Aaron points out the increased leadership from freshmen.
Molly wants to increase the social event opportunities for this semester.
David points out that having Freshman who can contribute for many years to come will be a powerful shaping force.
Lauren likes change, and notices that tradition's hold on us is weakened by all these personnel changes.
Will wants to see more stuff on campus, for nonwesley students.
Aaron thinks that the average person wonders where those crazy Wesleyites come from.
Molly asks david about the listening post, and David replies that activity varies, but he talks to maybe 75-80 people in a semester. He's the "Peanut Guy."
This semester could be very valuable with our cooperation w/ nothing but nets, which could certainly do something at UCAB to get our name out, be a social event, and help a good cause. David wants to raise funds for Gene Nichol to get a buzz cut if students raise $10,000.
Laura appreciates our willingness to work on a hard project like NBN.
David stresses making this a safe, comfortable place for people to express their true opinions. He wants people to understand that Christians just don't go to church; it's a way of life.
New Hospitality Ministry, now that Chase has arrived: he printed out schedules. He's got a method nailed down to hunt down the volunteers if they don't respond. This ensures that they know what's going on. All the volunteers went thru a training, and learned the 5 in 10 approach, where you spend 5 mins with each person within 10 ft. Awkward ignored situations simply should not happen in a place like this. David points out that we need to construct a culture of hospitality.
Chase is asked to send emails to Aaron and Isaac, who aren't in the welcoming volunteer list. Chase likes the fact that you pray while you clean up. Lauren comments on the crowd of people gathered right around the greeter table. Perhaps we should play a central ice-breaker, or a greeter should introduce them to another person, in a group of people. "Meet the hospitality team!"
Should we start taking pics of people who come, almost like a bulletin board look-book? And get people to write down first AND last name. Should we have a person tasked with planning ice breaker? We have a book of ice breakers.
David says that the greeting directions were made before we reversed the SNP order, so maybe change them to show them where they can sit for the program and explain the program, rather than table. Also, greeters should eat first so that they can greet people as they leave.
Molly says that we should introduce the people returning from abroad. (See SNP ideas below)
David (and everyone) appreciates Chase's work with this hospitality team. (Music could be a good thing to use as people walk in.)
David suggests a Wesley mosh pit.
Lauren suggests not.
David suggests another checkup after Spring Break, to see how the hostpitality's going.
Lauren says it would be nice to get a nonYACer to check our attendance stuff, so we can send personal emails to people who visited or missed a few SNPs. Or we could look at the least at YAC meetings, to decide people to send personal greetings to visitors.
Will agrees that that sort of ministry is important.
David points out that we must make sure people know that we actually care when they aren't around.
Lauren and David suggest Kyra, Chase's girlfriend. We could keep tabs on who sat near who.
What is the point of having sign-ups if we don't even look at them?
THE COVENANT:
Should we add an "amen" at the end?
Laura suggests mentioning the importance of being visible on campus.
Molly thinks it's good that it specifies authentic relationships, not just being visible.
David: we should combine those two elements. It seems to be a good starting place.
Aaron suggests keeping the covenant's development on the school-year schedule. A balance would be to let the new YAC draw on the old covenant, but create one that is still meaningful to them.
Lauren should get copies printed directly, rather than going through David and the gibberish.
SURVEY RESULTS
29 surveys were filled out, a pretty good number.
What SNPs would you like to see more of? Discussion-based SNPs were mentioned. But for hot-
topic issues, we need to make sure we don't end on a bad note.
Worship Team is certainly welcome to lead one Sunday.
Aaron is conscious of trying to balance contemp. and traditional. Meg Roth is strong at that balance, and Aaron will work to bring her into the process.
Does anyone have a friend who plays guitar/contemporary instruments to be in the services? This can be a long-term goal :)
People in Wesley go to different churches, but church-hopping needs to be broadcast better. Isaac will send out emails about church-hopping and announce at SNPs.
What hinders involvement? Time is a key issue, and changing SNP times isn't a good idea.
Different theological views isn't something that we can change.
What hinders college students' relationships with God? We found lots of assumptions made about "Christians." We considered doing a hot-topic on what the bible says about drinking, or other socially acceptable things.
With discussions, someone has to provide solid information.
We need to try to reach out to some of these people and get them to follow up on their ideas and comments.
Put SNPs and the super bowl party on StudentHappenings - Even more visibility.
GO TO A BASKETBALL GAME!!!
SNP PLANNING:
Rotate between worship, social, hot topic. Worship not the first Sunday of the week.
Service Projects lists need to be emailed to Isaac.
Possible Socials :
-Freshman Bonding Night
-Freshman Hosting night
-SPEEs!
-Weekend events
-Girls night in/out
-guys night out
-Formal dinner
-Informal dinner?
-Ice Cream Football
-Basketball games
-IM sports
-Campus Golf.
-picnic at the beach.
-Dollar Bowling
More Ideas:
Nothing But Nets car wash
Slip and slide/water fight.
Movie Night
Take a Field Trip/Hike with Wesley
Speaking of Living at Wesley...
“A Lenten Journey”
Teach David a Thing or Two
Film "For the Bible Tells Me So"
Nets "Buzz Kill" Tees
Pray for…
The Spiritual ABC’s
This Week at Wesley (January 27-Feb. 3)
Sunday, 5:00 p.m. - Meet at Wesley for a "Field Trip on DOG Street", Wesley provides $1 each for coffee or ice cream; dinner follows at Wesley REMEMBER OUR NEW SCHEDULE!
Following Dinner - House Residents invite you to tour!
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR SPRING RETREAT (Feb. 1-2, $10)
Monday, 5:30 p.m. – Freshman small group meets at Wesley
9:15 p.m. - Seniors Group meets at Wesley
Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. - Gulf Coast Mission Trip Meeting
9:15 p.m. - Viewing of "Sleeping Beauty" at Wesley House
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - David at Listening Post in the UC Lobby
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. - Holy Communion at Wesley 8:30 p.m. - Juniors Bible Study group, The Screwtape Letters (contact Melissa at memaci@wm.edu for details)
Friday, 6:00 p.m. - Meet at Wesley for dinner and car pooling for Spring Retreat!
Next Sunday, 6:00 p.m. - NOTE TIME CHANGE - Super Bowl Party at Wesley's Basement, with game on big screen; bring other games if you could care less about the Game
MOVIE NIGHT
Hey everyone, if you're looking for a study break, the House Residents will be watching "Sleeping Beauty" this Tuesday night (Jan. 29) at 9:15 pm at the House for our group discussion the following week, and we decided that watching Walt Disney's sixteenth full-length animated classic might interest more than just us six in Wesley. Come for the fellowship, come for the theological application, come for the awesome Medieval Gothic art style, come for the first Disney prince to ever get a name, come because it's Disney!
We hope to see a lot of you there!
Take a Field Trip/Hike with Wesley
Well, it will only be to DOG Street, but with such great company as fellow Wesleyites and their friends, you don't want to miss it. Meet at Wesley at 5:00 p.m. and we will spend a casual hour walking to DOG Street (holding hands as we cross streets is totally optional) and then hanging out at Aromas and/or Baskin Robbins. Wesley will give $1 to everyone there to help with purchases of treats.
The House Residents will be providing dinner at Wesley at 6-ish and then offering tours for all but especially for those thinking about living at Wesley next year!
Speaking of Living at Wesley...
Basic information and application materials are now available on the desk in the Wesley living room. In addition to the written app, there is an oral interview. Deadline for submitting applications is Sunday, Feb. 17! Questions? Talk to David, Alice, Katherine, Jenn, Evelyn, Shannon, Aaron, or Mike.
Wesley Spring Retreat Feb 1-2: WILDERNESS
Do you think of Lent as a time where you give something up just because that's what you're told to do? What are the whole 40 days before Easter really about?
If you want to prepare yourself for the season of Lent through fellowship, Bible Study, and worship...plan on attending this year's Spring Retreat. We'll leave around 6pm on Friday Feb 1st and return to campus on Saturday afternoon. Expect good food, great company, lots of chances to encounter Christ, and a ferry dance party! Wesley will also be providing a small group devoted to the Lenten journey in the weeks following the retreat.
Contact Laura Shoop via email (leshoop) with questions (cost: $10--covers a night's lodging and 3 meals)
“A Lenten Journey: Travels in the Spiritual Life Based on the Gospel of Mark”
Tuesdays, 7:00 a.m. beginning February 5 (location TBD)
$5 for copy of resource book
Daily meditations, journal questions, and spiritual exercises for each day of Lent make this a wonderful way to encounter Jesus through the Gospel of Mark and set aside time daily during Lent to focus on your own faith journey. Instead of mindlessly giving up chocolate for Lent, here is a great way to really pay attention to your life and how God can do new things in you. Sign up at Wesley or contact David at dmhind@wm.edu
Teach David a Thing or Two
As always, David is happy to spend time with you doing Walk, Talk, Eat, Drink; sign up at Wesley or contact him via email.
Here are two other ways to teach him a thing or two this semester:
1. If you are taking a religion class, sign up for the Religion Courses discussion group, which meets 3 times during the semester. At the end, you get $50! Such a deal 2. Take David to class and then he'll be happy to get a cuppa joe with you and talk about it - sorry, he won't go with you with you have tests in religion classes :-)
Sign up for either of these opportunities at Wesley or email David at dmhind@wm.edu
Film "For the Bible Tells Me So" This Sunday, January 27
2 p.m., Historic Byrd Theatre, Richmond
$2 admission
Parents of 5 families speak up for their gay children, including former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and his wife, and the parents of gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson.
Meg Roth is going; contact her at meroth@wm.edu to catch a ride!
Order Your Nothing But Nets "Buzz Kill" Tees $20 ($10 for tee, $10 to buy a mosquito net and save a life - good deal!)
It's not too soon to be looking forward to the last day of classes when W&M Nothing But Nets celebrates Blowout Malaria by gathering students wearing Buzz Kill tees for a gi-normous group photo! Order your tee now, wear it with pride, and help us spread the word! Order yours at Wesley or give David your tee size via email (S, M, L, XL, XXL) at dmhind@wm.edu
As You Pray, Remember...
President Nichol
Sam Sadler as he recovers from surgery
Ginger Ambler as she keeps things going in Sam's absence Laura Whittle and Molly Godwin-Jones as they begin their new semester Rev. Al Thorne, Molly's dad and three Randolph-Macon students as they leave for Russia on Sunday All those who are dealing with family or roommate issues Our Spring Retreat
Practice Your Spiritual ABCs
(adapted from Mary Ann and Frederic Brusat's Spiritual Literary: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life, 1998)
M - Constantly try to discover the meaning and significance of your experiences. Seek further understandings from sacred texts and spiritual teachers.
Welcome Back Wesley SNP
Small Groups Spotlight
Wesley Spring Retreat
Share Your Life With David
Living at Wesley Next Year
A Different School Experience
MFSA Annual Retreat
Opposed to the Death Penalty?
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Program
Buzz Kill Tees
Pray for…
The Spiritual ABC’s
This Week at Wesley (January 20-27)
Sunday, 5:00 p.m. - Service of Evening Prayer, Worship, and Dinner ($2 donation) - NOTE NEW SCHEDULE!
Following dinner (6:45-ish), Small Groups and Holy Communion group meet to organize and select meeting days and times
Tuesday, 12 Noon - Faculty/Staff/Grad Student Bible Study on Mark; lunch provided
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - David at Listening Post in the UC Lobby
Thursday, 5:00 p.m. - Nothing But Nets meeting at Wesley
Friday, David's day off
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - YAC Spring Planning Retreat; all are welcome!
Next Sunday, 5:00 p.m. - Meet at Wesley for Social Event/Fun Adventure; dinner ($2 donation) follows
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR SPRING RETREAT (Feb. 1-2, $10)
Welcome Back, Wesley! We're Praising God and Changin' It Up
Service of Evening Prayer and Holy Communion
5:00 p.m.
Dinner follows (new weekly SNP Schedule)
There is no more appropriate way for us to come together as the Body of Christ than with worship this Sunday, including the Lord's Supper. We'll use a service perhaps unfamiliar, but ancient - a service of Evening Prayer. It is a very simple format for worship - singing, prayer, scripture, and ample silence. We'll add Holy Communion to the service, too (rumor has it we will have Hawaiian bread), and afterwards we will eat supper and have time to catch up on one another's lives. YAC has taken your input seriously and the vast majority of respondents to our opinionaire preferred having our program followed by the meal, so thanks for letting your voices be heard. Please join us, and bring a friend!
Small Groups - An Important Way to Grow in Your Faith
Christians grow best with others, so Wesley provides several ways for you to deepen your relationship with Christ and with sisters and brothers walking the Way of Christ. This Sunday you can meet briefly with others who want to be a part of a small group to select a meeting day and time. For details on the small group options, click on "find out more about Wesley" and check out the newly updated "activities" page
Wesley Spring Retreat Feb 1-2: WILDERNESS
Do you think of Lent as a time where you give something up just because that's what you're told to do? What are the whole 40 days before Easter really about?
If you want to prepare yourself for the season of Lent through fellowship, Bible Study, and worship...plan on attending this year's Spring Retreat. We'll leave around 6pm on Friday Feb 1st and return to campus on Saturday afternoon. Expect good food, great company, lots of chances to encounter Christ, and a ferry dance party! Wesley will also be providing a small group devoted to the Lenten journey in the weeks following the retreat.
Contact Laura Shoop with questions and sign up on the Wesley clipboard (cost: $10--covers a night's lodging and 3 meals)
Share Your Life with David in Ways Old and New
As usual you can sign up at Wesley (or email David) for "Walk, Talk, Eat, Drink" and meet with David for a meal, coffee, or a walk on DOG Street.
In addition, you can “Take David to Class” by simply signing up at Wesley (or emailing him) to invite him to attend a class with you and then get coffee to talk about the class, life, whatever. He promises to stay awake and pay attention.
Think About Living at Wesley Next Year
Talk to Alice, Katherine, Shannon, Aaron, Evelyn or Jenn, and they will tell you what an awesome experience it is to live at Wesley and to live in Christian community. Basic information and application materials are available on the desk in the Wesley living room. In addition to the written app, there is an oral interview. All is completed before the deadline for submitting deposits for living on campus. Next Sunday, the House Residents will be cooking dinner and showing off the house - including their rooms. Questions? Talk to them, David or Mike Oliver (our Administrative Assistant)
A Different School Experience
Peninsula District Mini-School of Mission
Topics: Israel/Palestine; Globalization: Its Impact on Our Lives; OR Music and Mission
Saturday, Feb. 9, 8:30 a.m. - 12 Noon
Chestnut Memorial UMC, Newport News
What a great opportunity to practice loving God with your mind - with no grades or tests, or tuition payments! Awesome! David is going so let him know if you want to attend and catch a ride!
You're Invited to the MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action) Annual Retreat
"Peace in Jerusalem? Our Part in Building Peace in Jerusalem, Israel and Palestine"
Feb. 22-23
Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond
Cost: $90 (Wesley will pay $70 of this)
The retreat will be led by Jim Vitarello and Miles Kimber of "Sharing Jerusalem," an organization dedicated to working with mainline churches in support of a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict which includes a shared Jerusalem. In addition to being informed about the history and current status of the conflict, participants will learn positive actions that local churches and individuals can take to foster peace.
Want to go? David has the registration form, so see him ASAP!
Opposed to the Death Penalty? Here's a Way to Act on Your Faith!
You are invited to an E-Mail Group, "Virginia United Methodists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty," that has been developed as a follow-up to a Vigil against the death penalty held during the Virginia Annual Conference in 2007. This E-Mail Group consists of United Methodists in the Virginia Conference who support their Church's opposition to the death penalty, wish to advocate for alternative forms of punishment, and seek to educate others about this issue.
Becoming a part of this group provides an easy way to learn more about the death penalty, communicate easily with others who have similar concerns, and receive updates and action alerts on death penalty issues.
This is a low-traffic site, limited to postings related to death penalty concerns.
Interested persons are invited to join this group by replying to < vum4adp@googlegroups.com >, with "include me" as your message.
Should anyone joining the Group later wish to withdraw, that can be easily done by sending the message "unsubscribe" to < vum4adp@googlegroups.com>.
Hear the Witness of a Civil Rights Era Legend
The Office of Multicultural Affairs will sponsor the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Program on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the University Center, Commonwealth Auditorium. Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, former chairperson of the NAACP and the widow of Medgar Evers, will speak on Tomorrow’s Leaders: Their Voices, Our Journey. Please come out and celebrate the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition, the movie The Ghosts of Mississippi that chronicles the work of Ms. Evers-Williams’ fight for the injustices surrounding her husband’s assassination will be shown on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 8:00 pm in Commonwealth Auditorium. The lecture and movie are free and open to the public.
Film "For the Bible Tells Me So" Coming to Richmond
Sunday, January 27
2 p.m., Historic Byrd Theatre
$2 admission
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, 2007 Sundance Film Festival
Parents of 5 families speak up for their gay children, including former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and his wife, and the parents of gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson. "Offering healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity, this film 'boldly takes a loaded topic and examines it intellectually and emotionally'" (Seattle Times)
Want to go? Contact David dmhind@wm.edu
Tee Shirts! Get Your Tee Shirts!
Nothing But Nets "Buzz Kill" Tees
$20 ($10 for tee, $10 to buy a mosquito net and save a life - good deal!)
The W&M Nothing But Nets Campaign is kicking back into gear and you want to get involved right away. The goal is to raise $75,000 by May (that's one $10 mosquito net for every W&M student). Lots of activities are planned, but the culminating one will be Blowout Malaria on the last day of classes, when we hope thousands of students will wear Buzz Kill tees for a gi-normous group photo either at Wren or at Zable. Order your tee now, wear it with pride, and help us spread the word! Order yours at Wesley or give David your tee size via email (S, M, L, XL, XXL) at dmhind@wm.edu
Perhaps I should back up...
My name is Isaac Hopkins, and I am the newly elected chair of communications and publicity for the W&M Wesley Foundation. I'm a freshman, but I've already plunged into the vast array of activities, services, and opportunities at Wesley.
I am currently leading the charge towards overhauling the website, which looks like it hasn't been updated for quite some time. Until our brand new site is ready to be uploaded, I'm focusing on keeping our current site as up-to-date as possible. An observant visitor might notice that the last blog update was five months ago; well, I intend to keep the announcements here more relevant.
Whenever I send out an issue of the Wesley Wire, our weekly email newsletter, I'll post some of the highlights here. But check this blog from time to time, because you never know what interesting things will pop up.
Isaac Hopkins
August 24: Lemonade and Cookie Stands
(outside freshman dorms)
9am-1pm
August 26: Back to School
Breakfast and Worship Service,
Wesley House
10:15am
August 29: New Student Cook-Out
Wesley House
5-6pm
September 2: Sunday Night Program: The Gospel According to Harry Potter Wesley House
5pm
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
[Begin transcript]
William & Mary Wesley Foundation Young Adult Council Meeting
The Seventeenth Hour of the Twenty-Fifth Day of April in the Year of Our Lord Two-Thousand Seven, and of our beloved denomination the two-hundred and seventy-eighth (give or take a few)
Meg brought food! David opened with prayer!
DEVOTIONS: Isaiah 43; thinking about new YAC and Wesley in general.
David - "WHEN we have trouble," not IF
Aaron - Feels like YAC is more participative now.
Laura - New to YAC..loves it =D
Melissa - Smaller YAC is definitely the first sign of a new direction (a good kind of new)
Meg - Trial and error; it's okay to mess up.
David - WE'RE ALL J'S
Jenn - Is becoming more of a P
David - Embrace the wilderness; it was there that the Hebrews were closest to God, because they depended on Him constantly.
Meg - Let's continue to "catch on fire."
Laura - Too excited to sit still
Aaron - Can't wait for new freshman to come
EVALUATIONS
Sno-to-Go: Alice, Meg, and Melissa went from YAC; it was fun, more people could have been MORE fun!
Kairos: Alice (went well, approximately 47 dozen cookies made at the House)
Movie Night: Some disappointment in the "short-notice change" and in movie choice. Other assorted issues with the leading-up to the movie night.
YAC noted that the decision was made almost five days in advance of SNP. There WAS a communications breakdown, but YAC did NOT make this decision at the last minute, nor without due consideration. The consensus was that a lecture/discussion of heavy social and theological issues was not what our community needed in the wake of the week's events. A night of mindless frivolity enjoyable on brain-autopilot was the objective, though the movie WAS borderline in appropriateness. While flexibility is a key priority, YAC will not be in the habit of changing scheduled SNP's, and certainly not without making sure due notice is given to the entire Wesley community.
NEW JANK
Small Groups: Talk to people at dinners about what they might like to see next year. Mayhap we could move towards accountability-type groups rather than strict Bible studies??? Jenn happens to like that idea.
Operation Taco: Needs to be rescheduled with LDOC to THU-3-MAY. Times need to be restructured to reflect 1h 20m classes. Decided to catch people coming out of 11 o'clock classes (at 12:20) and 12:30 classes (at 1:50pm).
Creation Bible Study: Aaron's all set. Wanted input on direction of study: Earth Day?? Evolution?? Decided to focus on human's role in God's creation. Where do we fit in?
Senior Banquet: All set, Lepadg is handling RSVP's.
Planning Retreat: May 16-18; stay relatively close. Might finish on evening of the 17th. MIGHT start earlier on Wednesday.
Melissa closed with prayer!
[Consummatem est]
Have a great week everyone! Dominus vobiscum! ↑↓← →
-Aaron
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