As another academic year comes to a close, we celebrate our graduates! They become owners of our yellow travel mug and we encourage them to carry this place with them into the next chapter of their journey. We also treat them to a celebration dinner together to reflect on their experience at the ULC, talk about how to find a church in their next community, invite them to consider financailly supporting this place once they are receving a steady income, and remind them that they are always welcome to come back home for a visit. Congratulations to Zach, Kaylee, Mark, Sarah A, Piper, Lily, Al, Braeden, and Sarah H!
A Welcome With Proof
The University Lutheran Center has helped me grow both in my faith and as a person. I m currently a junior in college, during my freshman year, a friend invited me to the ULC’s Wednesday night campfires. I immediately liked the community, singing around the campfire was a way to shake off the stress of the week. Over time, I became more involved at the ULC. This past year, I had the opportunity to be a student leader At first, I was nervous that I wouldn’t live up to the previous student leaders who had such warm and welcoming presences But over the course of the year, I've learned how to be welcoming in my own way.
While I may not have embodied that same energy or presence, I rea ized that my strength is in quietly noticing and fil ing in the gaps. For me, that means finding the people who might need someone to sit with them, and stepping back when they seem comfortable on their own It’s not a perfect science, but nothing truly is Learning how to lead in a way that feels true to me, while still serving my community, has been deeply important to me. It’s something I’ve already carried into other areas of my life and plan to continue doing.
When I first joined the ULC, my faith was a litt e rocky, not because of anything I had done, but because of what I had experienced at previous churches. I saw my home church hurt a lot of people There was a lot of hypocrisy and judgment; they preached that we love all people, except certain people But everything I’ve read in the Bible says that’s not what God thinks, and it’s certainly not what I believe either. We are all God’s people, and we are called to love and accept everyone. Teaching the opposite is not only wrong, it’s deeply harmful.
So when I first came to the ULC and heard them say, “We love and accept all people,” a part of me thought, prove it I didn’t believe that a Christian could truly be a decent person if they believed they were better than others And I still believe that, if you ’ re not willing to bend down and wash your neighbor s feet, then you ’ re not practicing what you preach.
But the people at the ULC, and Pastor Cassandra, proved to me that religion itself was never the problem. It was the people. I’ve grown in my faith by watching those around me love and care for everyone, and by staying grounded in God s word And I ve loved not only growing in my own faith, but also watching others find acceptance and grow in theirs through this community. –- Grace C.
An important piece of the ministry at the ULC is our student leadership team. These students help cast a vision for our programming, organize events, welcome students. and create vibrant community. Pictured above is our 2024-2025 student leadership team and below is the 2025-2026 team
Thanks, Gracie, Sarah, Allyson, Lily, and Grace! Welcome, Grace, Bree, Nate, and Allyson! Your financial support helps us pay them a monthly stipend and make sure they are appreciated throughout the year!
