Weekly Opportunities during Spring Quarter Holy Communion -- Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Worship in both Word and Sacrament and in the Lutheran tradition begins every week at ULC and, indeed, is the central event of our life together. By definition, the liturgy is the work of the people of God, and thus, ULC's worship is highly participatory. Every week, students serve as the assisting minister, as lectors, and as ushers. A choir composed mostly of students sings under the direction of senior Michael Kasa, who is our director of music. At announcements time, students advertise ULC events that they're helping to plan, as well as concerts, plays, etc. in which they're involved on campus. During the Easter season, the musical setting of the Holy Communion that we're using is ELW setting eight, the contemporary setting. After worship, coffee cake and lemonade are served in the narthex, and then comes Sunday brunch. Sunday Brunch -- 11:45 a.m. Sunday brunch offers home-cooked food at a reasonable price (only $3!), good fellowship, and the chance to get to know other ULC people. Volunteers take turns at cooking and clean-up. Grad student Laura Swafford coordinates the program and offers assistance with menu ideas and a ride to the store (if needed). Since brunch is served soon after worship, we always hope that worshipers will stay. It's a very good way to make friends at ULC! On April 6, brunch will be free! Choir Rehearsal -- on Sunday mornings at 9:40 Our choir plays the important role of leading us in singing the liturgy and the hymns and usually presents an anthem, as well. Our director of music, senior Michael Kasa, welcomes all who like to sing. No audition is necessary; simply come to a rehearsal. Questions may be addressed to Michael at Michael- Kasa@u.northwestern.edu Write Michael too if you play an instrument and would like to help to provide music for worship some Sunday. "Tutoring Children" -- Mondays, 6:30 to 8 p.m. On every Monday on which the Chicago Public Schools are open, children who range in age from kindergarten through high school bring their homework to Immanuel Lutheran Church on Chicago's North Side, where, through the Edgewater Tutoring Program, they receive help from a knowledgeable adult. Typically, reading, writing, and math are the subjects with which help is needed. The intent of the program is to pair a child and a tutor on an ongoing basis, as a way of enriching the experience of both. Graduate student Laura Swafford is a regular tutor and coordinates ULC's participation. She will be glad to answer questions and also to provide a ride on Monday evenings (though Immanuel Church is accessible via the "El"). Those interested may write Laura at l-swafford@northwestern.edu Late-Night Worship -- Wednesdays at 10 p.m. At 10 o'clock on Wednesday nights, we share a late-night midweek worship with Canterbury Northwestern. These brief services are held at our building; ULC and Canterbury students take turns planning and leading. Those who participate regularly value the chance to worship together and the fellowship they share, as they take a break from their night of studies. Late-Night Worship can serve others, too: e.g., those with a conflict on Sundays. All are welcome! Seniors Jack Henderson and Max Holste coordinate ULC's part of the planning. They will welcome hearing from people who would like to help to plan or lead a service. Write Jack at j-henderson@northwestern.edu of Max at m-holste@northwestern.edu Bible Study -- format, day & time to be chosen by the participants Because we Lutherans believe that the Bible is "the authoritative source and norm of [our] proclamation, faith, and life" (ELCA Constitution, chapter 2), ULC long has offered a weekly Bible study. Usually this study has taken the form of the reading and discussion of whole biblical books, as a means toward broadening participants' encounters with scripture beyond the bits and pieces reading that is the pattern of Christian worship and of most devotional literature. But other formats have been used, as well, e.g., a study and discussion of the readings that will be heard at worship on the coming Sunday. Those who would like to be part of a ULC weekly Bible study this spring are asked to write Pastor Kittlaus: l-kittlaus@northwestern.edu The format and the day & time for the weekly meetings will be chosen by those who will be in the group. Monthly Opportunities Service at the Greater Chicago Food Depository -- first Saturday morning of the month (thus, April 5, May 3, and June 7), 9 to noon; gather at the Center at 8 a.m. Chicago's food depository (on the Southwest Side, near Midway Airport) is our country's largest and is based in a state-of-the-art, $30 million facility that opened in May of 2004. When we go there to work, we may be assigned to an assembly line where we'll pack emergency food boxes, to a clean room in which bulk pasta or cereal is repacked into smaller packages, or to an area where we'll help to sort and salvage donated fresh produce or other items. Besides the obvious good that our monthly efforts produce, our beneficiary, the Evanston Women's Shelter, gets purchasing credit for every hour that we put in. On the first Saturday morning of the month, we gather at the Lutheran Center at 8 a.m., drive to the food depository and work from 9 until noon, and then (if participants have time) stop for a fast-food lunch, before returning to campus by ca. 1:30. Junior Travis Zupfer and grad student Dave Kosnik coordinate our serving at the GCFD. Write either of them (t-zupfer@northwestern.edu or dek@middlefork.net) with questions or to say that you will help on one of the Saturdays listed. Please note the food depository dress code: "No volunteers may work in shorts, tank tops, or open-toed shoes. Jeans and sneakers are best." Offering of Food for the Hungry in our immediate area -- presented at the altar on the first Sunday of every month (thus, April 6, May 4, and June 1) Malnourished and hungry people live very near to us in Evanston and the bordering neighborhoods of Chicago. Accordingly, we encourage ULCers, when they are in a store buying food for themselves, to pick up an extra can or two and then to bring their gift(s) to the Lutheran Center, where we keep a marked basket in the narthex to receive these gifts. On each month's first Sunday, the basket is brought to the altar with the day's offerings. Afterwards, its contents are delivered to the Howard Area Community Center (near the Howard "El" platform), where staff distribute our gifts to persons and families in need. Naturally, only non-perishable food and unopened packages may be accepted. This monthly gathering of food is a project of ULC's Social Ministry Committee, Lisa Kosnik, chair. Write Lisa at ligo79@yahoo.com Helping to Care for God's Creation: Forest Preserve Habitat Restoration at Skokie Lagoons -- second Saturday of the month (thus, April 12, May 10, and June 14), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; gather at the Center at 9:30 a.m. This monthly project is a joint venture with the Sheil Catholic Center and grew out of the ecumenical service project in which our two ministries participated during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January, 2007. The work with which we're helping at Skokie Lagoons in Glencoe consists of cutting invasive buckthorn trees and burning some of the giant brushpiles that have accumulated. Tools and gloves are provided. Wear grubby clothes, and bring a water bottle. At the mid-day break, water and snacks will be provided. Grad student Dave Kosnik is the ULC coordinator for this project. Write him (dek@middlefork.net) with your questions or to indicate on which of the dates you can help. Rides are provided, and thus, we need to know how many intend to participate. Please consider coming along. It's a chance to exercise good stewardship of God's good creation and an opportunity, too, for meeting and interacting with people of the Sheil community. Preparing and Serving Dinner at Hilda's Place -- third Thursday evening of the month (thus, April 17, May 15, and June 19), 5:45 to 8 p.m. Hilda's Place is the shelter in Evanston for persons without a home. It is located in the Lake Street Church (Chicago Avenue at Lake Street) and generally serves about thirty guests per night. We go there on the month's third Thursday evening to cook dinner and serve it. In order that the food may be ready by 7 o'clock, we gather at the Lutheran Center at 5:45 and drive to the shelter. As we're serving the meal, we have the chance to visit a bit with the guests. By 8, we usually will have completed clean-up and will be on our way back to campus. Grad student Amanda Hakemian and post-academic Aaron Miller coordinate our work at Hilda's Place. Please write either of them (a-hakemian@northwestern.edu or aaronwmiller@gmail.com), if you're able to help on any of the Thursdays named. Our goal is to have four or five volunteers on each night of our serving. That's Not All, Either! Besides the weekly and monthly opportunities that have been described, we always schedule some special events and activities. Already on the calendar this spring are: joining friends at the University of Chicago in helping with the Night Ministry to youth and adults on the street (Friday evening, April 11, gather at our building at 6 p.m.), a service-learning overnight with a Lutheran youth group (Friday evening, May 2, through early afternoon on Saturday, May 3), co-sponsoring the showing of the film For the Bible Tells Me So (Wednesday, May 7, 7 to 10 p.m., in Fisk 217), our annual New Alums Dinner for those who will be receiving a degree at the June commencement (Friday evening, May 9), Feed the Rock, a hunger awareness and action game based upon the children's game, "Hungry Hungry Hippos" (Friday afternoon, May 16), and Capture the flag, food, and a bonfire (Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 6:30 p.m., on the lakefill). As the quarter unfolds, more may be planned. To find out what's going on at ULC during any week and to learn details, visit This Week at ULC. 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