Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU

The eighth annual Lutheran Campus Ministry Trivia Night is February 3rd.  Hosted once again by the great people of First Lutheran Church in Mission Hills, Kansas, this is a wild and wonderful evening which also helps support LCM’s spring break mission trip to New York City.

Led by Bishop Jerry Mansholt, more than 50 students, alumni, members of Westwood Lutheran Church, Bishop Emeritus Charlie Maahs, and other friends of Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU gathered Saturday November 19th for the ceremonial ground breaking for Westwood House, the future home of LCM in Lawrence.   The Lutheran Campus Ministry community joined in singing,prayer, and breaking ground for the new ministry home.   106 years (and a day) after Carl Wilhelmsen, the first pastor of Westwood Lutheran Church preached his first sermon in Kansas City, his granddaughter, Norma Nielsen, turned over the first shovelful of earth for Westwood House.  Architect Mike Myers joined in the celebration to present an initial set of drawings for the new ministry center.  Construction is scheduled to begin early in 2012, with completion in time to start ministry in the fall.  Located just across 19th Street from Oliver Hall, Westwood House will provide an ideal location for student outreach with the KU community.   The front of the house will be used as a coffeehouse and gathering space, while a new chapel multipurpose space will be built at the rear.   The Lutheran Campus Ministry community is grateful to all who have contributed time, energy, and financial resources to making this new beginning possible.    You all are invited to the dedication of the new home on October 14th, 2012, as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Lutheran Student Association of America in Lawrence, and 50 years of staffed ministry at KU.

After more than six years of hard work, waiting, hoping, dreaming and praying, we’re breaking ground on Westwood House, the new home for Lutheran Campus Ministry at KU!  Come join the celebration on Saturday November 19th at 3 p.m., at Westwood House, 1421 W. 19th Street.  Parking is available next door at the Islamic Center.  A reception will follow afterwards.   For more information, please contact Becky Foerschler at lutherancampusministryku@gmail.com

A ceremonial groundbreaking has been scheduled for the new home for Lutheran Campus Ministry at 1421 W. 19th, on November 19th.    The new home has been officially named “Westwood House” in honor of Westwood Lutheran Church, a congregation which gave several substantial gifts to make this new home possible for Lutheran Campus Ministry.   The groundbreaking date of November 19th commemorates the first sermon preached at Westwood Lutheran (before it was even named Westwood!) by the first pastor, Carl Wilhelmson, on November 18th, 1905.    Mike Myers, our architect, hopes to have some sketches of the new facility available and on display for the groundbreaking.    The full text of the recent press release continues below:

October 20, 2011
Contact:  Shawn Norris (785) 550-6560; Kevin Boatright, (785) 550-2718

Lutheran Campus Ministry to have a new home at KU

LAWRENCE, KS – After nearly 50 years as a spiritual presence at the University of Kansas, Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) is about to have a physical home of its own in Lawrence, thanks in large part to the generosity of  a Kansas City church that closed its doors in August.

“We’ve been housed in various places since our founding in 1962,” said Shawn Norris, campus pastor.  “But by the start of the fall 2012 semester we’ll have a permanent address in a visible location just across the street from the campus.  It does feel like the end of a long pilgrimage and the start of something new and exciting.”

LCM is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its Central States Synod.  Its mission is to be a center of worship, fellowship, witness, and service for students and staff at KU.

In June, LCM acquired the property at 1421 W. 19^th St.  It is located near Naismith Avenue at the southern entrance to KU, within walking distance of six residence halls, Stouffer Place Apartments, Allen Fieldhouse, and the Ambler Student Recreation Center.  Pending City of Lawrence approval, LCM plans to renovate the existing house and add on space for use as a chapel and multipurpose room.

“The generosity of Westwood Lutheran Church is what made it possible for us to purchase the property and plan the construction,” said Norris.  The 105-year-old congregation, formerly located at 5035 Rainbow in Mission Woods, voted last summer to disband and sell its property.  LCM and four other organizations shared in the proceeds of the sale: JayDoc Free Clinic at the KU Medical Center through KU Endowment, SAFEHOME assistance for survivors of domestic violence, Roeland Park Emergency Food Pantry, and the ELCA Disaster Response program.  LCM was the single largest beneficiary.

Westwood also contributed to LCM from its memorials fund, and the Westwood Lutheran Women’s Group donated $4,000 to help furnish a new kitchen.

“Westwood strived to be a servant to the local community and the larger church throughout its history,” said Scott Schaefer, former president of the congregation.  “These donations are part of that legacy, and a good way to continue our mission into the future.”

The new LCM facility will be named “Westwood House” in honor of the congregation, said Norris.  Other congregations, alumni, and friends of LCM have also contributed to a fundraising campaign that began in 2009 and concludes in December.  A symbolic groundbreaking ceremony is planned for November 19, and the facility will be dedicated as part of LCM’s 50^th anniversary celebration on October 14, 2012.

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Saturday’s walk walk was like a pilgrimage, full of memories and prayers.   We started at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 15th and Iowa, where we gave thanks for our Lutheran sisters and brothers.    Don and Jan Conrad fed us popcorn at their house on Crescent, site of many early campus ministry meetings.  Then we walked down Jayhawk Boulevard together, stopping at the Kansas Union and ECM to give thanks.   Charlie Maahs remembered preaching at Canterbury House on Louisiana, and we stopped to give thanks for the Episcopal Church.    Then on to Bethany House and Trinity Lutheran Church, where the Lutheran Student Association started almost 90 years ago.   We ended with food and friendship and a party at our new place, 1421 W. 19th Street.   Besides the thanksgivings and the memories, the walk raised $4800 toward furnishings and programing at the new ministry home!   Thanks to all who walked, helped, sponsored, provided food, and made the walk great!