| About Our Church... Who We Are: The campus ministry of the Indiana District, LC-MS, at Purdue Primary Focus: Serving students and others at Purdue and helping them grow in Christ Primary Belief: Forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, centered in God’s Word, the Bible We Offer:
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A History of Service: Our church is made up largely of students. We have and we welcome people from the community to worship with us and be members; but our primary focus is upon students and the campus. Most of our activities are geared for students, and most of our church officers are students. As a Lutheran church, we gather around God’s Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Our primary teaching is that God has a rescue plan for our sinful world, centered in the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ. All of us need the forgiveness and new life and hope that come by grace (undeserved love) of God through faith in Jesus Christ, as revealed to us in and through God’s Word, the Bible. Who is Welcome? We seek to help people to be:
We therefore offer regular Sunday worship, as well as special services during Advent and Lent and other times. We have many Bible studies, at the church and at campus locations. We have activities just for fun and fellowship with others and for service to the needy in our community. Our pastor is available to talk with people about spiritual concerns and other problems. We are unashamedly a Lutheran church with conservative Biblical teachings, but welcome anyone who would like to join us for our worship and activities. We try to provide a safe environment for asking whatever questions you have about the Christian faith and the Lutheran church. We want to be of help! Feel free to contact us for more information; or just visit us any time! More on Our History... The first pastor was E.P. Weber, who served from 1945-1959 and went on to become Dr. Weber and President for many years at Concordia College, Portland, OR. (He’s still living and was back to preach for us in 2001!) In the 1950s, the decision was made to “spin off” the resident members of University Lutheran and to start a “town” church in West Lafayette—Redeemer Lutheran. University Lutheran remained the “gown” church, focusing on students and the campus. A number of vicars served University Lutheran in the earlier years; and God blessed the efforts of Pastor Weber, Vicar G. H. Mendelman, and others, as a second church was started out of University Lutheran—Holy Cross in Crawfordsville, IN. Pastor R.F. Rehmer came in 1958 and served the church for more than thirty years, until his retirement in 1988. (He, too, is still living, but is in failing health at Mulberry Healthcare Center.) He guided the congregation through the stormy years of the 1960s and the Vietnam era and struggles in the LC-MS. Funds were raised for a Schliaker pipe organ, and it was dedicated in 1967. The organ reflected a continuing interest in church music in the congregation. Many students have had an opportunity to learn and grow as organists and directors and musicians and singers in the choir, through the years. The congregation was blessed to have as organist for a number of years, Dr. Robert Hawkins, who later went on to be a seminary professor of music and liturgy. The congregation has had only one assistant pastor, Lynn Podoll, who served from 1976-1985, together with Pastor Rehmer. Pastor Podoll was especially gifted in drama ministry and directed many plays and a touring group of students, during his time at University Lutheran. For about 20 years, the Indiana District also held part-ownership in the Christian Ministry Center and had offices there. Pastor Podoll worked from that location, primarily. (He is now serving as a pastor in Illinois, after many years in New Jersey.) In 1998, Pastor Rehmer retired; and our current pastor, Jim Barton, came in 1989. In recent years, there has been an emphasis on expanding Bible studies and small groups. The congregation has done much more with international ministry, as well, with a Korean ministry and a Chinese ministry and participation by a variety of other internationals. Pastor Eun-Kyoo Cho and Pastor Edmund Lim have come in from other communities to assist with these ministries; and in October 2002, Toby Schmidt was commissioned as a full-time Campus Missionary to the Chinese, working from our church. The congregation has been working, also, to refurbish its 50 year-old building—to keep its “classic” look, but also to make the facility more functional. Most recently, the basement and offices were remodeled, and in the summer of 2002, the entire building was re-roofed and a lightning rod system installed. Goals for the future include finding a way to air-condition the sanctuary and to make the building more handicapped-accessible. The Indiana District, LC-MS, has continued to be supportive and provides financial help, especially in subsidizing worker salaries. Local members provide continuity for the ministry and are very generous in their support, as well. Most important to the ministry, though, has been God’s working in the lives of students, who have provided amazing leadership while on campus, through the years, and continue to be helpful with their gifts and prayers, as alumni. They are the heart and joy of what happens at University Lutheran, in Christ’s name. Our Lutheran Way of Worship : Each week, we will focus on a part of our service. Here is a summary of what we have heard, so far. • The Invocation begins the service and makes it clear that we worship the one true God, the Triune God. We were baptized in the same Name and with the same words. We live our life, now, knowing that we are dependent upon what Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have done for us, and we repeat the Name of God over and over, in the Introit and prayers and other parts of our worship. There is no other God or way to life. • The Confession of Sins reminds us that we cannot “barge into” the presence of God, on our own. We are sinners who deserve only condemnation from a holy, perfect God. We can come only in repentance for our sins and asking for God's mercy, as we do, week after week. • The Absolution tells us that God still loves us, in spite of what we are, and has sent His Son to make things right between us and God, by His sacrifice for us. We really are forgiven of every sin and are acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ. What wonderful, comforting news! • The Introit means “entrance.” The lay minister enters right into the altar area, symbolizing that through the forgiveness earned by Jesus for us, all barriers are removed, and we can all approach God confidently, in faith. The words of the Introit, usually from a Psalm, are then spoken or sung, expressing some key ideas of the day's worship. In the Lord's presence, we can then pray with confidence, as well. • The Kyrie asks the Lord for His mercy and peace for us and fellow worshippers. We also pray together the Collect of the Day —a simple prayer that “collects” more of the main idea of the day's worship. In all this, we pray to and praise the Triune God, once again. • The Scripture Readings are central to what happens in worship. God speaks to us, as we hear from the Old Testament, an Epistle (Letter) and Gospel (biography of the “Good News of Jesus”). Much of the rest of the service comes directly from Scripture, too. “All Scripture is God-breathed” and points us to God's saving work in Jesus, for us. The Scriptures are not picked out by the pastor, but are from a three-year series of readings, covering what we should hear from all parts of Scripture. • The Sermon is then usually based upon one of these Scripture readings—helping us to understand what God would teach us through His Word. We hear the Law , which shows us our sins, and the Gospel , which shows us our Savior. This is part of the life-long learning process we are in, growing in Christ and His Word. • The Prayers are then a response to God's Word. Because God has been so good to us, we want to talk with Him in praise and thanks and to bring Him our needs. We do not pray selfishly, though. We take time to pray for others, too. • The Offerings are also a response to God's love in Christ. He became poor so that we might become rich. He served us; and so we serve Him and others by giving back some of the time and ability and money with which He has blessed us. We do so freely and with gratitude that He first loved us so richly. • Songs of Praise are used in worship. As the Scriptures remind us, “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 48:1). We try to use songs that are based on Scripture (“This is the Feast,” for example) and that tell why we praise the Lord and what He has done for us, in Christ. We want to praise the Lord from the heart; and even songs of praise can teach us who God is and why He is great. |
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| Questions or comments about the website? Email Pastor Barton at ululaf@insightbb.com |
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