Have you had a difficult time finding your way around last week? It was the first week of school and for those of you who’re new to campus, it can be a challenge to find out where you need to be. Maybe the building or room is hard to locate, maybe getting from one building to another in the time you have isn’t easy, perhaps all this freedom to manage yourself, meet friends, and get settled into a new life can be a little overwhelming.

Even for those of us coming back to a familiar campus for a new year, it can still be somewhat challenging to find your way around. Old friends may have graduated or moved to a different school, perhaps we’re now living in a new room or apartment, and then there’s the adjustment to a new schedule and new classes. It’s then we find that what worked before may not necessarily work this time, and we find we need to adapt to the change or get lost. And no one likes feeling lost.

We look to Jesus because we have a hard time finding our way around by ourselves, and we need some help. Change isn’t always easy, there are those who don’t have a natural sense of navigation, and letting go of some old habits and learning something new about ourselves can stretch our limits. Jesus reminds us of what new life looks like, not always easy, not without stretching our understanding of who we are, but it is an invitation for us to find a place, our seat, and we do that best with the help of others. Community is the key to finding our way around; community is all about finding ourselves a part of a group of friends who look to us for support and who we rely on for support also. It takes being open, being willing to ask for help, being able to share what you’ve found along the way or what you think you’re searching for. It doesn’t have to be perfect because none of us do it perfectly, but the good news is that community isn’t about success, it’s about our willingness to engage, share, and learn.

May you find this week to be a time finding your way around the new experiences and new opportunities you’re offered; and may you, with the help of others, find yourself to be a guide as well as a learner.

–Thomas

On Campus:

Tuesdays at BSC
We will be on Campus hanging our in front of the Caf beginning about 9 am. Join us for a Holy Eucharist in Yielding Chapel at 11:45 am, and then for lunch in the Caf after.
Wednesdays at Samford
We’ll be in the University Center near O’Henry’s around 9 am. Join us for Holy Eucharist at 12 noon in Reid Chapel, and then lunch in the Caf after.
Thursdays at UAB
We’ll be in the Hill Center from 10 am to 3 pm. Come by and have a coffee, or lunch, or for a chat or a prayer, or just to say hello.

At Trinity Commons:

Tuesday, 6 pm, is Pasta Night!
Join us for an evening of cooking, eating, and hanging out. We will provide the recipe and ingredients. Just bring yourself (and a friend). This week’s pasta is Bucatini with Amatriciana Sauce (and a vegetarian option will be available).

Sunday, 6 pm, Holy Eucharist & Supper
Join us for worship at 6 pm in the chapel, and stay for supper.

Meet our Fall 2019 Student Leaders!