Join us Sunday night 6 pm at Memorial Chapel for some ice cream fun and to learn more about United Campus Ministry. Friends and Room mates always welcome!
9/5 UCM Ice Cream Social! 6 pm
Author: ulmerholly
Pray Virtually – Prayers for a New Semester Event Link
The academic year has started at Univ. of Maryland!
Keep us informed how we can be supportive of your re-entry to campus. Our hearts and prayers are with you.
United Campus Ministry also continues to pray in solidarity with those suffering from the effects of Hurricane Ida, the recent earthquake in Haiti, the crisis situation in Afghanistan, the loss of US Marines and Afghan civilians, and the ongoing ravages of COVID-19 at home and around the world. God is our refuge and strength.
Reminder: Tonight! 8/29 Interfaith Prayers for New Semester, 7 pm
A quick reminder about the interfaith prayer event tonight. We will be praying for the people going through Hurricane Ida also. See you soon – 7 pm at the Garden Chapel, or virtually on-line, both options to attend! Friends and room mates always welcome. Blessings!
Virtual link stamp.umd.edu/NewSemesterPrayers
Pray for the People of Louisiana
United Campus Ministry sends love and prayers for the people of Louisiana and all in the path of Hurricane Ida as it nears landfall.
Psalm 46 “Be still and know that I am God” v. 1 – 3
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills- from where will my help come?
My help comes for the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not smite you by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore.
Welcome/Welcome Back!
Welcome and Welcome Back!
The fall semester is HERE. While it is an exciting time to be on campus, it also continues to be a time of much uncertainty and anxiety! United Campus Ministry is here to support you with your freshmen year, or reentry to in-person life as a UMD student.
8/29, 7 pm, Sunday night is an awesome event, Interfaith Prayers for a New Semester, bringing together all the different University of Maryland Chaplaincies for unity and hope. See details below. In-person and virtual.
9/05, 6 – 7 pm, UCM is hosting a meet-up Ice Cream Social at the Chapel
During the first week of classes, drop by the UCM office for a snack and to reconnect with or meet Chaplain Holly. 2101 Memorial Chapel (2nd floor), 11 am – 1 pm, 2 – 5 pm, or by appointment.
Beginning September 5th, our regular meeting times are Sundays 6 – 7 pm and Wednesdays 12 – 2 pm.
Our prayers are with you as we all figure out this new academic year!
Peace and In Christ,
Samantha, L3 Intern
Rachel, Seminarian Chaplain Intern
Chaplain Holly
8/29 Interfaith Prayers for a New Semester!
The UMD Fall Semester is almost here! Join United Campus Ministry and other UMD Chaplaincies for an event of hope and unity. Options are in-person in the Garden Chapel (Memorial Chapel), and live streaming. Christ’s love and blessings to you!
YAV Young Adult Volunteer Applications through June 1st!
This is a really exciting opportunity for post UMD plans. Consider becoming a Young Adult Volunteer!
Applications due through June 1st.
Apply here https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/yav/
What: The PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, A Year of Service for a Lifetime of Change, and see below
Who: For young adults ages 19-30; People from all Christian backgrounds are welcome to apply.
Why: To build community, work with leaders creating change, to discern God’s call in your life
When: YAV year runs August 2021-August 2022
Deadline: June 1, 2021
YAV changes lives: watch video below.
The PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program is an ecumenical, faith-based year of service for young people (ages 19–30) in sites across the United States and around the world. YAVs accompany local agencies working to address root causes of poverty and toward reconciliation. Alongside this work, volunteers explore the meaning of their Christian faith and accountability to their neighbors in the community with peers and mentors.
Since 1994, the YAV program has been sending young adults to form partnerships and build communal bonds across the globe in 45 sites spanning 19 countries. The DC site has hosted 21 YAVs since its creation in 2014.
YAVs in DC serve in direct social services, advocacy, and faith-based settings to fulfill our mission: “Following the heart of God, we engage and resist structures that uphold inequity.”
Check out DC YAV Placement Flyer on link below
5/12 Encouragement and Inspiration for Finals!
Hello Everyone,
Finals are upon us. How are you feeling? Please know that we are thinking of you as you continue throughout this week. We each prepared a brief reflection to help calm some worries and inspire motivation.
Samantha:I know as exams are coming up, all of us are stressing and nervous about the incoming grades. I am keeping in mind, however, the light at the end of the tunnel which is the warm and wonderful summer! With that in mind, I wish you all a successful exam season and an amazing summer break after it! To help with studying, here is a study music playlist that has reminders in the captions of all the love and support you have from God:
Good luck!
Rachel: Remember that you are loved beyond measure and no grade can add or take away from that. Amid all the assignments, there can be a lot of stress, so I wanted to share a prayer that will hopefully remind you that you are not alone.
A Prayer for the Student
God sees you.
God sees you when the need to produce becomes too much to bear and your day becomes determined by to-do lists.
God sees you when the cursor on an empty page seems to mock you as you wrack your brain for what to say.
God sees you when the day turns to night, and you are racing against the clock to turn in an assignment.
God sees you when it is a beautiful spring day, but you are caught indoors studying.
God sees you when you meet exam time by cracking a book, writing a paper, or preparing a presentation – sometimes all three at once.
God sees you in your moments of motivation and in times of procrastination – sometimes Instagram is just too compelling or what is another episode of the Office?
God sees you when anxious thoughts sink in, and the end seems out of sight.
God not only sees you, but God sits with you, feeling the aches and pains of stress, hungering for a midnight snack, celebrating when you have met the page count or finished a hard math problem.
You are not alone. Summer will come. The tasks will fall away. Now is not the end, and by the grace of God, you will make it through. Amen.
Chaplain Holly: Keeping Perspective during Finals This is not always easy! Every day and during finals we pray, “O God help me to see as you see; to see the world through your eyes.” I often in my sermon messages talk about asking God to help us get a bird’s eye view of our lives.
Remember to take time, even a few minutes to do the things that will help you to remember “the big picture”:
1. Finals will be over soon! Summer is almost here!
2. Through Prayer, welcome God into your study, paper writing and exam time.
3. Take some deep relaxing breaths when you are stressed. BREATHE.
4. Take a quick walk outside, to connect with nature. Looking at the big beautiful sky can remind all of us of the vast world beyond UMD.
5. Reach out to a friend, or one of us to connect, or for prayer support.
6. Find a study buddy, so you aren’t studying alone.
7. Take a moment to pray for others in need close by or around the world.
8. Listen to an uplifting song (I am sharing one of mine “You’ll Never Walk Alone” see below)
9. Read a few inspiring scripture passages that speak to your heart and can calm your mind. (See a few below).
10. And perhaps most important – As Rachel’s prayer reminds us, pause and remember you are NOT alone. God is with you. Jesus is with you. And we are also here for you. Our prayers and best wishes are with you as you finish this semester with final exams and papers. No small accomplishment, considering all that has happened this past year! Congratulate yourself that you are in the final leg of the semester journey. And by God’s grace and help ALL WILL BE WELL.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46
“The Lord is My Shepherd. . .he makes me to lie down in green pastures (like UMD McKeldin Mall!). . . he leads me beside the still waters (like our McKeldin fountain, or Chapel Garden fountain), he restores my soul. . .thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23
God is everywhere – and at UMD, and with you at home during finals!
Peace and God Bless, Chaplain Holly
Blessings, Samantha, L3 Intern
Rachel, Chaplain Intern
Chaplain Holly
5/9 Sunday 6 pm, Time for Prayer and Community
Meeting link http://go.umd.edu/UCML3Sundays
Hi Everyone,
We hope that you are doing well! The end of the semester is approaching, which can bring lots of work, so we pray that you are navigating it smoothly. Please reach out if we can help in any way! We want to be a resource of support for you during this busy season.
To ease any stress, we are going to have an open time for prayer and conversation this Sunday at 6pm. Feel free to join and let us know how you are doing. It will be our last Sunday gathering of the school year.
We hope to see you then!
Blessings,
Samantha, L3 intern
Rachel, Chaplain Intern
Chaplain Holly
Video of 5/6 UMD Memorial Celebration
Pray for those honoring their lost loved ones.
