that will be different from the one that has caused the wrong. We are saying here is a chance to make a new beginning. It is an act of faith that the wrongdoer can change. According the Jesus (Matthew 18:22), we shoud be ready to do this no just once, not just seven times, but seventy times seven, without limit--provided, it seems Jesus says, your brother or sister who has wronged you is ready to come and confess the wrong they have committed yet again.
--Archbiship Desmond Tutu

Here is a link to the quotes we discussed and the video on forgiveness we watched

Week one on forgiveness

Can't Wait to See You

2010-08-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yeah. Things are starting to get busy again in Morgantown which means we are days away from the start of the semester. I hope you will make time to join the PSF.

Some of the best ways to see what we are all about are:

ALL OF THESE ARE TAKING PLACE AT CAMPUS MINISTRY CENTER

(see map on side bar)

Wednesday, August 25, 7 pm: Dinner, games, and worship

Friday, August 27, 11:30 - 1:30 pm, Lunch for a Buck

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 7 pm: College Survival Guide Program and Dinner

AT FIRST PRES
Worship, 10:45 am every Sunday starting Aug. 22

Sunday, August 29: Free Ice Cream and Door Prizes, 7 - 9 pm at First Presbyterian Church

email: wvupsf@gmail.com with questions and for more info

Have a great summer

2010-05-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Look for us at New Student Orientation in June (in Mountainlair) and Friday before classes start (August)
We will be giving Hot Dogs Away on Move in Day, August 20 outside the center
Programs will resume the first week of class!
Send us your summer contact info and fall contact info: WVUPSF@gmail.com

End of Semester Events

2010-04-25T03:57:00.001-07:00

Fri., April 30: 11:30 am -1:30 pm Lunch for a buck @Campus Ministry Center

Sun., May 2: 5—7 pm/End of semester cookout @Campus Ministry Center

Sunday, May 2: 10:45 am/Exam Care Packages Given Away @First Presbyterian

Wed., May 5/7:00 pm/Final PSF meeting of the year @Campus Ministry Center

End of semester worship starts this week!!

2010-04-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." From Matthew 11:28&ff, the Message

The last three Sundays this semester the PSF will sponsor a time of prayer and reflection for students starting at 7 pm at First Presbyterian Church. Each week will have a specific theme: Faith, Love, Hope. There will be a time for anyone to share something about the theme each week and/or to reflect and listen to what others share. Each week, there will be questions for reflection and quotes around the theme to get you thinking or you can bring in something that reflects the theme: scripture, art, music, story, etc to share during worship. However, you don't have to contribute anything and are welcome to come and enjoy a time of learning the unforced rhythms of grace that Christ has laid before us.

Map to FPC (near VFW, downtown). (http://www.firstpresmorgantown.org/maps.html)

Themes for each week and quotes to ponder. . .
April 18 (Faith): I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, then you grow wings. (William Sloane Coffin)
Questions for reflection: What is faith? This week: How has you faith been challenged? How has it been supported? How has it grown?

April 25 (Love): I believe God is love: God loves the world. I believe God loves the world with various kinds of love--the love of creator, a friend, a mother and father, an artist, a lover, a scientist. (Sally McFague) If we hate ourselves, we can never love others, for love is a gift of oneself. How will you make a gift of that which you hate? (Coffin)
Question for reflection: Where have you seen examples of God's love this week?

May 2 (Hope): But Christ being risen dies no more. In Christ's resurrection death is not postponed; it is overcome. (Albert Curry Winn) Hope criticizes what is, hopelessness rationalizes it. Hope resists, hopelessness adapts. (Coffin)
Questions for reflection: What is hope? For what do you hope for?

Events around campus

2010-04-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

1)“The Green Show on the Green” on Thursday, April 22, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the Mountainlair Green. This event is a partnership between the WVU Young Democrats, Well WVU, the WVU Office of Sustainability, and the WVU recycling program. The purpose of this event is to raise environmental awareness and sustainability on campus on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. It will feature artists from local bands The Greens, One Hundred Hurricanes and The Emperors, and will be a sustainability fair. There will also be an auction for a bicycle and a Dahon charger, which recharges cell phones and iPhones by pedaling a bicycle. Tables will be provided on the Mountainlair Green for your organization to set up an informational booth.

2) WVU's International Student Organization (ISO) wants to invite you and the members of your student organization to participate in our first ever Talent Show, Saturday April 17th at 6:00pm in Eiesland Hall Auditorium (Room G24). Although this event is sponsored by ISO, it will be open to all students regardless of background!

3)On Sunday afternoon April 11, an interfaith service will be held to remember and honor the victims of the Holocaust. Inaugurated in 1951, Yom HaShoah, as it is know in Hebrew, is a day of memorial and education. The service will take place at 4 pm at Tree of Life Synagogue, 242 South High Street. Persons from faith communities throughout the area will be participating. WVU President James P. Clements will introduce a 24-hour continuous reading of Holocaust victims’ names April 13^th-14th in the front lobby of the Mountainlair (In front of the ticket office). Closing remarks will be made by Social Work Professor Dr. Neal Newfield. WVU Hillel would like to extend a warm welcome to participate, read a few names, or just visit our 14^th Annual “Unto Every Person There is a Name” Holocaust Memorial Program.

4) All across the country, Habitat for Humanity participates in what is called Act! Speak! Build! Week. This is a week designed to raise awareness for people living in poverty and substandard housing all across the globe. WVU's campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity is doing our annual Sleep Out on the Green. We will have lots of opportunities to win a wide variety of gift certificates to various restaurants. Competitions will range from relay races, to hammering contests, to eating contest, and more. The biggest event of the evening will be the cardboard shack building contest. We have the green reserved ALL night, so if you desire, we will also be sleeping outside on the green.

Time of Worship and Prayer to get through the last weeks of school

2010-03-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

The last three Sundays this semester the PSF will sponsor a time of prayer and reflection for students starting at 7 pm at First Presbyterian Church. Each week will have a specific theme: Faith, Love, Hope. Anyone can bring in something that reflects the theme: scripture, art, music, story, etc to share during worship. However, you don't have to contribute anything and are welcome to come and enjoy a time of learning the unforced rhythms of grace that Christ has laid before us.

Map to FPC (near VFW, downtown). (http://www.firstpresmorgantown.org/maps.html)

Themes for each week and quotes to ponder. . .
April 18 (Faith): I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, then you grow wings. (William Sloane Coffin)

April 25 (Love): I believe God is love: God loves the world. I believe God loves the world with various kinds of love--the love of creator, a friend, a mother and father, an artist, a lover, a scientist. (Sally McFague) If we hate ourselves, we can never love others, for love is a gift of oneself. How will you make a gift of that which you hate? (Coffin)

May 2 (Hope): But Christ being risen dies no more. In Christ's resurrection death is not postponed; it is overcome. (Albert Curry Winn) Hope criticizes what is, hopelessness rationalizes it. Hope resists, hopelessness adapts. (Coffin)

Westminster Foundation

2010-03-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Learn more about Campus Ministry throughout WV

2010-03-08T10:51:00.001-08:00

Here are more of the bowls! The PSF and its friends have glazed and donated at least 80 bowls since the start of the fundraiser in Mon County in 2007!!! Great creative effort to fight hunger in our county!

Empty Bowls

2010-03-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

The bowls are back from their first firing!! They will receive their overglaze by Wednesday and be fired and ready for the Empty Bowls fundraiser this weekend!

Hooray WV Presbyterians

2010-03-03T06:43:00.001-08:00

http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/pressreleases/gamc10016.htm

This Wednesday

2010-03-01T06:55:00.001-08:00

Come and discuss the first Harry Potter movie and what it has to do with our faith and scripture. We start with dinner around 7 pm and the program and discussion begins around 7:35 pm.

Lenten Devotion Links

2010-02-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

Link to a daily devotion to guide you during lent

Coming up

2010-02-24T13:18:00.000-08:00

All programs are open to any WVU student

Ongoing:
Wednesdays, 7 pm, Dinner and Program @Campus Ministry Center
Fridays, 11:30 a - 1:30 pm, Lunch for a Buck @Campus Ministry Center

Thursday, Feb. 25: Dogeball Challenge, 7 pm @First Presbyterian Church
Sunday, March 7: Brunch after worship, noonish @campus ministry center
Sunday, March 21: Pancake Breakfast serving, 7 am @First Presbyterian Church
Sunday, April 25: PSF worship, 10:45 am, @First Presbyterian Church
Sunday, May 2: Exam Care Packages given away after worship, @First Presbyterian Church

Empty Bowls

2010-02-24T13:16:00.000-08:00

WVU students gathered on February 10 to decorate bowls for the 2010 Empty Bowls luncheon in Morgantown WV (for more info see: www.emptybowlsmon.org). This is the third year the Presbyterian Student Fellowship has sponsored a time to glaze bowls and donated bowls to the fundraiser. Last years students partnered with the Newman Club.

More Worship Planning

2009-04-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Generosity of Widow
Mark 12:41-44
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=106730846

Annointing at Bethany
Mark 14:3-9
http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=106730915

How are both of these stories of generosity?
What aspects do they share about generosity?
HOw are they different?
What do they teach us?

What images, music, etc come to mind with these texts.

Student worship, brainstorming #2

2009-04-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

Student Worship Planning
Answer the following questions about the passage you have 5 minutes at each passage:
1. How does this passage touch you and your life right now? What is God saying to you about your life in this passage?
2. How will it touch others? What word do they need to hear from God in this?
3. What stands out? Images? Music related? Movie clips? Questions you are left with?

Luke 21:1-4/Mark 12:41-44/Widow's offering:
Even in your time of need, you always have something to give
God doesn't work in absolute terms
Giving a lot is relative to what you have to give
The sincerity behind your gift is more important than the gift itself
Even if you don't have a lot of money, you still have a lot to give
Images: old, impoverished woman, song: Simple Gifts played by WVU marching band; Movie: Gran Torino

Luke 14/Wedding Banquet
For us, God is implying that we should no longer fail to recognize the gifts God has given us.
Like us, most of our peers similarly take privileges for granted
Reminiscent of Belly where DMX a major criminal renounces his destructive past when faced with the promises of God

Luke 18:18-28/Rich Young Ruler
Romans 3: 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
It is only through God's grace we are saved
Worldly goods do not show the value of ourselves
You must be saved by God; impossible to do it on your own

Luke 12:22-34
We should renounce our worldly desires and focus on eternal wealth.
Frank Lucas/American Gangster
Color Purple

Another passage(s) to consider (woman anointing Jesus with oil Luke 7: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105686614, and Mark 14: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105686666 )

Look at this passage with the story of the widow's gift
Both gifts are affirmed by Jesus
Why?
What connections?
What can you take away from these stories

For next week:
1. What passages are standing out to you? If you had to pick two to focus on for the rest of the time, which two and why?
2. What music, prayers, images, are bubbling up -- bring them with you.
3. We will narrow down scripture and start thinking music and flow on Wednesday, April 8.

Student Worship, brainstorming

2009-04-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Ideas for 2009 Student Worship:
Happy Things!!
Woman drops coins (Luke/http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105597639 )
Economy
Lilies in the field (Matthew/http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105597709)
God with us (Matthew 1:23/Emmanuel)
James 1:22: But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
Matthew 20 (laborers Matthew 20: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105597823)
Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105597878 and Luke 14 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105597921 )
Luke 12:22-Do not worry -- http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105597974
Parable of the talents, Matthew 25: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105598032
Luke 21-widows offering
Rich man: Luke 16 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105598174 , Luke 18: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=105598209
Prelude: videos with people answering questions -- what do you treasure? what do you worry about? what is important?
Perhaps show the archbishop's address on where your treasure is

Thoughts after the meeting
Have people think about what they would do if they won the lottery
Then what that says about their values
Then why is it that we look to solve problems with money -- if we just won the lottery I could . . .
Are there other ways God challenges and gifts us to address worlds needs and treasures that does not involve 'bailing out' with cash

Opportunity

2009-02-18T06:22:00.001-08:00

Young Adult Eco-Stewards Sought
Applications are being sought for the Eco-Stewards program of the Presbyterian Conservation Corps (PCC), a Christian community responding to God's call through applied eco-stewardship. The PPC is looking for Eco-Steward applicants from ages 18-24 years old who demonstrate interest in church, camp, and environmental concerns. The application deadline is May 1, 2009. To download the application, go to http://www.presbyterianconservationcorps.org/2009.html.

Each program will comprise of two components at different sites: 1. Eco-Stewards Training (3-4 days) and 2. Eco-Stewards Hand-On Program (3-4 days). The two programs are as follows: West: July 5-12 at Highlands Camp in Allenspark, CO and Greenwood Farm in Hardin, MT and Midwest: August 2-9 at Stronghold Retreat Center in Oregon, IL and Chicago, IL. PCC will transport participants between each site, but participants are responsible for travel to the training, and from the program component.

A joint program of Presbyterian Conservation Corps and Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association, the Eco-Stewards program seeks to train and inspire young adults in the ways of eco-stewardship within the wider context of our Christian faith. The overarching goal of this new initiative is to help inspire Presbyterian Church, USA churches and their members to become better caretakers of planet earth, our God given island home.

EMPTY BOWLS

2009-02-18T03:51:00.000-08:00

Check out the work of the Presbyterian Student Fellowship at WVU and the Newman Fellowship (http://www.wvu.edu/~newmanclub/). They painted 20 bowls that will be donated to the Empty Bowls Monongalia (http://emptybowlsmonongalia.org/) fundraiser this Saturday (Feb 21). This fundraiser helps fight hunger in Morgantown.

Link to pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/WVUPSF/EmptyBowls?authkey=wODVxYUfFMY#

Advent Cards

2009-01-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

Here are the cards created with the paper made ealier.

http://picasaweb.google.com/WVUPSF/2008AdventCards?authkey=yBdQlROMYRE#

PSF will be doing more creative theological reflection this week (Jan 28) as we begin to paint the bowls we will donate to the Empty Bowls Fundraiser http://emptybowlsmonongalia.org/.

Learning paste paper technique

2008-11-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

Check out the work last night (Nov. 13):

http://picasaweb.google.com/WVUPSF/Advent2008 #

We will continue working next Wednesday creating cards inspired by the advent scripture passages (see textweek.com) for the differen week's passages.

Jesus for President, week 2

2008-11-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

Early Christians – counter cultural; left jobs if inconsistent with the Way, left possessions, left family and friends; see Acts 2: 37 – 27 ; 4:32-37
Weren’t trying to overthrow or reform empire; but they also weren’t going along with it. They were not reformists offering the world a better Rome. They offered the dissatisfied masses not a better government but another world altogether. In a world gone respectably insane, Christians, as they lived God’s kingdom, embodied revolutionary subordination toward the kingdoms of the world, exemplified in the suffering humiliation of the crucified Messiah, the slaughtered Lamb who exposed the greed and violence of the world as he died naked on the cross. (p. 160)

Constantine and Empire, year 312, has a vision and hears a voice, “In this you will conquer” painted white crosses on the shields, passed an edict of tolerance. . . years later Christianity becomes the state religion by Theodosius (in a few hundred years the church went from being exterminated by the state to being embraced) – destroying other religion’s temples and killing pagans quickly ensued, church went from persecuted to persecutors

Still trying to be set apart: Nicene Creed: “We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God”

Another “exodus” – during Constantine people headed for the desert Benedictines; during Crusades, Franciscans, Clares, Dominicans; Reformation, Moravians and Anabaptists

1600s – Conquistadors in North America; religiously inspired settlers, aimed to be solely revolutionary by creating a competing state that would exist on the world’s terms of power and violence . . . seized land to colonize (p 173)

Empire and Christianity increasingly connected – esp in the concept of the United States as the new Israel

When Christianity was baptized by empire . . . it was not just violence and war that became acceptable in the Christian mind, but also radical changes in lifestyle and economics (p. 188)

“And so, if we recognize that the empire of violence and nationalism has crept into the church, we must also recognize that the economic and ecological destruction of God’s creation has come along with it.” (p. 193)

2008-10-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

Jesus for President: Week 1 (see http://www.jesusforpresident.org/)

Where we [humans] go wrong – wanting to be the judge or determiner of what is good and evil; beautiful and ugly; right and wrong {Story in Genesis 2 – 3 of Adam and Eve}. That was the temptation -- to be like God -- the one determing what is good and evil, right and wrong . . . isn't that still the temptation today?

What God wants – humans to rely on God and the creation God made good and beautiful – not rely on human authority or the temporary beauty of the empire (consumerism) {Genesis 1}

What we can learn about leadership in the kingdom of heaven – God picks unlikely people to lead God’s people: homeless people (Abraham and Sarah); shepherd (Moses and David); crying mothers (Rizpah). God’s leadership is usually from the bottom up, not the top down as we humans like it. God chooses weakest, most unlikely characters to be the heroes of liberation story; lest we be tempted to think it is our own power and authority (see Joshua 6, Judges 7) – unlikely overpowering

What we can learn about being ‘leaders’ for God: Yes we are set apart. Can’t rest in being set apart by God – our blessing from God our call to be different must lead to actions – we are set apart to heal and bless a broken world – the way we are set apart should be evident to others in how we interact with the rest of the world (empire). God did not set us apart just to be special people – no, to be people living out that blessing from God in what we do and in decisions we make.

God continues to reach out to us (and Israel) even though we continually turn to human authority and leadership and put our faith there rather than God.
God’s kingdom and leadership is radically different; see the hopes of it in Isaiah 11.

Read Luke 2:1, 9-11 looking at how radical the angel’s pronouncement really was in light of the meaning of the words in the political context of the Roman empire.
Kingdom: Roman Empire v. Kingdom of heaven with God at head who liberated Israelites from slavery and wants to liberate all people from the sinful powers of empire
Gospel: imperial announcement, usually accompanied by flags and ceremony regarding birth of an heir to emperor v. Gospel: Jesus’ good news that God’s kingdom had come near
Christ – messiah, known to Romans as title for king of the Jews; means commissioned or appointed usually only refers to emperor v. Christ – messiah, divinely appointed ruler who would fulfill promises of liberation from empire
Son of God – title for kings and emperors v. Son of God – name for Jesus

September 23: the GOSPEL according to South Park"Does Timmy Go To Hell?" "Probably"

2008-09-29T09:03:00.001-07:00

Last week we watched Do the Handicapped Go to Hell? which ended with Cartmen starting his own church. This week we watched the exciting conclusion of Do the Handicapped Go to Hell?; Probably. (Go to southparkstudios.com to watch both episodes for free). We started our Bible study with 1 Thessalonian 5:12-22 which is about respecting the leaders of the church and how a church should behave.

The episode and conversation we had also included the subject of when we can come to God. In South Park, Satan is having relationship issues with his ex-boyfriend Saddam Hussein. When he has no one else to turn to, Satan turns to God for advice. The idea that no matter what we can turn to God in our times of need is captured in verse Matthew 11:28.

For the rest of our time together talking we talked about who was a voice for God here on earth. We read 2 Peter 2:1-20 and Matthew 7:15-23 and talked about false prophets and read Ephesians 5:15-21 for examples of how to live our lives truthfully acting out the love of Jesus. I leave you with a quote from the Jesus of South Park: "God doesn't want you to spend all your time being afraid of hell, or praising His name. God wants you to spend your time helping others, and living a good, happy life. That's how you live for Him. "

-jwood.

September 17 The GOSPEL and SOUTH PARK Week two: "Does Timmy Go to Hell?"

2008-09-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

For this week we watched South Park episode Do the Handicapped Go to Hell? (go to southparkstudios.com to watch for free) and read Matthew 25:31-46. The episode deals with the boys becoming more religious after the local priest tells them that they are all doomed to hell. The Bible verse is a teaching from Jesus about sheep and goats (and the inspiration for a great Cake song ). We started our discussion with what hell is and how we view it. If heaven is a new level of closeness with God then hell is the absence of God. C.S. Lewis does a really great job of describing this in his book The Great Divorce.

We continued our disscusion with talking about how we get into heaven. We read John 3:1-21, which led us to a discussion about being born again, being "saved", and being Presbyterian. A blog isn't really a sufficient median for describing how it is God's Grace that saves us, but if you want to talk about it come on down to the Campus Ministry Center. We closed the night with reflecting on Romans 11:22. I'll leave you with a quote from the South Park episode: Kyle's Dad:

"Kyle, it's all about being a good person now! You see, Christians use hell as a way to scare people into believing what they believe. But to believe in something just because you're afraid of the consequences if you don't believe in something is no reason to believe in something. Understand?" -jwood.

September 10: The GOSPEL and SOUTH PARK Week one: Starvin' Marvin, Cornelius, Pat Robertson, and the Marklar

2008-09-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

To kick off our month of cartoon inspired Bible study we watched South Park episode Starvin' Marvin in Space (you can watch it at southparkstudios.com) and read Acts 10. The episode is all about Starvin' Marvin, an Ethiopian the boys of South Park know, and how he tries to transport his people to the beautiful planet Marklar that is free from Christian missionaries. Acts 10 tells the story of Cornelius, a nice guy but a gentile, who Peter shares his faith with. All this lead to an interesting conversation about evangelism and how we are called to evangelize.

A lot of the discussion focused around what how we are called to evangelize with more than our words. "Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words", goes the saying attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, although he never wrote that.

We also read the story of the good Samaratin as an example of how actions can mean more than words when it comes to evangelizing. We closed with James 2:14-18. Leave a comment and say what you're thinking about evangelism. -jwood.

Notes on student worship . . . .

2008-04-04T09:01:00.001-07:00

Student Worship Planning Notes 2008
Date: Sunday, April 20, be there @9:30 ??
Rehearsal: Saturday, April 19, @10 am

Hope has a voice – theme

Hope = action verb

John 14:12 (living hope will multiply and spread it, hope should not make you idle, passive or stagnant!)
8 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ 9Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me* for anything, I will do it.
8Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."

9-10"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.

11-14"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.

Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,* 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour,* Jesus Christ. 14He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority.* Let no one look down on you.

11-14God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

James 1:22: Doers of the word, not hearer
22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves* in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
22-24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

James 2:14
Warning against Partiality2My brothers and sisters,* do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?* 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’,* 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.* Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
8 You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11For the one who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.
Faith without Works Is Dead14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,* if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

James 2
The Royal Rule of Love
1-4My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted?
5-7Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren't they the ones who scorn the new name—"Christian"—used in your baptisms?

8-11You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. The same God who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you're a murderer, period.

12-13Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

Faith in Action
14-17Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
18I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department."

Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

19-20Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?

21-24Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?

25-26The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

Hope makes you do crazy things and despite signs to the contrary or evidence that tells you otherwise

Mark 10:17-31
Rich young man, abandoning things of this world in hope of something better
Shed what you have and hope for a better reality

Broken people broken world, yet hope in God has us act despite the brokenness and to be differently

New Orleans
Hope dies with bad news
To take actions towards God brings hope and can spread more hope
New life from hopeless situations

Underground Railroad, spirituals, etc

I’ll fly Away

Beattitudes

Isaiah 58:6-9

Brief statement of Faith
In a broken and fearful world
the Spirit gives us courage
to pray without ceasing,
to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
to unmask idolatries in church and culture,
to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,
and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,
we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks
and to live holy and joyful lives,
even as we watch for God's new heaven and new earth,
praying, Come, Lord Jesus!

Declaration of Faith
CHAPTER TEN -- HOPE IN GOD
1 (1) God keeps his promises and gives us hope.
2 In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
3 God kept his promises.
4 All that we can ever hope for
5 was present in Christ.
6 But the work of God in Christ is not over.
7 God calls us to hope for more than we have yet seen.
8 The hope God give us is ultimate confidence
9 that supports us when lesser hopes fail us.
10 In Christ God gives hope for a new heaven and earth,
11 certainty of victory over death,
12 assurance of mercy and judgment beyond death.
13 This hope gives us courage for the present struggle.

14 (2) All things will be renewed in Christ.
15 In Christ God gave us a glimpse of the new creation
16 he has already begun and will surely finish.

17 We do not know when the final day will come.
18 In our time we see only broken and scattered signs
19 that the renewal of all things is under way.
20 We do not yet see the end of cruelty and suffering
21 in the world, the church, or our own lives.
22 But we see Jesus as Lord.
23 As he stands at the center of our history,
24 we are confident he will stand at its end.
25 He will judge all people and nations.
26 Evil will be condemned
27 and rooted out of God's good creation.
28 There will be no more tears or pain.
29 All things will be made new.
30 The fellowship of human beings with God and each other
31 will be perfected.

Environmentalism – new heave and new earth now, not later, we care for the creation because we hope for something better, see beyond

Good Samaritan
Took hope for him to reach out, to go against the stereotypes and prejudices he would face and have an attitude that life could be better and different
Other passerby’s had less hope, accepted the situation as is, no desire to improve

Christianity and the Environment 2

2008-04-03T13:26:00.001-07:00

by Colin Wood

Anti-Earth argument #2: It’s the end of the world as we know it…

The idea that the end of the world is upon us is nothing new, especially to Christians. Even before Jesus, certain sects of Jews believed in the imminent end of the world, the coming of a messiah and the reign of God on Earth. Many early Christians believed they were living literally in the last generation of mankind; Paul’s letters suggest an urgent and watchful anticipation of the end of the world. The book of Revelation provides us with graphic signs of the apocalypse, which many try to equate to modern objects. Some see the natural disasters of the world not as warnings of environmental problems but as precursors to the final days, signs of the world getting worse before it can get better, as in Mark 13.
Well, they’ve been wrong so far.

Rebuttal

Both Jesus and Paul warn against trying to gamble against God in predicting the end of the world. The call is instead to live this life in preparation for the next: we are called to live on earth as in heaven. Like in the first argument, we should see earth and heaven as connected. During the time in which the Christian scriptures were written, divide between the two was not as great, nor was the difference between past and future. Instead, contemporary thought reflected a belief in the coexistence of all things on heaven and earth, and all times past and present. The Greeks even had two words for time itself: chronos and kairos. Chronos refers to the measured, exact time of chronology and everyday life; kairos is used, especially by Christian writers, to express “designated” time by God, unique time not comparable to the time by which we are confined. Thus we get an idea of the conception of parallel existence, that our own actions now here on earth coincide and relate to the heaven and God’s time.

Christians and the Environment

2008-04-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

by Colin Wood

Christianity and the Environment

It’s no secret that some Christians do not support ecological movements and use scripture to argue that protecting the environment is not of importance. By analyzing and deconstructing two common arguments for this view, we can see how to reexamine these views and Christian scriptures in order to determine our duty to the earth.

Anti-Earth argument #1: The dominion argument

Genesis 1:26-30 describes how God granted humans dominion and control over the entire earth: animals, plants, and land. John’s gospel presents another creation story where Earth is presented as a location of evil and sin, separate from heaven. These texts have been used to argue that earth and everything on it is only here for our own pleasure, and that we can use it however we see fit.

Rebuttal
God granted us stewardship, not dominion. Stewardship is “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.” We are called to remember that everything is part of God’s own creation, and it should be treated as a gift to be used according to our needs with respect and admiration, not just to our wants with greed and destruction. Under Jesus Christ, the dichotomy between heaven and earth has been torn down and we have become part of the same body of Christ. Ephesians 1 discusses this reconnection, that in Christ all things are gathered up again from our broken state. The sins of humankind destroyed the bond between heaven and earth, but Christ restores it through his sacrifice. Our actions and attitudes should reflect this idea of heaven on earth, that we should treat God’s earth as the manifestation of his power and glory for us to behold and maintain.

On Life Together

2008-02-16T04:19:00.001-08:00

From Colin Wood . .

This week we talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together, in which he talks about what it means to live in Christian community and how to make that work.

He starts just by praising God for the gift of the church, that by God’s grace we are allowed to be together in fellowship and in community. We so often forget the fabulous gifts from God, and the Church is one of them. Of course the Church is not always perfect, as anyone who has been to one knows (maybe they run for about half an hour too long). But that is God’s gift to us: our opportunity to gather with others just to praise and worship our Lord.

So how do we make the community of the church (or any other) work? Bonhoeffer tells that we must be humble: we must give ourselves up before even thinking about dealing with others. He goes on to say that if you’re too worried about time and schedule, then you take your work too seriously. Wow. That’s hard for me. As college students, we’re all trying to get a million things done at a time: two papers due within 3 hours, going to Mountaineer basketball games, having a social life (what’s that again?), and everything else. In our minds, everything that’s going on for us is the most important event happening right now, anywhere in the world. So Bonheoffer tells us to give that all up, let God take care of it, and remember that everyone else is going through the same things. We are not unique in having problems, but God can and will help each and every one of us get past them.

So what does this all mean? I suppose I’m not sure (perhaps I should have adhered to one of Bonhoeffer’s other rules: hold thy tongue). But if we lift everything to God, letting go of ourselves before trying to face others in a community, or face the hectic activities of the day, we can trust that God will guide us through.

2008-02-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

From: Gwyneth MacMurtrie

Insight from the Dalai Lama: “When I speak about love and compassion, I do so not as a Buddhist, nor as a Tibetan, nor as the Dalai Lama, I do so as one human being speaking with another. I hope that you at this moment will think of yourself as a human being rather than as an American, Asian, European, African, or member of any particular country. These loyalties are secondary.”

· Initial thoughts about the quote . . .
· What ideas come to mind for communicating as a whole world, rather than individuals or singular units?
· What ideas of expressing love and compassion to others come to mind (Valentines Day is this week)?

2008-02-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 6 and ends the night before Easter, March 22.

Lent is a 'season' of the church year that lasts forty days (minus Sundays). It is intended to be a time of prayer, reflection, and reorientation -- repentance. A time to turn from other pursuits, interests, and habits back to God in Christ in preparation for Easter. Below are a few options for ways of reorienting your life back to God during Lent:

Spiritual practices:
http://www.pcusa.org/ideas/06spring/spiritualpracforlent.htm

Downloadable devotion written by students:
http://www.higheredmin.org/pdf/Lent07.pdf

Online daily devotion:
http://www.followingthestar.org/

Share your own Lenten practices . . .

Hope take 2

2008-02-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Study from Edward McNulty's Praying the Movies, Geneva Press, 2001.

From Psalm 137
Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem
1By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. 2On the willows there we hung up our harps. 3For there our captors asked us for songs,and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’
4How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJ2skOJvdY&feature=related
This is an excerpt from The Shawshank Redemption

Reflect:

What set backs have banished you to a prisonlike status or a foreign land?
How did you feel? Angry? Despairing? What or who sustained you? Where did you find hope?
Has music played a similar role in your life (to Andy in Shawshank)? If you could pick one piece of music to share with someone in a desparate situation, what would it be?
Andy acted on the urge to share his HOPE with the other prisoners. This proved to be a costly act. HOw is this like taking up the cross? In what ways have you shared your hope with others? Are you or your church helping those imprisoned (literally and figuratively) to sing the Lord's song? To live into hope?
Why is hope a dangerous thing? How does that relate to being a Christian?

Read:
Romans 8:24-30
24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

How is this passage like the movie clip? What was the unseen hope? How was it expressed?
What does this mean about our faith? How do we express our unseen hope in our words and actions?

Pray:
From Geurillas of Grace by Ted Loder
O God, this is a hard time, a season of confusion, a frantic rush to fill my closets, my schedule, and my mind, only to find myself empty.

Give me hope, Lord, and remind me of your steady power and gracious purposes that I may live fully.

Renew my faith that the earth is not destined for dust and darkness, but for frolicking life and deep joy that, being set free from my anxiety for the future, I may take risks of love today. Amen

Program Notes, Wed. Jan 23 -- HOPE

2008-01-28T06:35:00.000-08:00

Last week we talked about Hope.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think or hear the word HOPE?
What scripture passages come to mind?

Here are some of the thoughts from last week:

What comes to mind when you think of HOPE?

has a voice in us
springs etern
things will be okay--even if not the way we think
gets you out of bed in the morning
Hymn -- Live into Hope (way of thinking, acting, knowing things will be better)
Hope is more than just a word or feeling -- way of being, doing, acting
Sometimes have to fake hope in order to live into it

Scripture passages

Noah's Ark, the Rainbow, the Dove with the twig (Genesis)
Beattitudes (Matthew, Luke) -- blessed are the poor in spirit, those mourning, meek
John 20:13 -- I have seen the Lord, the followers were still seeking Jesus in their hopelessness and found Jesus in their despair
Psalm 121: I lift my eyes to the hills from where my help comes

Theological Thought:

From a Declaration of Faith (confession of Presbyterian Church):

(5) Hope in God gives us courage for the struggle.
The people of God have often misused God's promises
as excuses for doing nothing about present evils.
But in Christ the new world has already broken in
and the old can no longer be tolerated.
We know our efforts cannot bring in God's kingdom.
But hope plunges us into the struggle
for victories over evil that are possible now
in the world, the church, and our individual lives.
Hope gives us courage and energy to contend against all opposition,
however invincible it may seem,
for the new world and the new humanity it may seem,
for the new world and the new humanity
that are surely coming.

Jesus is Lord!
He has been Lord from the beginning.
He will be Lord at the end.
Even now he is Lord.

6) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2008-01-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

From 1 Corinthians 1
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’

What does it mean to you that God chooses what is foolish, weak, or despised to send God's message?
What sort of hope does that give you?

Sermon segments . . .

2008-01-21T03:52:00.000-08:00

Deitrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together says this about Christian Fellowship:
It is true, of course, that what is an unspeakable gift of God for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden under foot by those who have the gift everyday. It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brothers and sisters is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed. Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: IT IS GRACE, NOTHING BUT GRACE, that we are allowed to live in community with other Christians.

Bonhoeffer in his book Life Together outlines what a community must be like on the inside before it can reach out to the world and invite others to come and see Christ.
The list begins with two more personal practices or attitudes and then has five communal attitudes or behaviors. Here they are:
1. Personal: Holding one’s tongue (look at what is first) our life of faith our testimony begins in silence!
2. Personal: Meekness
3. Communal: Listening
4. Communal: Helpfulness
5. Communal: Bearing
6. Communal: Proclaiming

Holding ones tongue and meekness – Paul describes the Corinthian church as saints – those set apart for God – the idea of holding one’s tongue in judgment, of honoring one’s neighbor in meekness are ways that reflect in action the willingness to see the saint in the other.

Listening: According to Bonhoeffer we first love God by hearing God’s Word, so the love of our neighbor only begins in listening. He says, “it is God’s word for us that God not only gives us God’s word, but lends us his ear, so it is God’s work we do when we listen to others.”

Helpfulness is simple assistance in trifling matters. If we worry too much about the time it takes to do these acts of helpfulness according to Bonhoeffer, than we have an overinflated view of our career—we take the importance of our career too seriously.

Bearing – Christ bore our griefs and carried our sorrows to the cross – we are to bear with one another in grief and sorrow. We are to preserve our fellowship with one another through the forgiveness of sins – so bearing with one another is not only in times of grief and trouble, but also in times of sin. We bear with one another in the act of prayer for each other – intercession.

After all this – biting our tongue and listening. Honoring our neighbor through helpfulness and bearing. Then we can speak – we can proclaim—once we have proclaimed through our actions together ‘where we stay.’ Then we can through our words.

Bonhoeffer says this about proclaiming the Word: We are thinking of that unique situation in which one person bears witness in human words to another person, sharing the whole consolation of God, the admonition, the kindness, and the severity of God. . . . If it is not accompanied by worthy listening, how can it really be the right word for the other person? If it is contradicted by one’s lack of active helpfulness, how can it be a convincing and sincere word? If it issues, not from a spirit of bearing and forbearing, but from impatience and the desire to force acceptance, how can it be a healing and liberating word? Moreover, the person who has really listened and served and borne with others is the very one who is likely to say nothing.

Come and see where I stay – it is a community based in meekness and humility – who is helpful in trivial matters, bears with one another in grief, sorrow, and sin, and listens first – and in so doing testifies/proclaims Christ in us and God’s infinite grace among us and the world. That is my hope.

Preachers Corner

2008-01-14T13:26:00.001-08:00

Okay, as campus pastor I am preaching this week in Morgantown, and here is the scripture I have chosen:
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
And honestly. . . I can not say exactly what draws me to this passage or what I am going to preach on . . .I have highlighted in green some of what stands out for me.

So what do you think
What does it mean to you that God has enriched you in every way
What does it mean for you that God is faithful
How is God always faithful?

These are the questions we will ponder this week as we kick off our PSF meetings on Wednesday

2008-01-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back.

The 'plan' for this blog is to have weekly postings from students, faculty, pastor, etc that can be a launching point for reflection. This will also be a way to connect with the other studies that are going on that you can not make it to (Wednesday night, Sunday worship, etc).

Look for more in 2008

2007-12-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Starting in 2008 (first week of class), look for a weekly devotion or reflection you can join in on. It will be written by the campus pastor, students, faculty, etc. We will try to have something up weekly. Sometimes it will be the Bible study from our Wednesday meetings too. If you can not make it to the Wednesday night meetings, this will be a way to stay connected.

Reading the Bible for 90 days

2007-09-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

Join in reading the Bible in 90 days . . . post questions . . .

http://www.haventoday.org/schedule.pdf