Welcome VCU Students!

Join Episcopal Campus Ministries at VCU

Located at:

Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
8 North Laurel Street
Richmond VA 23220

Email: ecm@ghtc.org and on Facebook

Follow us on Facebook at ECM@VCU

 

Thoughts on Texas – March 4- 11, 2018 Alternative Spring Break Mission Trip

Sunday March 4, 2018 – Arrival

We arrived in Corpus Christi tired from our flight which left early in the morning.  But we rallied with some Whataburger for lunch before buying our groceries for the week.  After we unpacked we went to the beach for a seaside Celebration of Eucharist.  It was fantastic to pray together before working together all week long.  Strength for the journey!

We met up with the crew from James Madison University and played some get to know your games, and got ready for bed before getting up early the next day to start working as a Team of 12!

 

 Monday  March 5, 2018 – Wednesday March 8, 2018

Our first work day, we traveled to Rockport about 30 minutes from the Church we called “home” for the week.  We worked tearing out wall board and ceilings for the first two days and lawn clean up for half of Wednesday.  The owners of the house were so relieved to not have to do all this themselves, but it was heart breaking to see them see the home they loved gutted.   But Jordan Cooke reminded all of us that we were “helping the house to heal” and that made the long days worth it.

Thursday March 9, 2018

We started out at Trinity By the Sea in Port Aransas, we were broken into 2 teams- The Blue Hand Crew (Kim and 4 JMU students) and Team ROAR (the VCU Wonderwomen and Laura, chaplain from JMU).  The day consisted of landscape heavy lifting, painting and trying our hand at powertools.  Jordan, Emily and Julia took down a tree and fence posts, Kim however was defeated by the power drill and the window sills where she was supposed to install blinds.

 

Friday March 10, 2018

We returned to Port A with 8 bags of mulch, two teams who were exhausted and a plan to work all day long.  The morning consisted of more weeding, a team lead by Emily installing insulation in a home which had recently been gutted Julia worked on this team too! Meanwhile Kim and Jordan made their way to the bay to clean up debris which had littered the dunes since the storm.  We came back to Trinity By the Sea and our volunteer coordinator Amy insisted that we take the afternoon off to visit the beach.  Reluctantly we went with out finishing our work plans for the day, but spent time together walking, talking and reflecting on our experiences.

Thoughts on the week- there is still so much to be done.  There is devestation and gutting and rebuilding. The communities of Corpus Christi, Rockport and Port Aransas are working together to rebuild bit by bit.  We will keep them in our prayers and will continue to support them however we can.  We do not know if we will be back next year for Spring break, but we will discuss it with ECM leadership in the Fall to determine what we will do.

If you are interested in more information about the trip please contact any of the participants directly or email The Rev. Kimberly Reinholz 

Meet Our Campus Ministers

Emily Bennett (Left)– Campus Minister for Outreach: Emily is our Campus Minister responsible for making our life and ministry known beyond Laurel Street.  She works with others in student leadership to spread the word about our events at VCU, in the Fan, and beyond.

The Rev. Kim Reinholz (Middle) – Chaplain Kim is the Associate for Service Campus Ministry and Pastoral Care at GHTC.  She is always available to talk to VCU students and enjoys spending time in the Commons during her office hours “Coloring with Clergy”.  She has worked with youth and young adults for most of her professional life as a an environmental organizer at a community college, a youth ministry coordinator, the Diocesan Youth Missioner for the Diocese of Bethlehem (Pennsylvania), and an adjunct college professor of Philosophy, Literature and Ethics.  Kim enjoys working with the VCU community because the students keep her on her toes from day to day she never knows what to expect.

Jordan Cooke (Right)– Campus Minister for Hospitality:  Jordan is our campus minister who keeps us all fed and content. Jordan volunteers for the Red Door Ministry Soup Kitchen and helps greet and welcome folks for SERVANT on Wednesdays.

Worship-Sunday

We invite students to worship with us on Sunday mornings.  If you are new to Episcopal Worship and are a VCU student look for Emily- she is our ECM Usher/Greeter Extrodinaire she will be your companion through worship on Sundays during the semester.  

All services have a unique style so if you aren’t sure which one to attend maybe come at the best time for you to start.  All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion at any of the Eucharistic services (you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive communion)- if you do not want to receive communion you can come forward and request a blessing from the priest.

The Traditional Service at 7:45 a.m. is a Rite I Holy Eucharist.  There is no music and the language is “Old English”.  The prayers are based off of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and you will hear “Thees and Thous” in this worship setting.

The Crossroads Service at 8:45 a.m. is an inter generational service with Rite II Holy Eucharist out of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  It is mostly attended by families with young children.  There is music from the 1982 Hymnal as well as more contemporary hymns and songs which are led by a small group of musicians known as The Amazing Grace Choir.  The altar is moved down to the floor and folks receive communion while standing.

The Classic Service is at 11:00 a.m. this service is Rite II Holy Eucharist with Choir and Acolytes (except for the second Sunday of the month when we have Morning Prayer).  The organ is the accompaniment and communion takes place on the high altar.  Individuals receive communion by kneeling at the altar rail.

Midweek Programs

Students are invited to live into their faith (regardless of their religious tradition) by helping the community of ECM at VCU to live into our baptism. We covenant at baptism to:

·         Continue in the apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers.

·         Persevere in resisting evil and when we fall into sin repenting and returning to the Lord.

·         Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

·         Seek and serve Christ in all persons loving our neighbors as ourselves.

·         Strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.

On Wednesdays

Offering a place to share about where we  live and serve by feeding the hungry, quenching the thirst of the thirsty, visiting with the lonely, and / or standing with those imprisoned at our Wednesday Se(rva)nt Lunch. You do not need to be an Episcopalian, Christian or religious to join this conversation- all are welcome at the table.

• Drop In Wednesdays- Come and have free lunch, ask questions, get a tour of GHTC
• Info Wednesdays- Come and hear about opportunties to serve at non-profits through out RVA
• Action Wednesdays- Come and do something- this year service projects include assembling Bishop Bags for Red Door Ministry, making “homecoming” gifts for adopted pets from the SPCA, and making sleeping mats for Red Door Guests out of recycled plastic bags

For more information follow ECM at VCU on Facebook or contact Kim

 

On Thursdays

Chaplain Kim Reinholz can be found on campus for coloring and conversation in the Commons most Thursdays from 10 am – 1 pm.  It’s a chance to add a little color to a sometimes dreary world, but also an opportunity to talk about anything from concerns about personal and spiritual life to talking about pop culture or politics.  It’s a safe space to ask questions or just center ourselves at the table for a fun activity.

 

On Fridays

We invite students to join us for Red Door Ministries.  For more information about how to get involved visit the Red Door page here

If you are a VCU student volunteering with Red Door Ministries please be in touch with Chaplain Kim or Campus Minister Jordan Cooke