Celebrating 70 Years: A Moveable Feast

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1 United Campus Ministries Spring 2014 Events Calendar 70th Anniversary Celebration: A Moveable Feast Sunday, April 27 3:30-7:00 pm Indiana State University May 3, 2014 St. Mary of the Woods College May 3, 2014 Ivy Tech May 9, 2014 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology May 28, 2014 Table Talks & Book Club will be on hiatus for the summer months Inside this issue: 70th Anniversary / Moveable Feast cont d 2 Help Wanted: Searching for New UCM Director 3 Our Wish List 3 About United Campus Ministries 4 Student Spotlight: Davonte Crook 4 Celebrating 70 Years: A Moveable Feast United Campus Ministries is celebrating. This is the 70th year since a multidenominational center was founded near the campus of Indiana State University. For seven decades, what is now called United Campus Ministries (UCM), has been serving students studying at Terre Haute campuses. UCM observed its 70th Anniversary by hosting a Moveable Feast of celebration on April 27, the Sunday after Easter, carrying out our Anniversary theme of Continuing the Journey. STOP 1: CELEBRATING AT WORSHIP CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CURCH The 70th anniversary celebration began at 3:30 p.m. with a service at Centenary United Methodist Church, next door to the UCM Center. Centenary s minister, the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Moore, a UCM board member, welcomed worshippers. The Rev. Dr. Brian K. White, of St. Mark s United Methodist Church in Carmel, Indiana, formerly minister of the Methodist Temple in Terre Haute, delivered the keynote sermon. In a slot called Remembering, former Center Director the Rev. Jack Diel reminisced on Center happenings during his thirty-one years of service, In 2009, United Campus Ministries of Terre Haute, under Jack Diel s leadership, received a national first place award among campus ministries for its innovative and successful program of serving Campus and Community. Jack retired from UCM when the Center, having lost most of its state institutional church funding, had to down-size to a half-time director position. continued on page 2

2 Moveable Feast continued from page 1 Most UCM support now comes from area churches and from fund-raising by its twenty-person board. Two present-day students, Davonte Crook and Kenny Yarber, participated in the service, as did Center board president Patricia McIntyre, former Center Director ( ), Duane Sinn, soloist David Higus, and the Rev. Mary Slenski, Interim Rector of St. Stephen s Episcopal Church,. STOP 2: OUR WELCOME MAT IS OUT OPEN HOUSE AT THE UCM CENTER Following worship, the Moveable Feast continued next door at the UCM Center itself, for a reception and tour. Students and Board Members directed guests to appetizer tables on both floors of the Center. Guests were encouraged to wander through the area where students come to study, to ask questions, to eat together, and to relax in their home-away-from-home. STOP 3: FELLLOWSHIP AT A VERY SPECIAL DINNER ST. STEPHEN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH By 5:30 p.m. the Moveable Feast shifted to St. Stephen s Episcopal Church, just south of Centenary Methodist, where A Very Special Dinner in the Great Hall capped the celebration. A reservation for the dinner was $70 per person, of which $50 was taxdeductible. Every seat in the room was taken. Crook, and Board President Patricia McIntyre. Other board members read greetings and memories from alums Ruth Ann Russell (1970), Amanda Pryor (2004) and Paul Rains (2009). UCM looks forward to continuing its mission. Contributions from churches and from dinner-goers, together with the 70th Anniversary gifts of persons who were unable to attend the dinner, and long-term pledges of support all are helping to undergird the continuing journey. Dorothy Drummond UCM Board Member In the past 70 years, hundreds of students have taken part in Center activities. They have bonded at Wednesday night suppers, worship experiences in the Chapel, off-site canoe trips, and in wielding hammer or broom for Habitat for Humanity. Alumni are now dispersed widely in the United States, and several live abroad. Page 2 A giant 70th Anniversary cake was on view before it was sectioned and served for dessert. After dinner, a fast-paced program titled Looking Backward, Looking Ahead, emceed by former board member Don Richards, featured vignettes by alums Mark Graf (1996) and Stephanie Drenten (2012), former Center Director Duane Sinn, Board Member Deb Moore-Hardin and former Board Member George Bakker, present-day student Davonte

3 Help Wanted: Searching for a New UCM Director The search for a new half-time director for UCM continues. With the support of the full Board of Directors, a dedicated search committee is diligently working to recruit a qualified individual to join our ministry. The search committee is chaired by Will Hine (wchine@eiu.edu). Also serving on the team are Board members Caroline Dando, Elonda Ervin, Scott Johnson, Pat McIntyre, Linda Peters, and David Rockhill. The candidate we seek will have a M. Div. degree or equivalent (preferred;) or be a college graduate with church experience (required).; be an ordained minister in good standing with and recommended by his or her denomination (preferred); have skills in: programming, leadership, administration, outreach, listening, and mentoring; have an open and welcoming heart for students and community members of all ages, faiths, ethnicities and experience; be able to share governance of the ministry with an active volunteer Board of Directors. Interested applicants should contact Will Hine or the Center s office for further details. Readers are urged to share this information with possible candidates. SAVE THE DATE Fall Fundraiser will be part of Holypalooza on Sunday, September 21 THANK YOU! Spring ChiliFest & Silent Auction netted profits of more than $5,500 Our Wish List As part of our 70th Anniversary celebration, our goal is to secure at least 70 new pledges of financial support from donors who will commit to giving on a regular monthly or annual basis. As we look not only at sustaining the ministry, but growing it, the Board needs to be able to count on the availability of funds for staffing, for programming, and for maintenance of our facility.. Knowing what funds we can anticipate will enable us to act responsibly and effectively in carrying out our mission. In addition, we seek your prayers. Pray that we will have discernment to do God s will in our mission to campus and community. Finally, we seek your service. We need volunteers to help us spread the word, put on events, assist with programs, and help with Center maintenance. Wednesday night suppers are a good time to get to know our students. If you are looking for a way to use your talents to make a difference, UCM has a place for you. Page 3

4 Who We Are Comprised of people from many faith backgrounds, United Campus Ministries [UCM] is a safe and nurturing community where people wrestle with questions of life and faith and meaning. It is an open forum for those who want more than catch phrases and simple answers. It is a harbor in the confusing storm we call life. United Campus Ministries 321 N 7th Street Terre Haute, IN Phone: thunitedcampusministries@gmail.com Website: Our mission is to provide space and support for students and the community for discovering, understanding, growing in and living out a faith journey in a multi-faith world. We sponsor programs for students and the surrounding community of Terre Haute. From service projects to learning opportunities to social networking, UCM offers something for everyone. So come on in, the welcome mat is out. Like us on Facebook. Where Everyone is Welcome Student Spotlight: Davonte Crook Working at UCM has truly been a blessing. It's like a home away from home. Hi, my name is Davonte Crook. I am a freshman from Jeffersonville, Indiana and what brought me to UCM was Dr. Joni Clark [Campus Minister in 2013, now employed full-time at ISU]. Her presence and kindness made me feel like I was important, and she treated me like I was family. Right now, I do not attend any programs at ISU but the ones UCM has to offer. I major in Criminal Justice and hope to be an FBI agent one day. Outside of class, I like to hang out with my friends playing basketball and weightlifting and also playing the xbox. I would like to let all the students know that if you need a place to go to talk, UCM is the right place for you, and they usually have food. Note: Davonte Crook was one of the speakers at the Service of Celebration on April 27, and after the Dinner, as well. Want to receive your newsletter by ? us thunitedcampusminsitries@gmail.com

5 YOU can make a difference! SUPPORT United Campus Ministries! Make a pledge a monthly, quarterly, or annual pledge. Donate for specific Center building needs: A new roof New flooring upstairs A revamped heating and cooling system Donate for Student Programs: Restocking the food pantry Field Trips Student Emergencies Donate for Center operating costs (utilities, printing, salaries, etc.) Use our Web site: Or, send your check with this form to: United Campus Ministries 321 N 7th Street Terre Haute, IN My Name / Church / Corporation Street address City, State, and Zip Code Telephone number ( ) address My Pledge of Support: $ for 2014 and 2015 [monthly quarterly annually] circle one Gift for UCM support: $ Specific needs gift: $ ( ) Designate specific need