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Extending community | Engaging faith | Empowering relationships
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Coffee and conversations
Coffee and conversations
Some mornings, a coffee shop becomes its own kind of chapel. Not because anyone planned it that way, but because kindness has a way of turning ordinary places holy.
On a recent Tuesday morning, Pastor Jena (Collegiate Methodist/Wesley Foundation) and I did a pop-up coffee hour at Hyper, near campus.
We spent the morning buy people's drinks, striking up conversations and offering a moment of connection in a world that rushes past itself so often. It's a simple gesture, grace moving in a quiet way. Grace often appears in moments and places that we least expect.
A cup of coffee or energy drink, paid for by a friendly face, can become a doorway: a pause, a breath, a reminder that someone sees them.
A cup of coffee or energy drink, paid for by a friendly face, can become a doorway: a pause, a breath, a reminder that someone sees them. And in those conversations--light, deep surprising--God shows up in the small talk, the laughter, the honesty that people rarely share anywhere else.
One cup at a time, relationships form. New students and their parents are welcomed to campus, returning students are welcomed back, and community members are encouraged for their day ahead.
That's the heart of campus ministry; love made ordinary, welcome made real, grace made drinkable.
If you would like to support our pop-up coffee hours, consider donating a gift card to a coffee shop in Ames. Either national chain locations or local shops are welcome. Send digital cards to pastoraj@lcmames.org or physical cards to Lutheran Campus Ministry-Ames at 2126 Gable Ln. Ames, IA 50014. Thank you for your generosity and care!
Director's Message
Director's Message
A note from Pr. AJ
A note from Pr. AJ
It's almost time. During the next three weeks, students will begin coming back to campus for another year. The excitement is growing: construction projects are wrapping up, the grounds are getting extra care, "Welcome ISU Students" signs are popping up all over town.
LCM-Ames will be participating in some welcoming events during the next few weeks, along with our Welsey Foundation partner:
H2O Day, August 22nd. We'll be handing out water and granola bars to students as they make their way to and from campus.
Grillin' and Chillin', three Wednesdays in August and September. We'll welcome students back to campus and give them an opporunity for food and conversation, as well as a chance to tour the student lounge at Collegiate Methodist.
We will also be participating in the WelcomeFest, ClubFest and FaithFest events on campus this fall.
In between these events, we'll continue to connect with students and help them feel welcome and know that they are loved and cared for by the community around them.
Thanks be to God for the all the opportunities to share Christ's love with our students!
To request a congregational visit from Pastor AJ or more information about how you can support LCM-Ames, email them at pastoraj@lcmames.org.
Lutheran Campus Ministry is a ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America
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