I am thankful for the faithfulness of the people and clergy of St. Dunstan's Episcopal, St. James' Episcopal, St. Andrew's Lutheran, Faith Presbyterian, Good Samaritan Episcopal and so many more who continue to welcome me to preach and teach on Sunday mornings in 2024. During a recent parish visit we shared tears of joy as I shared that, after a chance encounter last summer, Agape San Diego has picked up the mantle of ministry as members of The Center for Ethics and Spirituality (CES) at UC San Diego, continuing the work of decades of talented ministers on Torrey Pines Mesa. Located in Price Center West, Agape welcomes all every Tuesday.
“You’re different from ‘nice,’” shared a mechanical engineering graduate assistant recently. “You’re kind.” During that same visit at Good Sam, I shared that this is a season that necessitates kindness. During the recent investiture of our brand new Presiding Bishop, Sean Rowe, The Archbishop of The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Justin Badi Arama, spoke of the need for “careful discernment. Being slow to anger and of great kindness…” I shared that we need to live into our baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in each other, and here’s the kicker, loving our neighbor as ourselves. We do our best to live into this every Tuesday at UC San Diego and Wednesday at San Diego State University.
Through a meal, rest, and dignity, we listen with each other as we explore the latest Jordan Peele project or the sacred mysteries of the universe and often both. Conversations move through Christian scripture to sacred texts from other traditions that focus on peace. We talk about past trauma caused by organized religion and how Jesus calls us to be agents of kindness and justice. We share moments or hours that have nothing to do with the doctrine of the Episcopal Church and have everything to do with the love of God in Christ Jesus. This is Campus Ministry. This is a ministry of presence. We move through the blessings and struggles of life and this presence is possible because of the generosity and vision of generations before and the generosity and vision of others today.
Each Tuesday at UC San Diego, we host dozens of students, faculty, and staff. Sure, free pizza is the draw but over several hours, most stay for a conversation so our community is growing. We regularly serve university custodians, graduate assistants, first-year students, professors, and a partridge in a pear tree. It’s a vibrant community for whom free pizza, without a catch, is a brand-new and welcomed surprise. People quickly become regulars and, for those regulars, this is a space and time that is theirs where we share blessings and struggles as a growing community, regardless of role in the university culture. This is an important time for people that they want to share. Friends bring friends as the rumor of kind people with free pizza grows. What began with two pizzas and a chalk sandwich board is now four pizzas, bean bag chairs, banners, and more, each Tuesday. What started as three students in September now includes many people from across the university culture. At San Diego State, the offering is well-established as is the mission field. Each Wednesday we welcome students, faculty, and staff of the university as well as members of the community. Student leaders vibrantly welcome siblings experiencing homelessness, for whom free pizza and shade is the only meal and dignity that they might experience that day. “Everyone is welcome under the tent on the grass.” God is present. Alleluia.
Luca, a student at SDSU, reflected on our fall retreat at Camp Stevens, “I was able to find peace in the quiet and enjoy sounds of nature with the help of the people that I was able to meet and connect with during my weekend. The fact that I was able to connect with the wonderful people through Agape, as well as find a sense of peace and belonging that has stayed with me even after I left the peace of Camp Stevens means the world to me.”
Joseph, a student who returned to SDSU after incarceration, shared how he had “nothing but time” to find commonalities across religions. He brings so much to our faith conversations; another student shared that her belief in Jesus is stronger because of our time together.
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