IV Newsletter 2.3
December 18th, 2007
My last few emails have been fairly short, so I feel justified writing a long one this time. Our major events for Winter New Student Outreach will be highlighted, as well as spring break missions projects.
Outline
- Christmas Party!
- Winter NSO
- Campus Prayer Walk
- Sledding
- Hot Chocolate
- Debate
- Guitar Hero & Settlers Tournament
- Knitting for the Needy
- Student Retreat
- Jubilee!
- Prayer
- “Does What You Believe Matter?”
- Spring Break Service and Missions
- NYCUP
- Habitat
- Guyana
1. Celebrate Christmas with us!
Large Group this Friday will be replaced by a Christmas Party for anyone who is still around in the evening. Meet in NRH 1250 at 7:00pm for some cookies and games.
2. Winter is coming!
Here is the exciting list of events that outreach team has been working hard on. We’re excited that it looks like all of our major events are being co-sponsored by other clubs. We’re reaching out through these events not only to those who attend, but also to those who plan them with us!
- Campus Prayer Walk. This is the only one that OT isn’t responsible for. We’re looking forward to starting January by uniting the Christian organizations on campus through a prayer walk. Wednesday January 9 at 8pm. We’ll start in Webb Aud. (7A-1350) and stop by all the places where Agape, BASIC, BCM, CCC, and IV meet, and finally close at the sundial (weather permitting) to pray for the residence halls. This is a great way to prepare the campus for our upcoming outreach efforts.
- Sledding. Wed, 1/9 at Highland Gardens, right before the prayer walk from 4 to 7 pm. Ctrl+V from last newsletter: As far as sledding goes, there are three key ingredients: snow, incline, and sleds. God provides the snow, outreach team picks the hill, and you provide the sleds. Pick one up over Christmas break and bring it back to school with you.
- Hot Chocolate. The week leading up to the debate, we will be handing out free hot chocolate on the 1/4-mile. 11-1.
- Debate with the RIT Skeptics. The debate will replace week 5 Large Group (Friday, Jan. 18 at 7pm). There will be two panels of three students answering questions chosen by a narrator from lists submitted by the panels. There will be an opportunity for anyone to submit a question in written form at the beginning of the debate. The subject matter is the existence of God.Thank you to those who bought shirts over the last two weeks last week to go towards some literature that we would like to provide for those interested after the debate. One $10 T-shirt provides at least one book to one person interested in logical arguments for God and Christianity. The Skeptics Club thought it was cool that we will be having literature, and are looking into bringing some of their own. T-shirts will be on sale once more at the Christmas party this Friday.
- Guitar Hero / Settlers. EGS and IV partner to bring you this exciting event. If you don’t like either guitar hero or settlers of catan, you probably have a life outside of RIT. This is a great event to invite all of your friends to, even the slightly-less-geeky ones. Saturday Jan 19 (the day after the debate) 2-6pm in the SDC.
- Knitting for the Needy. Our fall version of this scarf-producing enterprise was a resounding success. Join us in in the Gracie’s Lobby on Tuesday, Jan 9. 7-9pm Learn how to knit and be a friend to a cold-necked Rochesterian in need of some warmth.
- Student Retreat. A bigger and better retreat focused on new students. Begins after Large Group Fri 1/25 – Sat 1/26.
3. Jubilee!
January Jubilee will be held immediately after Large Group on January 11, 8:45-9:30. This Jubilee will include the introduction of the NYCUP and Habitat trips, and a report from the fall Mississippi trip. We will also hold a candid discussion of a few of the weaknesses of our chapter, followed by discussions of how to address them.
4. Prayer
Beginning in January, the newly formed Prayer Coordination Team will be hosting Prayer for InterVarsity on Tuesdays 12-1 in the fireside lounge. I am convinced that prayer is one of the most powerful forms of service. we are also beginning to put together large group prayer teams. If you are interested in serving large group by praying before, during, or after, contact David Ortiz.
5. Large Group series.
For the remainder of winter quarter our Large Group meetings will be focused around the series “Does What You Believe Matter?” We want people to evaluate how their world view is or should be affecting the way they live. Topics include:
- Does what you believe about God matter?
- Does what you believe about humanity matter?
- Does what you believe about wealth matter?
- Does what you believe about the end matter?
- Does what you believe about sex matter?
6. Spring Break
- NYCUP: If you’re interested in the city (that is New York City!) and want to see how God is working there, then the New York City Urban Project (NYCUP) is a great place to be for spring break! NYCUP takes place over our one week spring break. While living in the South Bronx, you will learn about what the issues are in the city and how God and his people are working to change those issues. At the same time you will partner with a local non-profit in either Manhattan or the Bronx during the afternoons to lend a hand wherever needed. NYCUP is a great way learn about God’s plan for the city; not just NYC but Rochester too. If you are interested and want more information (like exact dates, cost, more details) please attend Jubilee week 4 or contact Rachel Unkle at rmu2070@rit.edu.
- Habitat: This year’s habitat trip looks to continue our relationship with the Niagra chapter of Habitat. We also hope to be able to work with the RIT Habitat Club. No one really knows why we haven’t done that before… Come to Jubilee! and get in touch with Erik Bellandi at egb1596@rit.edu for more details.
- Guyana: The Guyana team is not recruiting any more members, but they are looking for your support through prayer and the donation of small items. Look for more info to come.
The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?”
Merry Christmas!
- m a t t