For this week’s edition of “Finding God on Gannon’s Campus,” I’d like to talk about the cool events that Gannon’s Campus Ministry and Center for Social Concerns have put on recently.
There are three different coordinated events that I specifically want to mention and each has variety in content, ambiance and message, while the focus is still the same: growing closer to God by developing a personal relationship with him and understanding him in a special and unique way. Let’s get started, shall we?
The first happened a couple weeks ago, when other students and I gathered in Waldron 219 for the first occurrence of “The Well,” something new that replaced “Gathering and Praise,” from previous years.
“The Well” is under the direction of Delray Davis, the resident campus minister at Wehrle Hall, and Chris Beran, the resident coordinator of the Bishop Trautman House. This is Chris’ first year at Gannon as a member of Campus Ministry, and he is thrilled for The Well.
He describes it as “off the chain,” which means that it is, and will continue to be, really awesome. Created to give the informal feel of a coffeehouse, “The Well” was a relaxing time where I was able to enjoy powerfully inspiring music played by Brandon Feikles, Bianca Morris and Davis.
Then, I got to listen to Chris speak about what it means to have faith. All in all, it was much needed and I am definitely planning on attending the next installment of “The Well.”
The second event was none other than GIVE Day, which is the biggest work of service that Gannon students, faculty and staff participate in. I thought the whole experience was a hit.
There were a lot of people in the Hammermill Center and they all had a hand in ‘GIVE’-ing back to the Erie community through so many various ways. I joined the rest of the Trautman House members in going to a L’Arche community house and doing yard work.
We pulled a ton of weeds. It was really gratifying to see the people living at the house be joyful that others were willing to give their time and energy simply to make their outdoor space more beautiful.
Lastly, I went to Theology on Tap Tuesday night at the Erie Ale House, and enjoyed food, drink and fellowship with my friends as I heard The Rev. Jason Glover speak on being “Young, Wild and Free.”
I thought his talk was full of fascinating points about what it really means to have freedom. He asked, “Who is really free – you or me?” He answered this question at the end by saying that we all have the same capacity for freedom in our choices and you are as young as you choose to be.
With all of these great things going on with Campus Ministry and the CSC, I am so pumped to see what they have in store for the future. I am looking forward to the next time “The Well” is scheduled, as well as Theology on Tap.
And even though I have to wait a whole year for the next GIVE Day, there’s Day of Caring in the spring semester. I hope you all have a blessed week. By the way, a little sneak preview of next week’s column: My experience of seeing Pope Francis in Philadelphia.
NATHAN DEMAREST
