University Lutheran Church

340 E. 15th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281-6612 (480) 967-3543

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Offering of Letters

This Spring and Summer, we had an Offering of Letters Picnic Party. University Lutheran Church (ULC) members and Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) students wrote letters to their representatives for the Farm Bill.

Reauthorized every five years, the Farm Bill affects not only  farmers but also every person in the US who buys and eats food, as well as  those facing hunger internationally.  An enormous bill, it sets forth our nation’s agriculture and nutrition programs. 

If you write a letter, let us know (info@ulctempe.org or 480-967-3543)! Thank you to Autumn Byars and Ruth Wootten for their hard work on this project.

Thoughts on Transition

“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22).
Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed, alleluia!

On Easter Sunday, we celebrated the unexpected, Jesus was raised from the dead. The disciples have experienced so much change through his betrayal, death and now resurrection. After Jesus appears to his disciples, shares his peace, he sends them to continue the work God sent him to do. As Christ’s church today, we at ULC and LCM with the help of the Holy Spirit have been entrusted to share the message of God’s life-giving love in Jesus Christ, forgiveness and grace with the whole world.

During this time of transition and change we continue to share Christ’s wonderful love. I’m grateful for the members of the Transition team and the work they are beginning to do together. A History Day is being planned for Sunday April 14 at 11:30am. During this time as a congregation, we will gather to remember our stories. Tell one another public and personal stories about our congregation and remind the current community who the congregation has been. We will make sense of how God has been active in our history through all the ups and downs. For more information about History Day and the transition process please refer to the Transition Manual at gcsynod.org/transition.
We hope to count on you to share your stories of God’s work at ULC and LCM during the recent and distant past. The Transition team and I hope to see you on Sunday April 14, following the service in the Campus Center.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

In Christ’s resurrection hope,
Pastor Arhiana

Thoughts on Transition

4 “Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, 5 and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-13NRSV).

This passage from 1 Corinthians is a great reminder of the variety of gifts the Spirit has given to people. The Spirit gives different gifts and activates these gifts in everyone. As a pastor and as a Christian I find hope in trusting that each manifestation of the Spirit is for the common good, not just for an individual’s benefit, but for the common good. I’m grateful for the many gifts and abilities the Spirit has given to folks at University Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry to share to the glory of God and for the furthering of the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world. I’m confident in the God given gifts of our Transition team members and the work we will be doing together. On Sunday March 24, the Transition Team will be having a retreat to connect with our Lord and with each other. We will be studying the Transition Manual recommended by the Grand Canyon Synod for congregations in transition. Please keep us in your prayers as we come together for connection, fellowship, and learning.
Please stop by to say hello or to chat during my office hours on Tuesdays 12-2pm. If another time works better with your schedule, let me know to arrange another time. I’m available to meet in person, by phone, text, email, video. Whatever works for you. As your Interim Pastor, I care about you and about what you have to say.

Holy Week Blessings,
Pastor Arhiana

Bingo!

Our Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) students and University Lutheran Church (ULC) Young Adults got together for a night of Bingo! Fun was had by all–but especially the big winners!

Thank you to Lori Zurcher and Terry Anderson for the use of the Bingo equipment. Thank you to Dylan Week, LCM Associate, for coordinating the event.

Out Of The Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, some our of University Lutheran Church (ULC) Young Adults and Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) students participated in ASU’s annual Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Savannah Bradley, LCM and ASU student, was one of the student organizers and was a speaker at the event. Walkers gathered outside the student services building, where several clubs, business, and other resources set up tables, sharing activities, resources, stickers, and all kinds of fun stuff.

The university aimed to raise $15,000, and by Saturday morning, we had raised more than $18,300! Erin Smythe took home the record for the most money raised by any individual person! Savannah Bradley, Taína Diaz-Reyes, Paul Westermann, Erin Smythe, Janel Niska, and Autumn Byars attended. Thank you, students!