Spring 2009 The PCM Connection

Over the years our family has really enjoyed having students and young adults from PCM over to our home. We’ve had book studies and worship, barbeques and potlucks. We’ve broken our 30-hour fasts with Gretchen’s homemade communion bread, and we’ve broken cascarones (confetti eggs) over each other’s heads at our annual Easter party! It has been such a blessing to host so many folks in our home over the years. But, we’re moving to a new home. For the past nine months, our family has been meeting with several people who have a similar passion for hospitality and community. It’s an amazingly diverse group of folks, including two Episcopalians, a Quaker, a Catholic Worker, and a Unitarian. We have been gathering every Friday evening for a Sabbath meal and a time of prayer, singing, and discernment. And, we have been wondering how God might make a way for us to live and minister together. On March 1st, we moved into a 100-year-old home that was originally built as a bunkhouse for the railroad workers. We’ve named this adventure The Restoration Project, because we feel called to participate in God’s restoration of human relationships and creation. In addition to regular worship, we will share resources so that our collective ministry can be stronger than what we could do as individuals. We are committed to keeping two rooms available for hospitality, as we have been made aware of the increasing need for safe spaces of transition for women and children. We also hope to implement permaculture techniques, including greywater harvesting

and desert gardening. We hope that we can find a new kind of abundance as we live together simply. I’m excited to host PCM folks at our new home. As usual, I’ll be glad to give students a home-cooked meal, and Lily will enjoy playing with the students like she always has. But, I also look forward to seeing how PCM might connect with the ministries of The Restoration Project. We’ve already been blessed to have an ecumenical group of students come and help at our February work days as we got the house fixed up for the move. I’m excited to see what other opportunities are in store. This year, my Lent will be filled with unpacking boxes and the nitty-gritty details of combining five households into one. Not exactly what I’d choose for spiritual contemplation. But, these are the necessary chores involved in striving to live into our understanding of the Kingdom of God. My prayer is that we all might find our daily chores imbued with spiritual meaning as we seek to follow Jesus Christ this Lenten season.

Life Changes for Lent Ben Larson-Wolbrink, Campus Minister

An ecumenical group of students pauses after a hard day’s work at the Restoration Project.

Inside this Issue: Page 2 - Donor Thank You - New T-Shirts - Editorial Statement Page 3 - From our Board - A week at PCM Page 4-5 - The mission of PCM

The PCM Connection Page 2 of 6

What is The PCM Connection? The PCM Connection is an occasional newsletter of Arizona Presbyterian Campus Ministry, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In it you will find students’ reflections from their experiences with this ministry. If you have any input or responses regarding this newsletter send them to: pcmarizona@gmail.com Donations can be mailed to:

Presbyterian Campus Ministry 715 N Park Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719

This edition was edited by, Ann Lawrence, PCM Student Intern.

Thank You to our Donors! The following individuals and congregations have given to PCM between Dec 1 and March1: Giving $1000 or more Valley Presbyterian Church, Green Valley Presbytery De Cristo Giving $100 or more Hillman, Lorelei Larson-Wolbrink, Ben and Gretchen Mitchell, Cameron Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church Raffety, David and Jayne Samoy, Joey and Sue Giving up to $99 Acino, Judith Bertrand, Helen Bubany, Chris Davies, Lynne Decker, Randy and Laurel Derickson, Jeff and Cece Dewald, Terry and Peggy Edgar, Ralph and Pam Farsjo, Fred and Patti Fohr, Bruce and Janet Leighton, Linda Jean Long, Russell and Christy Martin, Jeff and Kathy Sara, Stephanie Soldwedel, Pamela Vito, Melissa Wang, Jon Werth, Marilyn

Your gift helps produce great fruit!

New PCM T-shirts

“It’s all good!” $20 – hand tie-dyed t-shirts by PCM students,

each one is unique $15 – standard, UofA red t-shirts

Shirts are going fast, so order one today (contact information below).

The PCM Connection Page 3 of 6

I really enjoy talking with University students over Tuesday night dinners and at PCM events. These are exciting and busy people – enrolling in semesters full of academic courses, studying very hard, and trying to zoom in on their future careers. They are hoping today’s choices prepare them to be independent financially and that they will attain personal satisfaction too, as they go out to work in the world. In the midst of all this striving, the students are also asking, “How will I serve God in my life?” We know, not everyone will choose a religious career, be called into ministry or devote their life to mission work. But, God invites every one of us to serve wherever we are in our life. God calls and uses accountants, physiologists, nurses, astronomers, engineers, teachers, social workers, economists, business leaders, math majors etc, etc. etc. to share the Good News and creatively serve God’s world. Praying, listening, and discerning God’s desire for us will continue throughout our lives. We will make many changes along the way and assume new roles, but we can continue to adjust and serve God always. Here I am today – retired, a former nurse, mission leader, wife, mother of grown children, and still discerning God’s direction for me – in this time of my life. I am happy to be supporting today’s University of Arizona students, and providing prayer and care for them, as well as for Pastor Ben, YAV Rachel, Intern Ann and all the Peer Leaders. Who knows? You might be called someday, like me, into God’s service as a Board Member on the Presbyterian Campus Ministry! “To the true servant of God, every place is the right place and every time the right time.”

- Catherine of Sienna

These newsletters often contain stories of our special events from retreats to mission trips. But, have you ever wondered what we do at PCM throughout the week? Here is a sample week at PCM… Monday, 11am – band practice

Tuesday, 6pm - Undergraduate dinner, cooked by folks from local congregations, and worship Wednesday 11 am – NOOMA video & discussion 2 pm – choir practice Thursday 11:30am – worship planning 12:30pm NOOMA video & discussion Friday – service opportunities such as, Ben’s Bells and House of Neighborly Services Saturday – fun activities such as, kickball, tie dying, and hiking. Sunday 4pm – Undergrad bible study 6:30pm – Grad group Though students’ lives are incredibly busy, PCM strives to provide a variety of activities for them to connect with each other and with God.

“How Will I Serve God?” Jayne Raffety, PCM Board Secretary/Vice-Moderator

A Week at PCM

The PCM Connection Page 4 of 6

…Be themselves, beloved children of God

We welcome emerging adults just as they are, full of doubts and dreams. We provide a place for love, acceptance and invitation to new growth. A key part of this is our welcome to…

PCM Is a ministry focused on students, graduate students, and young adults. We provide these “emerging adults” opportunities to reflect on the joys and challenges of this period of life through the perspective of the Christian faith. In doing so, we strive to be a ministry where students and young adults can…

Members of PCM join the praise team at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Tucson.

Undergrad students enjoy a meal before our Tuesday worship

PCM students help at the Restoration Project

The Grad / Young Adult Group gathers for one, last potluck at the Larson-Wolbrink home.

Page 5 of 6 The PCM Connection

…Become who the Holy Spirit is calling them to be We trust that, as emerging adults worship and serve together, the Spirit will guide and form them. As they transition to the next phases of life, we pray that they will continue to serve the Church and the world, playing their part in the coming Kingdom of God.

Students praying at our Tuesday Night Worship

…Belong to a community following Jesus Christ We are committed to being a community that worships and serves together. We strive to follow the Way of Jesus, trusting in the grace we have been given. As a part of the body of Christ, we pray that our students will… Painting at the Restoration Project

Fellowship with friends from a local congregation

Students hiking in the mountains at one of our retreats