Fall 09 Newsletter large page

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid

PAID Permit No. 14

Tucson, Arizona

Your support helps PCM help others! The first weekend of school PCM

students joined a team at the Tucson Community Food Bank and helped to sort through over 30 tons of food, creating more than 2,000 emergency food boxes for hungry people in Pima County.

The PCM Connection Arizona Presbyterian Campus Ministry is a welcoming, relevant, and biblically grounded community where students and young adults in Tucson can: Be… themselves, beloved children of God Belong… to a community following Jesus Christ. Become… who the Holy Spirit is calling them to be

www.pcmarizona.org

The fall semester is, indeed, underway here at PCM. I have always enjoyed fall and its palpable sense of transition. Things are changing… from the pace of life to the angle of the sun to the color of the leaves on the trees. Things are changing here at PCM, as well, as new students join our ministry and it takes on a new character.

In this newsletter, you will read about how Miguel Carlin connected with our grad group and how Jessica Brittain found a new sense of community at PCM on our recent Labor Day Retreat . You will also read a reflection from Laura Stump, one of our new Peer Leaders, and how she’s found new ways to participate in the ministry.

Speaking of new things, we’re excited about our Faculty Faith Forum a monthly brown-bag lunch where UofA faculty are invited to come and share about the interaction between their faith and their area of study. These events are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members here in Tucson, and we were glad to see a good representation of these groups for our first speaker in September,

CAMPUS CHRISTIAN CENTER 715 N. PARK AVENUE TUCSON, AZ 85719

THE PCM CONNECTION ARIZONA PRESBYTERIAN CAMPUS MINISTRY

OCTOBER 2009

Fall 2009 The PCM Connection www.pcmarizona.org

Inside this Issue: Page 2 - “A Vital Support” by Miguel Carlin, PCM Grad/ Young Adult Alumni - Donors make a difference Page 3 -Room at Our Table by Debby Johnson, PCM Board Moderator Page 4 - La Jolla Adventure by Jessica Brittian, PCM Undergrad Page 5 - “We’ll Meet You Where You’re At!” by Laura Stump, PCM Peer Leader

The Fall Semester Ben Larson-Wolbrink, Campus Minister

Students share a meal with the congregation at Trinity Presbyterian.

Dr. Richard Poss of the Department of Astronomy. His talk, entitled, “The religious implications of recent advances in astronomy,” provided much food for thought. As he explored the variety of recent breakthroughs, the most intriguing was the increasing probability of life in space. As students and I reflected on his challenge to consider what that would mean for our theology, the general consensus that life beyond our planet wouldn’t really threaten our already cosmic understanding of God. I couldn’t help but remember the words of the PCM students’ favorite songs: God of wonders beyond our galaxy, you are holy, holy The universe declares your majesty, you are holy, holy Lord of heaven and earth. Lord of heaven and earth In the midst of all of this newness and discovery, the PCM Board is working dutifully to support this ministry so that students can always find some stability in their ever-changing lives. Debby Johnson, our Board Moderator, has a Board update in this issue.

As so much of the new is happening, I can’t help but remember that, indeed, it is the God of our lives – and the God of the Universe – who truly makes us new

May it be so.

FACULTY FAITH FORUM Brown-bag Lunch Discussion Wednesday, Oct. 14th, noon

715 N. Park Ave. Dr. Richard Eaton of the Department

of History will present: “Overseas missions and the academic

vocation: Iran across four generations, 1872-2009”

Parking is available in the Tyndall

Ave. Parking Garage, one block west.

Laura and friends at the La Jolla retreat

The PCM Connection Page 2 of 6

The PCM Connection is a quarterly newsletter of Arizona Presbyterian Campus Ministry, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA). If you have any input or responses regarding this newsletter send them to: [email protected] This edition was edited by, Ann Lawrence, PCM Student Intern.

Page 5 of 6 The PCM Connection

Many Thanks to all our donors! Contributions from June 1- September 1:

Giving $1000 or more Presbytery de Cristo Valley Presbyterian Church, Green Valley Walker, Ann

Giving $100 or more Immanuel Presbyterian Church Larson-Wolbrink, Ben and Gretchen Lotz, Phil and Marge McGuire, Mike Myers, Don and Ruth St. Mark’s Presbyterian, Tucson Samoy, Joey and Sue Smith, Lee Southside Presbyterian Church Tortolita Presbyterian, Tucson Voight, Bill and Jere

Giving up to $99 Bledsoe, Alwen Carlin, Curtis Giorgi, Lin Harwood, Thomas Hing, Richard and Saik Soon Kampa, Dick and Bonnie Kiser, Greg and Bonnie Marble, Justin and Vanessa Rappaport, Margaret Stroh, Barbara

“We’ll Meet You Where You’re At!” Laura Stump, PCM Peer Leader

I never realized that I needed a faith community until I found one. Every Sunday growing up I would listen to our pastor extend the EXACT same invitation to first time visitors: “If you’re looking for a church home, we invite you to look no further.” Clear enough. It wasn’t until I moved away from home to attend the U of A that church became my responsibility. And it wasn’t until sophomore year of college that church—no, faith—became my choice. I decided to become a part of PCM. The people in PCM are a significant part of my “church home”. They help me learn and grow in faith, and we work together as a community of believers to support one another. We are an imperfect ministry—thank goodness! I probably wouldn’t have joined otherwise. Our imperfection and sincerity as a ministry is what makes me feel at home. I joined the PCM choir having never sung a note of sheet music, I currently play guitar in the worship band even though I occasionally skip chords I don’t know, and sometimes we start late, mispronounce biblical names, and use orange juice for communion. But when we’re together I have never failed to witness God’s love working through us. The details rightfully take a back seat to the joy that we share in worship. If I had to slap an advertising slogan on PCM it might be something like: “We’ll Meet You Where You’re At!”

Laura (fourth from left) at our fall Peer Leaders Retreat

There are no prerequisites, no required texts to buy, and no evaluations of your progress. Are you looking for free dinner and good company? Okay. Are you in need of support to make it through college or other struggles? Great. Are you looking for a way to serve others as we’re called to do as Christians? Cool. Are you looking for a church home? Maybe you’ll build it starting here, like I’m doing.

Over the last year or so I was fortunate to be a member of the PCM Grad and Young Adult Group. This group welcomed me with open arms and provided a vital support system, as I was new to Arizona coming from the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at Texas A&M University. By working with members of the group as well as Pastor Ben Larson-Wolbrink, I was able to identify Immanuel Presbyterian as a inclusive and welcoming church for me to attend away from my home church. Outside of the fellowship and emotional support that PCM provided on a weekly basis, I also enjoyed and found beneficial the PCM Young Adult/Graduate Group retreat. The retreat provided a wonderful opportunity for me to explore my spiritual growth as well as to have the experience of hiking up Mount Lemon to see the wonders of Southern Arizona. This vital ministry reminded me of my commitment and call to be a disciple of Christ not just on Sunday's but throughout the year and for this I am grateful. Additionally, PCM has reminded me that hope still remains in the church not only for today but definitely for a stronger tomorrow.

“A Vital Support” Miguel Carlin, PCM Grad / Young Adult Alumni

Miguel (first on left) and friends at the Mount Lemmon retreat

Miguel (center) and friends on Mount Lemmon

Family Weekend Luncheon Oct. 17th, noon-1pm

All members of our PCM family are welcome to

join us for a luncheon with visiting parents of current PCM students

Campus Christian Center, 715 N. Park

(Parking in Tyndall Garage, one block west)

Please RSVP by Oct. 12th [email protected]