Presence and Identity - Harriet

Having grown up in Memphis, Tennessee during the “time of Elvis,” Harriet Shaffer, eventually found herself at the University of Kansas and involved in campus ministry through Immanuel Lutheran and University Lutheran churches. Today, Harriet is thankful for Westwood House as it provides a presence – and identity – for Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU. And while her involvement with Westwood House currently is more about financial support than in-person ministry, she values many things about campus ministry.

And while Westwood House is the physical home for LCM-KU and Wesley KU, Harriet emphasizes the importance of the ministry there being open to all - no matter your denomination or even having no church relationship. She believes campus ministry gives you family and connections during your time at university. Campus ministry gives opportunities to serve the community in different ways and to attend worship, if you choose.

Harriet knows her time with campus ministry helped give her a whole religious life.  She learned her faith and ministry were not contained in the four walls of a church building but were meant for the whole community of faith and others.

Harriet continues that campus ministry provides a place where you learn a greater view of the world of “church” and world religions. It is a place to discover positive ways to reach out to the world. And Harriet is also impressed that during her time with ULC and campus ministry there, at least three students felt called to ordained ministry careers.

We give thanks Westwood House remains a place of presence in the campus community as well as place to gather and be nourished with food, conversation, and activity. And always, it’s a place to explore faith. These offerings are presented because of your generosity. We give thanks for you for being an important part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

New Purpose - Ryan

Ryan was a somewhat typical high school graduate who loved riding his longboard and playing guitar. As a fast-food employee who was assigned to work a catered event at Westwood House; he wasn’t sure what he was getting into. This event was the now traditional welcoming event at the beginning of the fall semester at Westwood House - the Ice Cream Social, and Ryan was serving Freddy’s Frozen Custard.

And that evening Ryan met LCM-KU Campus Pastor Dan Baldwin (PD). The two seemed to click. As the evening wore on and their conversation continued, PD felt he had found a good candidate for LCM-KU's part-time administration needs, and Ryan was curious about what this campus ministry was all about. While he was serving frozen custard and chatting with everyone, he was impressed to find students open and engaging in conversation; this place was refreshing and welcoming, and it had a food pantry to serve the needs of food insecure students. At the end of the evening, Ryan took a job application home with him and later applied for the job of Minister of Administration - and he got the job!

Ryan embraced the job of welcoming folks as they entered Westwood House. He enjoyed meeting all the unique personalities of students involved in the ministry and was surprised how passionate they were. He admits he learned a lot - not just gaining administrative skills and increasing confidence in his written communication skills, but he also gained knowledge of how a not-for-profit groups works - its challenges and surprising successes. At a time in his life when he was looking for focus and a more significant direction, Ryan found that having something more purposeful and mindful was just what he needed, and he found it in Westwood House.

Westwood House offers connections through evening meals, time for worship, and fellowship activities, as well as spontaneous gatherings and events. It is an amazing place to explore faith and self. These opportunities are a direct result of your gracious generosity. We give thanks, always, for your vital part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Faith and Art - Heather

You might call her a bit of an overachiever, but over time, Heather earned four different college degrees. And as non-traditional student embarking on her fourth degree in textiles at the University of Kansas, this beagle lover found herself distanced from church and her faith. Lara West, LCM-KU Minister of Music, at the time, knew Heather and invited her to join campus ministry worship at Canterbury House, where LCM-KU was residing at the time – in cooperation with the Episcopal campus ministry on campus.

Heather found herself in a group of students who were mostly graduate students and seniors – folks a little closer in age to herself. She found a home in the people at Canterbury House. She found her faith again. She enjoyed Wednesday night spaghetti dinners (she emphasizes they were usually with “no meat” sauce) and the interesting debates and discussions the community of students engaged in. Heather remembers the intimate discussions about faith and contemporary topics which she engaged in enthusiastically.

As Heather grew more aware of where she was in her faith journey, she became more conscious of what she needed and what she wanted to be in her Christian faith. This included her interactions with campus pastor, Shawn Norris. Their conversations informed her own growing faith which revealed itself in her final textile project. Heather created a set of liturgical stoles for a new pastor (a former LCM-KU student) that included special designs of seasonal liturgical symbols and hand-embroidered scriptures on the ‘insides’ of the stoles. These liturgical expressions of faith gave Heather a way to share not only her artistry but also her deepest beliefs.

Just as Heather recalls her journey of faith at LCM-KU, we remember your faithfulness and generosity to and with Westwood House. Thank you for your ongoing connection to and support of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Where Gifts Meet Needs - Madeleine

For Madeleine Hatler, Lutheran Campus Ministry-KU was important during her KU years from the first week of classes as a first-year student. And she remained active and involved throughout her time at KU. She remembers a meaningful conversation with Campus Pastor Shawn Norris discussing what major she should consider, what should she do or be? Shawn told her finding her calling is where her gifts intersect with the needs of the world.

During her time at Westwood House, Madeleine found herself being the Christian she wanted to be by actively living her faith. Through learning to raise funds and running a meeting, growing a community, she changed the trajectory of her life. She even considered becoming a Lutheran pastor but, ultimately found her calling as a community organizer.

A pivotal moment came during the year she was serving as President of LCM-KU. She was approached by the KU Endowment Association to have LCM-KU join other student groups in a contest to raise funds for their own specific projects. Each group asked students across campus for contributions to fund their projects (KUE hoping this translated to giving as alumni of KU in the future). Madeleine seized this as an opportunity to launch the Westwood House food pantry to meet food insecurity needs of college students. Madeleine wrote up a student campaign project to raise monies to “Feed 5000” – specifically funding 5000 meals in a year. The LCM-KU campaign came in second place in the competition, raising approximately $7K.

Campus Ministry in Westwood House continues to address food insecurity with two weeknight dinners every week and managing a food pantry for students. These opportunities are offered because of your gracious generosity. We give thanks for your being an important part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Cult and Coffee House - James

During his time with Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU, James would jokingly refer to Westwood House as “a cult and a coffee house” because he, his now wife, Madeleine, and many others often spent 3 to 4 or more evenings a week there. And this was also when students drank lots of coffee there; there was even a nice “used” expresso/cappuccino machine and students took turns as baristas.

James found himself drifting away from his Catholic faith during his undergraduate years. After getting involved at LCM, James saw his faith grow through Bible studies, worship and other ministry activities. He enjoyed the fellowship, meals and activities that  were always going on. Today James especially appreciates the opportunities he had to use and build skills he uses today: he organized and led one of the annual Allen Fieldhouse “cleanings” (fundraiser) and helped develop and run a “Dial-a-thon” phone calling event that raised money for the first Westwood House food pantry.

James values these opportunities that have opened doors in his professional life since his time at Westwood House. And he appreciates his re-kindled faith, especially as he and Madeliene raise their two young children.

Now with the spring semester underway, Westwood House has resumed many opportunities for students: Wednesday night’s dinner precedes a worship service; and Thursday night dinner is a time to gather in community and be nourished with food, conversation, and a fun activity. And always, it’s a place to explore faith. These occasions are offered because of your generosity. We give thanks for you for being an important part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Impact Moments - Jamie

Jamie is a next-door neighbor – he literally lives next door to Westwood House. He has seen and served Westwood House in what he calls “three eras of campus ministry” – time as a part-time administrator with Shawn Norris, LCM-KU Campus Pastor; time with Susan Mercer UMC, WesleyKU Campus Pastor during the interim time following LCM-KU Campus Pastor Dan Baldwin’s departure; and current ‘era,” with Campus Pastor Alex Bruening, UMC, our current pastor for both WesleyKU and LCM-KU. Jamie serves as our Associate Director of Hospitality and Community Outreach.

Grateful for “impact moments,” Jamie feels privileged to witness what can happen on a busy night at Westwood House, where 40 or more people from all over the world and several faith perspectives gather around tables, sharing a meal and talking together. Moments when students can express who they are; have honest conversations about the good, and the bad; family and friends; feeling trust to be vulnerable; and experience faith in worship.

Such moments endure at Westwood House, as our Campus Ministry continues to offer social connections through evening meals and time for worship. It is a place to explore faith and self. These opportunities are a direct result of your gracious generosity. We are thankful for your essential part in our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Saying Yes - Kevin

So many of us have stories in our lives that start with a single event, or a small first decision, when you say to yourself “yes, I will go”. Those initial decisions to say yes and to be present can bring into our lives long-lasting gifts, commitment to service, to leadership, and to community. That was true for Kevin Boatright.

Kevin first became involved in Lutheran Campus Ministry as a graduate student in Journalism at the University of Iowa. He had attended a Methodist college for his undergraduate education and was interested in learning more about campus ministry. He saw a note in the campus newspaper that there was a welcome party for Lutheran Campus Ministry, and he decided “yes, I will go.”

That first visit opened doors to a multitude of opportunities and engagement as Kevin deepened his connection to campus ministry. While working on the staff at the University of Wisconsin Platteville, he became involved in local Lutheran Campus Ministry there, before contributing his leadership skills to a multi-synod organization that had responsibility for all campus ministries in Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

Kevin eventually came to work at the University of Kansas and his first connection to life in Lawrence was through the joint Lutheran Campus Ministry and Episcopal Campus Ministry at Canterbury House. There he met pastor Shawn Norris, developed a relationship with Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU, and eventually joined the board, helping steward the capital campaign that made Westwood House possible.

Kevin’s openness to service and leadership has brought many gifts to Lutheran Campus Ministries in the places he has lived. It has also brought him many rewards in return. At that first meeting of Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Iowa, Kevin met his future wife, Deb Boatright, then chair of the campus ministry and a student in Speech Language Pathology.

As we reflect on Advent, a season of preparation for the gifts Jesus has given us, let us also reflect on how we pass those gifts along. Kevin’s example inspires us at LCM-KU at Westwood House to continue in his work, to say yes to service and community through campus ministry. Thanks be to God!

Lifelong Ministry - Annielaurie

Annielaurie arrived in Lawrence in 1970 to attend the University of Kansas. Her path to Lutheran Campus Ministry came through music when Pastor Don Conrad recruited her to play string bass at the weekly worship services.

The active members of the campus ministry kept Annielaurie coming back to LCM-KU. “I was addicted!”, she said. From 1972 to 1991, she consistently participated in worship and community at LCM-KU, until she joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence as her church home.

Annielaurie describes herself as a “cradle Lutheran” who was active in Sunday School, Luther League, church choir, attending Camp Wa-Shun-Ga and Camp Tomah Shinga, first as a camper, then as a counselor, and finally as the camp cook.  She felt that her involvement at LCM-KU was an extension of that upbringing. As she settled into membership at Trinity Lutheran Church, her involvement expanded and included connecting campus ministry with a local community congregation.

Since becoming involved with Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU, Annielaurie saw LCM-KU move campus ministry from University Lutheran Church to the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building, to the Episcopal Canterbury House to Trinity Lutheran Church’s Bethany House, and finally to Westwood House where LCM-KU is located today.

As we enter the final few weeks of this fall semester, LCM-KU at Westwood House gives thanks for the opportunity to continue to serve students, to engage a broader community of friends and supporters like Annielaurie, and to open our doors to all who look to deepen their faith. Thanks be to God!

Forging Bonds - Julie

Julie may be a bit of an anomaly in our campus ministry stories, since she made the first move to establish a relationship with LCM-KU. Arriving as a first-year student, Julie looked for a Lutheran community and she contacted the ministry, then located at Bethany House.  And because she did not have a car, campus pastor Shawn Norris arranged for rides for her to worship and ministry activities. Her efforts to engage were rewarded – she found community and friendship. She remembers weekly spaghetti dinners and playing Guitar Hero in the back room at Bethany House. Julie enjoyed just meeting friends there and hanging out. One special memory is attending the wedding of two LCM-KU students – Angela and Jake when they were married in Bethany House by Pastor Shawn. Another special memory for Julie is participating in the design process for Westwood House.

Julie especially appreciates LCM-KU for the opportunities she had to grow her skills. She is proud of the work she did as Spring Break Coordinator for three years. Julie organized the itinerary, housing and mission work for the annual trips students took to New York City. Julie says she “learned to talk fast!” as she communicated with the various people she needed to coordinate with for trip details. And, on one of the NYC service trips, she met her husband, Randy!

While Julie looked for and created new friendships through LCM-KU, she gained so much more in community, worship and new administrative skills.

With the fall semester underway, Westwood House has resumed ministry activities – open to all and a place to explore faith. These opportunities are offered because of your gracious generosity. We are so thankful you are an important part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Hearing the Call - Genelle

Genelle arrived at the University of Kansas in 1995, to begin graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology. Her younger brother, who came along with her to register for classes, pointed out the LCM-KU booth in the student union. Pastor Brian Johnson noticed them and came over to extend a warm invitation to Sunday evening worship. At the time, Genelle was more focused on finding housing and a job.

Once settled, Genelle rediscovered the LCM-KU materials and was intrigued by the joint (at the time) Lutheran-Episcopal ministry, and especially grateful for evening worship. She decided to attend. That first visit reminded her how much she missed worship. It reconnected her to her faith community back home. Genelle quickly became part of the LCM-KU community during that first year of graduate school.

When Pastor Johnson announced his resignation, the LCM-KU board invited Genelle to serve as lay minister during the search for a new campus pastor. She paused her studies at KU and said “yes” to helping serve God’s church through campus ministry. Though daunted at times, Genelle helped lead worship, mission trips, and campus book studies. She also felt deeply supported and mentored by many, especially Bishop Charlie Maas, Pastor Susan Candea, Father Joe, and Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco, LCM-KU board chair.

Eventually, Genelle discerned a call to ordained ministry, earning a Master in Divinity degree at Luther Seminary. She served a Lutheran parish in Bemidji, MN, for 20 years before becoming Associate to the Bishop of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod.

Genelle’s time at the University of Kansas was brief but pivotal. LCM-KU offered her a safe and formative space—to land, grow, and live into a call to serve God and neighbor.

Only a few weeks into the new semester at the University of Kansas, ministry at Westwood House will is offering a new generation of students a formative space to begin their journeys. We give thanks for your important part of our ministry and the continued work on campus. Thanks be to God!

Sunday Suppers - Susan

Over the past 45+ years, Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco intermittently connected with LCM-KU (now Westwood House Campus Ministry) – serving on the Board, participating on the fundraising committee for the establishment of Westwood House, and consulting on the development of administrative protocols for managing day-to-day operations.

Susan remembers her introduction to LCM, soon after her family moved to Lawrence in 1979. She and her husband would run into Dan Conrad, then LCM Campus Pastor, and his wife, Jan, at theater events. Their conversations about the performances led to an invitation to Sunday Supper and Worship, then held in the basement of University Lutheran Church.  Susan’s one-year-old and three-year-old quickly made friendships with the students. And the Sunday evening services closed off one busy week for the family and braced them for the new one arriving in the morning. 

For Susan, who served as Associate Vice Provost, International Programs, and is now retired, Campus Ministry always nests on that soft border between the University and the larger surrounding community. It is at once a bridge and a safe-haven where hard questions can be asked and new insights developed. It is a place of joy, celebration and shelter for those who grieve. It is a place to deepen one’s faith on this journey of higher education in Lawrence, Kansas. Westwood House is a place of hope for the future.  

A new collegiate school year begins in two short weeks here at Kansas University and the ministry at Westwood House will resume, as well. Because of your faithful generosity, we look forward to the ‘homecoming’ of our returning students and welcoming the arrival of new admits. We give thanks for your being an important part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

So Much to Discover - Joanne Hickey

For Joanne Hickey it is hard to pick one story about how Lutheran Campus Ministry at Kanas University (LCM-KU) and Westwood House campus ministry have been important in her life, but her initial involvement seems a great place to start. Following the traumatic events of September 11, 2001, Joanne sought the counseling of her then Lutheran pastor. But her pastor was out of town, so she instead attended worship with LCM-KU, then led by Campus Pastor Brian Johnson. Worshipping with LCM-KU community in the midst of profound grief was great comfort. After that, she started attending a weekly joint Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry worship in KU’s Danforth Chapel, followed by the fellowship of lunch together afterwards.

This connection with LCM-KU continued as Joanne participated in activities through the years, such as helping with meals, joining in fundraising “walk-a-thons,” sharing appreciation of the ministry through her local congregation’s celebration of Campus Ministry Sundays, among others. Her attendance at a seminary recruitment session at Westwood House in 2016 led to her attending the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago seminary in the fall of ‘16.

When COVID-19 struck in 2020, Joanne had to defer her continuing professional education work towards her designation of Chaplain. Campus Pastor, Shawn Norris hired Joanne to help at Westwood House as the administrator for the ministry. During the “no in-person activities or worship” pandemic time, Joanne was inspired by how the Westwood House interns and other students rose to the challenge and kept ministry activities going – like the weekly online “cook together” event “Vegans, Veggies and Vibes;” and online worship via Zoom. Joanne was moved by how the students embraced their spiritual gifts to share their love of worship, crafts and love of food and cooking, ultimately sharing the Good News and a sense of connection with others through these events.

Westwood House continues to offer meaningful connections through meals, worship and other activities. It is a place to explore faith and self. These opportunities and ministry moments are a direct result of your gracious generosity. We thank you for your ongoing connection to and support of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Building Connections - Julia

Julia came to the University of Kansas as a freshman during COVID, a time when all her college courses were taught online, and gatherings of people rarely happened. It was a challenging and frustrating time. Julia discovered the joint ministries of Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU and Wesely KU (now called Westwood House Campus Ministry) online and followed worship and other ministry activities on Westwood House’s Zoom schedule, as she searched for community in Lawrence. Later, when organizations began meeting again and other communities opened back up, Julia was excited to be among “real people” after so much time “on Zoom.”

Coming to Westwood House in person, Julia found a welcoming community and an open and affirming ministry. Julia also experienced her faith and friendships growing in this supportive environment.

Since becoming a part of the Westwood House fellowship, Julia says, “I feel more myself.” She has made wonderful connections with the other students. She has “a family here.” Julia notes positive outcomes of her time at Westwood House include she has become more comfortable playing her guitar in front of others and leading worship. Julia continues to be involved in ministry since her graduation and encourages current students to continue the legacy of “welcome.”

Westwood House continues to offer social connections through an evening meal and time for worship on Wednesday evenings. It is a place to explore faith and self. These opportunities are a direct result of your gracious generosity. We give thanks, always, for your vital part of our ministry. Thanks be to God!

Nurturing Faith - Becky

Becky attended campus ministry at the University of Kansas (KU) at a time when it was a combined ministry between the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the ELCA predecessor bodies. As a graduate student in music education, she found a place in campus ministry to develop leadership skills, worship skills, and a faith that still serves her today in her congregation and her daily life.

Growing up, Becky went to church weekly and when she arrived at KU it felt natural to join campus ministry. She was looking for other people her age who were exploring their faith and she was looking for positive faith experiences to share with other students her age.

Campus ministry gave her this community and helped validate and grow her faith as well as her comfort-level in church-going. For Becky, campus ministry was a place for encountering God and faith and sharing positive experiences with other students that kept her coming back to campus ministry: experiences like worship services that used the Chicago Folk Service and Sunday night dinners for students who took turns preparing food for everyone else.

Today, campus ministry remains a combined ministry, but now the denominations that work in covenant are Wesley KU and LCM-KU, both active in Westwood House on the south side of KU’s campus. Becky continues to support campus ministry by serving on the LCM-KU Ministry Team and advocating for student ministry in the community. She believes that students today can gain the same sense of community and faith that she gained through worship, food, and fellowship.

As the current campus ministry students look to finish the spring semester, Westwood House continues to be a place on campus where students can grow their faith. There is a Wednesday night meal that precedes a worship service. There is also a Thursday night dinner that gives students time to gather in community and be nourished with food and conversation. This is a place for students who are exploring their faith today just like Becky was when she was a student. These experiences are made possible because of incredible generosity from campus ministry’s friends and supporters.

We give thanks to God for the opportunity to continue the work of Jesus through campus ministry.

Finding Community - Will

Will did not grow up in a church-going family but remembers the strong Catholic faith his California grandparents modeled when they would visit. Will attended Baker University, a United Methodist Church private liberal arts college, and came to appreciate the beautiful and historical chapel on the campus. He would sometimes attend weekly services there and was also influenced by a Communication Studies professor who was an ordained Methodist minister. Following his time at Baker, Will pursued master’s and doctorate degrees at the University of Kansas. While working on his PhD in Economics, Will found himself looking for ways to augment campus experience beyond the rigorous PhD training.

Will and a fellow econ grad student searched out student groups who served free meals on campus. Then Will encountered Ikigai Noodle Night at Westwood House, home of LCM-KU and Wesley KU campus ministries. In addition to a yummy meal, Will found companionship and connections at Westwood House. Over time, Westwood House became a place for Will and fellow econ students to hold events – always around food, like cheese and wine, or sandwiches, even desserts – and talk about worldly things, human conversations, and even faith. And always in attendance was LCM Campus Pastor, Shawn Norris.

Now on the faculty at KU, Will continues to find community, fellowship and a place to share his faith in a local Lutheran congregation and he shares his love of singing in the church choir. Will also serves on the LCM-KU Ministry Team as his way to give back to the place that gave him support and a place to escape an intense academic environment.

With the spring semester underway, Westwood House has resumed two weeknight dinners – open to all. Wednesday night’s meal precedes a worship service. And Thursday night dinner is a time to gather in community and be nourished with food and conversation. And always, a place to explore faith. These meals are offered as a result of gracious generosity from faithful friends and supporters like you. We give thanks for you being an important part of our ministry.

Thanks be to God!