This Week in CSF!

Creativity Night
Thursdays @ 7:30pm in the VPA
We have a creative God...and we're made in His image, making us....CREATIVE!!  This is a night to try stuff out...paint, knit, cut and glue, or just hang out and laugh or sing or talk.    Bring your own ideas and supplies, or get inspired by someone else.   There will be a small art project for you to help us with for The Edge on Friday!  For more info, talk to Hayley (Hbera2@uis.edu).

 

Speaking of which... Don't miss out on The Edge Friday!

**Meet at the LRH or FRH front desk at 5:45pm to walk over with other people!

 Mission Trips Meeting
Are you going to Kenya this summer?  Spring Break in Florida?  We have a meeting Friday, Jan 27th after the Edge to talk about how to get started raising support for both trips!   If you're stilling thinking about going to Kenya, applications are due to Gretchen (gretchen@uiscsf.org) by Feb. 1st.

Small Groups Sign-Up
Looking for ways to connect with other believers or enjoy studying God's Word?  Join a small group Bible study this semester!  We will be studying the second part of the book of Acts.   Get more info about group days/times on Friday or email lindsey@uiscsf.org

Coming Up!

Winter Retreat
Join college students from all over Illinois for a weekend focused on Spiritual Growth
Friday, February 10-12
$35 (pay Emily or another staff member by feb 3rd!)

Service Opportunities
CSF is getting out into the community!  Look for information soon about how you can volunteer with CSF at Habitat for Humanity or Wyndcrest Assisted Living Facility.  We're looking for people who want to SERVE!

He Mends the Lonely

Can the world see that there’s no gaze
On a boy’s face?
Eyes cold and worn
Open still, but looking at nothing
“You’re all as blind as me”
The lonely words his lonely heart speaks

Could that boy see that there’s a gaze
On a Lover’s face?
Eyes whole and warm
Open now, and looking into his
“You were once blind, I tell you now see.”
The lovely words His loving heart speaks

Can the world hear that there’s no sound
From a girl’s mouth?
Lips cracked and dry
Open still, but making no noise
“You’re all as silent as me”
The lonely words her lonely heart speaks

Could that girl hear that there’s a sound
From a Lover’s mouth?
Lips soft and kind
Open now, locking to hers
“You were once silent, I tell you now speak.”
The lovely words His lovely heart speaks

Could the world feel that there’s no love
In a man’s chest?
Heart frail and fading
Closed now, just barely beating
“You’re all as hateful as me”
The lonely words his lonely heart speaks

Could that man feel there’s true love
In a Lover’s chest?
Heart strong and caring
Open now, and flowing to his
“You were once hateful, I tell you now love.”
The lovely words His loving heart speaks

by Rob Barnett (Sophomore at UIS and on CSF Worship Team)

Come to the Edge Friday Nights!

Our theme this semester will be a scripture study in 1 Peter
about the hope of Jesus and that being an exile
just may not be a bad thing...

Get excited!

Share the Gospel by feeding College Students!

Every Friday night, Christian Student Fellowship at the University of Illinois at Springfield offers a free meal for college students.  We know that the best way to a college student's heart is FREE FOOD!  CSF uses this opportunity to build relationships and serve the campus community in a tangible way.

We are looking for families, Sunday School classes, Small Groups, Minisry Teams, and Church Groups to help provide these meals each week throughout the school year.

Here's what it takes:

1.  Pick a Date.   Call or email Gretchen (217.414.9198 or gretchen@uiscsf.org) with a few dates you have in mind
January 20
January 27
February 3 - Rochester Christian Church (Mike Jakaitis)
February 17 - Delta Church (Emily Barnett)
February 24 - Lakeside Christian Church (Ed Green)
March 2 - Rochester Christian Church (Pathfinders Class)
March 23 - Edinburg Christian Church (Rob Peterson)
April 6 - Transformers Class (Mike Peterson)
April 13 - West Side Christian Church (Rich Thompson)
April 20 - Rochester Christian Church (Sue Schwarberg)
April 27 - Rochester Christian Church (Travis Blaney)
May 4 - Hope Evangelical Free Church (Mark Walker)
May 11 - Salisbury Christian Church (Nathaniel Kern) (tentative)


2.  Get a group.   Find some friends and decide on a menu (college students aren't picky!)  Groups need to bring the meal, drinks, and paper products for 50-60 students.

3.  Meet students.  Bring your food to the UIS campus any time after 5pm.  The meal starts at 6pm.  Meals are usually served buffet style, and students serve themselves.  We invite you to stay and eat with us and, if you'd like, join us for worship and Bible study at 7pm.

Stuffing Stockings for Christmas

In December, on the last Edge of the year, 27 stockings that were later donated to kids at Inner City Mission in Springfield were stuffed... just in time for Christmas!  The students used their own funds to buy toys, candy, socks and other little prizes for the children of Springfield who wouldn't receive a stocking otherwise.  The week before the stocking stuff, students gathered every night to pray over the children who would be receiving them.  It has been such a great event that inspires giving and praying for others during such a frantic time.  You could see in the hearts of the CSF students how important this outreach was.  How important it is to bring back the old ways of Christmas.

Why is there always suspenders?

The Christmas artwork made by Creativity Night ladies- for our Edge service!

Open Mic Night is a Success!

In December, the Creative Arts Group (Carts) put together an Open Mic Night for the CSF community and for the students of UIS.  It was such a beautiful night of vulnerability, as student after student stood up in front of their fellow peers and shared what God had gifted them with.  Some recited their own poetry, some played guitar and sang, some did stand-up comedy, and one young lady even wrote lyrics and music for her own rap song.  The night was such a blast and everyone was laughing and many times awed by their friends' talents.  Check out this link of Celia rapping for Jesus! Celia was also the MC and did the majority of organizing for the Open Mic Night!  Way to go Celia!  Here is another video of Rob and Katie performing "Static Waves" by Andrew Belle...

Women's Retreat!

The Women's Retreat was held at Rochester church this past November, where seven girls and three staff were challenged and inspired by the teachings of some amazing Godly women.  Friday night, Melissa Sandel (from West Side Christian Church), talked on being Wholly Holy, and what that looks like in every aspect of our life. 

Campus minister, Gretchen Magruder, shares about the retreat in her own words..

Saturday morning we had a panel of Godly women share about their experiences following God and striving for holiness in the midst of crappy circumstances, divorce, health problems, and busy lives/careers. As they shared their stories and their very different experiences, there were some common themes that emerged about remaining holy that echoed Melissa's talk the night before:

Be in the Word
      There's no way for us to know what God wants for us without consistently reading God's Word. Do a search for words like holy and holiness and you'll begin to understand what a big deal this is to God.

Make sure you're submitting to spiritual authorities
¹⁷Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them? - Hebrews 13:17 (MSG)

     It's hard for us to admit we don't know it all. But God put us together in a community together for a purpose -- to learn from each other and be admonished and challenged and encouraged by each other. Living holy lives requires that we're willing to be transparent with a small group of people and especially those who are in leadership above us. It means making sure that you have a few older women who you allow to speak truth into your life. And then we have to be willing to listen.

     My sin affects other people. Compromises you make affect my life and the ones I love.  How do we begin to love each other enough to not be satisfied with unholy living in the lives of those around us?

The next afternoon was spent in St. Louis at the City Museum with much silliness and bonding!  Below are some pictures of the retreat!

Above: Melissa Sandel delivers a powerful message!

 

To the City Museum!!!

Mansxursion

Mansxurison, or the men's retreat as the women called it, was such a success!  The men of CSF decided to take a camping trip in the frigid November temperatures.  There were 9 students who went, along with 4 total staff/alumni.  Talking to any guy that went, it was an obvious encounter of community at its best.  There was a new light in many of the guy’s eyes as they reminisced of the awesome time spent with God, one another, and His creation.  Student leader, Jonathan Barnett, created a video of the trip and many of the crazy/man-awesome activities they did during their weekend!  Check it out below...

Video Link

CSF Flapjack Fundraiser

In order for Christian Student Fellowship to keep doing ministry at UIS the ministry must rely on God to bring in supporters.  One way CSF decided to bring in support was through a Flapjack Fundraiser in October at Applebees where CSF received 4 of the 5 dollars per ticket.  It was also a great opportunity to meet supporters and for people to talk to the students who are being transformed by Christ through CSF.  It was a great morning of serving and praising God for bringing a plethora of people to help out the ministry in a fun and tasty way!

THANK YOU For all the people who came out for this event, and for all the CSF students who sacrificed their morning!

Halloween CSF Style

That's right, CSF does halloween!  And we do it well.. Our students brought excitement to a day that doesn't necessarily glorify God, and turned it into a day of community that glorified Him. 

On Friday night during The Edge  (our weekly worship/bible study/service) the students competed in a costume contest and the huge array of different outfits was overwhelming.  Thankfully, an outside source judged who came away with the victory for the night.  However, no one seemed to mind if they didn't bring home the gold- they were just excited to share their creativity with one another.  Below are just some of the creative costumes!

Seeing God Amongst the Wreckage

     Early in the school year a group of nine CSF’ers took a trip down to Joplin Missouri to assist and volunteer our time to the relief efforts due to the F5 tornado that occurred earlier this year in May.
     Allison Duncan, a CSF student leader, had arrived shortly after the tornado had hit the community of Joplin and she knew that although she put in her fair share of work, that there would still be much more to come. Coming back to school, Allison knew that she wanted to organize a service project to show God’s presence in volunteer work. So just a few months into school, our collective group of nine left UIS in two vehicles for a 7 hour road trip. Although there were many attempts to want to buy fireworks because they are legal in Missouri, we kept our minds on Joplin and spending time with each other enjoying each other’s company.
     We arrived later at night to a volunteer location that was being run by a local church. Abundant Faith Church offered its doors to all volunteers who were serving to repair Joplin. That church accurately depicted and showed God’s hospitality and shelter by offering free shelter and free meals to volunteers. On our first day, all of us were eager to get to work after hearing the tragic stories of what have occurred while seeing the reactions of what God was doing in Joplin.
     We hit Joplin first by raking a few yards that were covered in shrapnel from the glass and debris that were flying around during the 200+ MPH winds. Some thought that it was strange to rake a yard while homes were destroyed and much more drastic work was still left to do. We came to understand that the emotional needs of the community and the homeowners were just as important. These homeowners had to wake up to a yard that served as a constant reminder of what they were trying to forget. Knowing this, made the work much more gratifying and allowed us to connect and pray with the homeowner. After raking a few yards, our UIS group connected with Allison’s dad who was currently working on putting up siding for a few houses. Later that day, we went back to Abundant Faith Church and took the rest of the night to do devotions with God and with each other after reflecting on the impact of the tornado on Joplin.
     Seeing what work still had to be done on Saturday, we were just as pumped to begin on Sunday. We went back to the house to put up siding. There was a lot of work to be done and before our group left, the house was almost finished. It was a pretty amazing sight to see the CSF women get together and pray over the homeowner who was blown away by God’s presence around her. Before we left that day, Lyssa Barth, another CSF student leader, was already talking to the homeowner about hooking her up with Facebook to stay connected. Outreach at its best!
     We left that day a little later than normal considering that we had another 7 hour car ride, but it was all worth it. We stopped half way along the way for my 4 cups of coffee and to see the world’s largest rocking chair. We arrived back safely and had something to praise god for. Amongst all the destruction, God was clearly there. I believe that God used this tragedy to show his power and to see the community atmosphere there was just another product of God’s work.  Joplin showed us that God is praised in everything that he does. Job 1:21

By Ryan Chipman (CSF Student Leader)

Above is the CSF crew with Abundant Faith Church

Above, Alex Staggenborg helps put up siding!

 

Ryan (3rd from right in yellow) and other CSF students join together to pray over the families and homes of Joplin, MO.