Behold, We Live
St. Paul described the ministry of the apostles to the congregation in Corinth in these words: “as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” What described the lives and work of the apostles here also can be used to describe the life and work of the Church. Certainly these words of St. Paul describe how it has been for University Lutheran Chapel these past two years. We have gone through much. We have faced those who have tried to kill our congregation and campus ministry, and behold we live. We have had our chapel taken from us, but having Christ, we possess all things. We have grieved, yet we rejoice in our Lord’s grace and favor, in the fellowship of our brothers and sisters across the entire Church, and in the future laid before us.
This is not to say that the past two years have been easy for us. They have not. And they have taken a serious toll on our members and students. But in spite of the hardships, or perhaps even because of them, ULC remains committed. Attendance at Sunday services continues to be strong. Where only a few years ago we rarely had more than 85 people in a single service now we routinely see over 100. While the number of new students attending ULC this year is down a little bit, our students remain active. And our student leadership is perhaps the best I’ve seen in my years of service as pastor. We have managed to maintain all of our regular Bible studies and activities with only a few exceptions (no midweek service, for example). And we have been blessed by Christians not only from within our synod, but from across the Una Sancta, helping us to grow in our appreciation for our separated brothers and sisters in other church bodies. It has been hard, but the Lord has indeed worked good already through it. As we look to the future, we trust that He has even more good in store for ULC, for the students under our care, and for His whole Church.
In this edition of our newsletter, we look forward to some of those good things that are coming to fruition, even as we look back at the path that has brought us to where we currently are. Please continue to pray for our congregation, students and campus ministry as we strive to move forward, faithful to Christ’s Word and eager for His will and Kingdom.
ULC to Purchase Former Sorority House for Use as Student Center on Campus
The Former Delta Delta Delta sorority house will soon become a Lutheran student house. The last week in September, ULC and the owners of the property (currently run as a Bed and Breakfast catering to visiting U of M professors and scholars, called The Faculty House) entered into a purchase agreement for the 7000+ square foot property and the adjacent 24 space parking lot.
The house, a 1920s era English Tudor, is located at 316 10th Avenue SE, just one block from the former ULC chapel and student center. Highly visible and easily accessible by foot or vehicle, it sits on a major thoroughfare for students going to either East or West Banks of campus from the sorority row area.
The deal is set to close at the end of the Fall Semester (mid-December) assuming that our “due diligence” uncovers no major problems with the property.
The purchase of this house will give our students and our congregation a much needed home base on the campus of the U of M, a place where we can hold our regular events, Bible studies, midweek worship, and where students can relax, study, pray, get counsel from the pastor, and maybe even live eventually (there are 14 hotel or dorm-style rooms on the two upper floors). It will also give us room to expand our on-campus efforts and to try new programs and to host large events.
Not only will this house help anchor our presence on campus, but it will also send a strong message to the U of M community that ULC will not abandon the campus, but continues to put ministry to students high on the list of our congregation’s priorities.
The house appears to be in near move-in condition. We hope to use the Christmas break to move in and to prepare it for a grand opening at the beginning of the Spring semester.
Please pray with us that this purchase proceed smoothly, so that our students and our congregation can regain a home on campus at the U of M.
For pictures of the property, look here.
The property is only a block away from the old home of ULC.
Click here for the ULCMN October Newsletter.
Now this is great news, but you will notice that this is not yet a new chapel for worship. That is why I would still suggest you consider giving in order to “help it be for good”. You can donate to ULC here.