Dear Partners in Ministry,

As I begin my work here at Lutheran Campus Ministry in Madison, I am excited to share an update on the ministry that your congregation makes possible through its generous support. I am also writing to remind you that as a part of my call, I am available to preach about ministry on campus in your congregation!

I am blessed to know many of you already through synod activities, but as I begin my call in this place, I look forward to getting to know you better. I come to the campus center from St. John’s in Oregon, where I served primarily in the areas of faith formation: education and youth and family ministry. Although my work will be very different in Madison, I continue to be inspired to journey with people who are exploring their faith and God’s purpose in their lives.

First of all, a word of thanksgiving for our partnership in ministry:

Without its covenant and partner congregations, Lutheran Campus Ministry would be unable to reach out to young adults and meet them on their faith journeys. Your congregation’s support is vital to this ministry. Thank you for your support!

I am looking forward to connecting with your congregation this year through guest preaching. I would love to visit each and every partner congregation this year. Looking ahead, do you have dates that you will need pulpit supply or that you’d like a guest preacher for your congregation? If so, please let me know! I am looking forward to worshipping with you.

Second, a short update on what’s been happening at the LCC:

Last semester, the campus center experimented with a new model for outreach to students in Madison by offering a free lunch at the campus center Mondays through Fridays during the semester. These excellent meals, prepared by Interim Campus Pastor Eric Jones, attracted between 70 and 120 students to the campus center daily. As we look forward to the fall semester, we are planning to continue these meals as a means for providing grace-filled hospitality and meaningful community to the UW-Madison community.

These meals will be enriched with guest speakers and opportunities for discussion one or two days of the week. We are planning to invite guests to speak on two topics: vocation and social justice. Speakers from the academic community will share how God uses their daily work. Speakers from our Madison community will speak on local and global justice issues that students can take part in through their daily life.

We are also making many other plans for fall. We look forward to a year of worship, study, service, and fellowship here on campus. As we do this, I thank God for each of you! My prayer is that you might know how God is working through your support of this ministry.

Looking forward to being with you in person! Please don’t forget to reply to this email with dates that would work for me to preach in your congregation.

Blessings,

Rev. Emily Tveite
Campus Pastor & Director
Lutheran Campus Ministry in Madison