This Week at WestM

Grace and Peace to you!

Blessings to all of you as you journey through this week (Dead Week? Zombie Week?) finishing papers and projects, cramming in one last mid-term exam, and preparing for final exams. Below is what’s up this week at WestM as we finish out the term and the academic year. Remember that you are welcome to use WestM space for studying, a nap, a cup of tea or cocoa – a quiet place for what you need. Please let us know how we can support you in the journey.

Wednesday, June 2nd, 5:30 – 7:30 PM Student Gathering

This will be our last regular Student Gathering for the year. Join us for a traditional burger bbq (with vegetarian options) – beginning at 5:30. Following will be our wrap-up session on Images of God and Justice in the Bible as we explore how some of the ideas of justice we have explored this term might take form in relation to the issue of the new immigration laws in Arizona. Bring your ideas, your questions, your energy. Please let us know if you plan to be here for dinner so we can make sure we have enough food.

Friday, June 4th, 7:00 PM Reel to Real: Men Who Stare at Goats

We will call this one R2R Lite with this cast of stars spoofing on a supposed military program to train psychic superstars (or ninja warriors of the non-combative type). Is this one bound for cult status? Or just an evening of laughter which will allow you to breath deeply in the midst of the final exam grind? Check it out and see.

Monday, June 7th 8:00 – 11:00 PM Finals Week Pancake Feed

Gather in for this final exam week tradition – a free pancake dinner for students serving through the above period of three hours – so you can come and go as your schedule requires. All students are welcome and this is a great time to get fed, enjoy a break from studies (or carbo-load for studying), and share some time with friends. The table games will be out. Study groups are welcome.

This Week at WestM

Grace and Peace to you!

Welcome to another week of post El Nino spring weather. If any of you did as the Psalms prescribe and “cast your eyes to the hills” over the weekend, you would have seen fresh snow on Mary’s Peak – always a great harbinger of spring! So blessings for all of you as you scurry to classes and try to figure out how to stay dry. And blessings to all who were a part of our dinner honoring our donors this past week. You can see pictures on our Facebook page (WestM). Below is what’s up as we head into Memorial Day Weekend:

Wednesday, May 26th, 5:30 – 7:30 PM Student Gathering

Enjoy a home-cooked meal beginning at 5:30 followed by our conversation on Images of God and Justice in the Bible where we will look at how Jesus changes some of the rules that were part of scripture and how the Apostle Paul follows suit. If the actual rules change, does the spirit of the rule somehow continue? What is that spirit? All are welcome!

this week at WestM

Grace and Peace to you!

After a week of being blessed by the sun, we are due for a week of blessing by rain (life is balanced) which will make it easier for you to stay focused on studies as we near the end of the term (maybe ). We offer quick and convenient shelter from a sudden rain shower – or a quiet place for study or a nap. Below is a reminder of what is up this week at WestM:

Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 5:30 PM Student Gathering / Donor Appreciation Dinner

We have invited some of our donors (folks who are individual financial supporters of our campus ministry) to join us for dinner during our regular Student Gathering time. It will not be a large group (only a dozen or so at this point) but it is a group who have a commitment to this ministry on behalf of students. So – please do join us for dinner beginning at 5:30. Come as you are – no need to be fancy for this event. But please do come and share a meal and conversation with these good folks. The more the merrier. The menu will feature a vegetarian lasagna. Please let us know if you are able to come a little early and help with setup or to stay a little late and help with cleanup. We will need and appreciate help on each end of the meal. We will skip Bible study for this week and pick it up again next week as we begin to wrap up our series on Images of God and Justice in the Bible.

Grace and Peace to you!

Welcome to week #7 and the proverbial race to the end of the term (and summer!). A big thanks to those who helped out with our WestM Spring Cleanup last Thursday – we were able to put a smile on our outside presence. I am also hearing about some pretty good naps and quiet study sessions in the lounge so remember that this place (WestM) is here for you and your use and that you are welcome. Below is what’s up for this week:

Wednesday, May 12, 5:30 – 7:30 PM Student Gathering

Enjoy a home-cooked meal beginning at 5:30 as well as the interesting conversations that accompany the good food. At 6:30 we will continue our journey exploring images of God and Justice in the Bible. This week we will focus on what are known as “the Beatitudes” from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and their apparent tipping of the idea of justice in the kingdom of God.

Friday, May 14, 7:00 PM Reel to Real: Food, Inc.

Following on our Bible study theme of justice, this powerful film takes a clear and prophetic look at food, food production and the poweful corporate interests which control much of what comes to our tables. This is one of those films that leads to some much clearer thinking about this important part of our lives. And, of course, the popcorn will be fresh.

Next Week:  Wednesday, May 19, 5:30 PM Student Gathering / Donor Appreciation Dinner

All of you are invited to join in our usual Student Gathering meal time as we host a special dinner for friends and financial supporters of our ministry. This is our time to offer our thanks for all their support and what it makes possible for you. They love having an opportunity to meet students. We will also be glad to have your help as we prepare and help serve this meal to our special guests (you get to eat too, of course!). Please put this one on your calendar and please let me know if you are able to help with food preps, setup, serving or some cleanup afterward. I’ll put a big thanks up front for your support.

this week at WestM

Grace and Peace to you!

With hail falling on the roof (though hopefully not on you!) we must clearly be experiencing spring. Keep and eye and ear out for thunder and lightning or even tornadoes (if you happen to be traveling to the east side of the valley near Lebanon) – or “lions, tigers, and bears; oh my!” If you need quick shelter from the rapidly changing weather, please remember that WestM is a safe haven in a storm (literally and metaphorically). Below is what’s up at WestM this week along with a couple of programs of interest on campus. We look forward to seeing you and sharing the journey.

Tuesday, May 4th

What Is a Communications Revolution – and Did One Take Place Before the Civil War? (4-5 PM MU Journey Room)

It seems clear that we are in the midst of an incredible communications shift – one ripe with consequences. Historian David Henkin of UC Berkeley will explore the “new media” that proliferated before the Civil War and guide us in thinking critically about the relationship between technological innovation and social change (something I know some of you are thinking about…). I am planning to attend this one and will be happy to talk about it.

Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism – 7 PM MU Journey Room

My good friend and colleague Tom Sherry, director of the LDS Institute of Religion, will be presenting this program as his final offering on campus before retiring. It is my experience that we learn more about our own faith tradition when we look at other faith traditions more carefully. I plan to attend this in honor of Tom and would offer to buy coffee (or other appropriate evening beverage) for those of you who attend and would like to explore some of what Tom says.

Wednesday, May 5th, 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Student Gathering at WestM

Enjoy a home-cooked meal beginning at 5:30 followed at 6:30 with our continuing exploration of images of God and Justice in the Old Testament. This week we will focus on the classic prophets of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, etc.) and the voice of God which they claim spoke through them. What kind of God did they proclaim? Check it out. All are welcome.

Thursday, May 6th, 3-6 PM: WestM Spring Cleanup

This is our annual spring cleaning to spruce up this old house. We plan to work outdoors (mostly – depending on the weather) doing work around our drought-tolerant, bee-friendly landscape and the victory garden out back. No skill is required. Enthusiasm is welcome! Free pizza and drinks when we finish up at 6 PM. Please let me know if you are able to help with this one – for all or any part of the three hours.

this week at WestM

Grace and Peace to you!

Welcome to the middle of the term and, given the busy-ness of Spring Terms, the race to the finish. In the midst of spring showers remember that we still have a warm, dry (zombie-free zone) space with soft sofas and hot water for tea or cocoa for your escape from the pressures of the term. You are welcome here!

Wednesday, April 28th, 5:30 – 7:30 PM Student Gathering at WestM

Enjoy a home-cooked meal beginning at 5:30 followed at 6:30 with our continuing exploration of images of God and Justice in the Old Testament. This week we will focus on the classic prophets of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, etc.) and the voice of God which they claim spoke through them. What kind of God did they proclaim? Check it out. All are welcome.

Student Gathering Tonight

Tonight, 5:30 – 7:30 PM! Enjoy a home-cooked meal and then hang around while we celebrate Earth Week by exploring concepts of earth justice and the Sabbath for the land during our bible study.  All are welcome!

Welcome!

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