In a recent blog, my friend Frank mentioned this quote from evangelist Tony Campolo:
"Even if there were no heaven and there were no hell, would you still follow Jesus? Would you follow him for the life, joy, and fulfillment he gives you right now? I am more and more convinced each day that I would. Don't get me wrong. I'm excited about the afterlife. We are going to party like there's no tomorrow (umm, and there won't be). And yet I am convinced that Jesus came not just to prepare us to die but to teach us how to live."
I'm also pretty convinced that faith is less about the beauty of what lies ahead and more about the beauty and goodness that surround us now, though too often hidden and obscured. What a difference it makes to stop and realize that even now, even at GSU, we are in the midst of God's Kingdom. The faith that Jesus offers us is about letting God retrain our hearts and minds to see that Kingdom in our surroundings every day ... and to know that God is with us, even here, even now.
It's easy to lose your way in this town. Yesterday, a new GSU student came to visit my office at Trinity Episcopal Church. About fifteen minutes after she was scheduled to arrive, she called and said, "Uh... I just passed the city limits and am by the fair grounds. Am I headed in the right direction?" Not by a long shot, sister. But after a few minutes on the phone and a new set of more reliable directions, she turned around, found her bearings, and finally made it to the church.
Any new student can tell you how easy it is to get turned around in the 'Boro. MapQuest and Google Maps don't work very well here; roads in town aren't always marked; and it doesn't help that the Bypass changes names and numbers every few feet. But life is sort of like that no matter where you are. With all the twists and turns and unnamed roads out there, it's good to have people you can call when you feel turned around.
When people asked Jesus the way to get to heaven, Jesus said, "I am the way." The way that Jesus lived--with love for all people, with concern for the poor and helpless, and with a sincerity and a selflessness that put everyone else before himself--is the way God hopes we all might live. At ECM, we're on that journey together. None of us are perfect, and we don't get it right all the time. But we are here for one another when things get tough and they way becomes less clear.
Just like anywhere else, it's easy to lose your way in this town. But when you've got friends who are on a common Christian journey with you, you're only a call away from finding your way back to where you want to be.
Mark your calendars for Nov. 2-4. Every year Episcopal college students from across Province IV of the Episcopal Church (pretty much all the southeastern states) get together for one big, fun, laid-back conference. This year it's at Camp McDowell in the Diocese of Alabama. Cost is $50 per person (we can help with that), and the deadline for signing up is Oct. 26.
 Download the brochure here.
What’s the cost?
$50 each, in a check made payable to Diocese of
Alabama, and returned with the sign-up form from
this brochure. Chaplains’ ways are paid, and there
may be scholarship help available from your campus
center. Check with your chaplain.
What’s included?
Two nights’ lodging, all meals from Friday’s supper
through Sunday’s breakfast, all program materials.
When does it start?
Registration begins at 3 PM on Friday, November 2.
Our first program session will begin after supper
that night
When does it end?
We’ll wrap everything up at breakfast on Sunday
morning and leave by 9 AM.
What will I need to bring?
A sleeping bag or bed linens, toiletries, towel and
washcloth, comfortable shoes for walking, a musical
instrument if you play one. We’ll have Bibles and
Prayer Books.
What shouldn’t I bring?
No illegal drugs, no alcohol, no firearms, fire
crackers, or weapons of mass destruction.
Will there be free time?
Yes…time to hike, canoe, rock, sing, and catch up
with old friends or meet new ones.
What’s the deadline for signing up?
We need your registration form and the check for
$50 by Friday, October 26. Sorry, we won’t be able
to give refunds if your plans change.
We are now taking applications for our 2007-2008 Peer Minister and Intern. If you are interested in applying for either position, download the application and submit it to The Rev. Lonnie Lacy by Sept. 1.
 Peer Minister Application
Intern Application
ECM PEER MINISTER
Time Commitment: 5-8 hrs/week
Stipend: $375 per semester
Job Description:
♦ BEING DREAMERS for our campus ministry: always listening for what the Holy Spirit is saying in evaluating programs and coming up with new ones.
♦ NURTURING other students. This includes calling new students as well as maintaining our “regulars.” It also entails working closely with other ECM members in delegating/monitoring outreach efforts to students.
♦ BEING LISTENERS for students. Peer Ministers make themselves readily available for others by making regular contact with ECM students and hanging out at ECM events.
♦ DEVELOP A PROJECT/FOCUS. This project should be based on your own goals for growth and discernment and will be developed in consultation with the chaplain. Your project might be a continuation or outgrowth of current aspects of ECM, or it may entail expanding the scope and reach of ECM by taking on new initiatives, projects, and responsibilities. Projects may include but are not limited to: leading a weekly Bible study, coordinating outreach programs or retreats, leading worship events outside of our regular Tuesday Eucharists, coordinating efforts to educate students on issues of peace, justice, social responsibility, stewardship, etc.
♦ MEET WEEKLY with the chaplain for hour-long supervisory sessions. Establish individual goals for peer ministry each semester and offer quarterly written reflections and evaluations.
Read more about the Peer Minister position...
Peer Minister Application
Intern Application
ECM INTERN
Time Commitment: 3-5 hrs/week
Stipend: $225 per semester
Job Description:
The position of the ECM intern is primarily a servanthood ministry. While assisting the chaplain and, at times, the students, peer minister(s), officers, and/or advisory board in the routine administration of ECM’s day-to-day operations, interns will play a crucial role in the ongoing life and ministry of ECM. Interns will work directly with the chaplain to assist in the following:
♦ ASSISTING WITH COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITY, which includes copying, collating, and preparing mailings, newsletters, flyers, etc; reserving space for advertisements in the campus newspaper and other print publications; overseeing the timely and adequate distribution of ECM posters and flyers at strategic, high-traffic points on campus; and overseeing the timely creation and installation of sheet banners during strategic times of the year.
♦ MANAGING THE ECM CALENDAR, which includes ensuring that ECM events do not conflict with one another or with major events at the university; confirming dates and reservations for larger events, advisory board meetings, trips, and retreats; sending reminders to ECM leaders regarding upcoming events and meetings; coordinating volunteers for service projects; and assisting the chaplain in managing the week-to-week behind-the-scenes deadlines inherent to this ministry.
♦ MAKING RESERVATIONS with the appropriate personnel at GSU for upcoming on-campus ECM events.
♦ PREPARING LITURGICAL MATERIALS for regular and special ECM worship events, which includes preparing the chaplain’s and music leaders’ worship books; printing and preparing the appropriate collect and readings for services; serving as “sacristan” to ensure that adequate elements and supplies are prepped and ready for Eucharists; and copying and binding new student worship booklets when needed.
Read more about the Intern position...
Everything should be working just fine on the ECM website now. Come check out all the new sections and our superfly new menus. www.ecmgsu.org
You've probably noticed that the menus on the ECM website aren't working just right ... that's due to some much needed upgrades that are still in progress. Hang in there!
After some major upgrades, our web calendar is back and better than ever. You know you're curious, so go check it out at www.ecmgsu.org/calendar/!
Also, if you have a program or browser that takes RSS feeds or live bookmarks (usually denoted by the  symbol), you can now subscribe to our calendar to have our upcoming events delivered right to your browser. You never have to be in the dark again!
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