Spring 2021
Beginning Again!
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
God's mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:22-23 ~
The Semester Ahead
A Georgian having plenty of fun in the courtyard of Davenport College on a very snowy first day!
Rejoice, Sophomores have returned to campus! As a Sophomore myself, I am filled with excitement about the coming semester. Things at Yale are still different, but for many of us, hope is on the horizon. This coming semester, first-year students will be remaining at home and participating in Yale's community remotely while Sophomores return to residence.
While there is much to be said about how Yale has changed, I can assure you that the same energy of eagerness remotely permeates through the community just like the beginning of any semester. Classes are off to a good (snow-filled) start today, February 1st, with an altered spring schedule that forgoes Spring Break in favor of break days spread out across the semester. In this semester, like last, students will experience their faith journeys in new ways, and I am nothing but hopeful for all that LuMin has to offer in that journey.
~ Patrick Chappel, YC'23
Thank You!
We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Thank you, thank you to the entire LuMin community for your generosity of time, spirit, and resources. Your gifts have been put to work enlightening the paths of students, community members, and those in need across New Haven. From Story Hour to Student Care Packages and so much more, your contributions helped our ministry to continue its necessary work of hospitality, service, justice, integrity, and curiosity.
Join Us For Wednesday Evening Prayer
On February 3, we will start holding weekly Taizé Prayer on Wednesday evenings at 9pm EST on Zoom, and we would love for YOU to join us! This will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with students and community members alike, and we'd love to see you there! Click the link below to join. Email Pastor Kari if you have any questions.
A new semester for serving up reading magic!
Last semester we began a new program called Story Hour, where we welcome children with challenging housing situations to come and have some fun! On Zoom we read with them excellent picture books and then engage them in interactive games and artistic endeavors.
The first book we are presenting is this awesome biography about how young Jane Goodall, toting her stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee, dreamed of a life helping animals and grew up to help change the world.
Our fervent hope is that by next fall we will be able to meet in-person with our young friends, but for now we are grateful for Zoom!
A Word from Pastor Kari
Items in the care packages sent to Lutheran first-years participating remotely this semester
Dear friends,
A new semester has begun, with the blustery winds of the first major storm of the season. As much as students long to be back to in-person classes, it could be that on this day they were glad not to have battled the snowy wind to get to classes on time!
Sadly though, not all students were able to come back to campus on the move-back-in days last weekend. To make room for safe social distancing and Covid-care, first-year students will all be attending college from their homes this semester, a hard change after being on campus in the fall. Last week I had some fun putting together care packages for six Lutheran first-year students, to help them feel loved and connected at this strange time of separation. It may seem a small thing, but it helps ME feel connected, too!
If you are one who could use another way of staying connected, consider coming to our Taizé Prayer one of these Weds. nights at 9pm (Eastern), no matter where you are living or what is your age (see the Zoom link in the article above).
AND if you know some students who are in college or technical school or graduate studies and may benefit from being a part of LuMin's gatherings, please pass my name and email on to them. With all of our faith community programs being online this semester, we have no geographical limits! Just like the limitless love of our God!
Grateful for you and all you do to help God's people stay connected,
Pastor Kari
Kari Henkelmann Keyl
University Lutheran Ministry of New Haven (LuMin at Yale)
