Let's get together... online!

Presented by Student Events and Campus Ministry, students can join us via ZOOM for a time of community gathering.

We will prompt students with questions and break into small groups to share our struggles and triumphs in these unique circumstances. As we gather we are reminded we are Concordia; hearts together.

--WATCH THE RECORDING FROM APRIL 7--

Click here to watch the recording from this CUSocial.

--WRITING PROMPTS FOR 4/7--

Join us for Guest Speaker Lara Zielin! Click here to watch a video to meet Lara.

INTRO

The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear (First John 4:18), and i’s easy to focus on the casting out part—i.e. the idea that fear is bad and shouldn’t be in our hearts. We want to kick it to the curb and maybe even become enlightened enough to not be bothered by it.

But it’s not enough to just tell fear to be gone. In fact, “casting out” in Greek has many connotations, one of which is “one thing inserted into another.”

So imagine instead, love being inserted into fear like a key into a lock. It turns the whole contraption and opens us up into a new place.

In this sense, we want to meet our most frightened selves with love. We are told that courage is the antidote to fear, but that’s not true. It’s love. Perfect love shows up and brings compassion to the scene. It brings understanding. It’s not mad at us for feeling fear. It’s not saying we’re bad for feeling fear. It wants to love us through our fear.

SETTING THE SCENE

You are in the woods and they are dark and ominous. Branches creak overhead. The path is narrowing, and it’s hard to see the way forward. Suddenly, on the path in front of you, is a dark shape. As you get closer, you realize it’s YOU. A terrified, shaking, confused, lost version of you. And they need your help.

You crouch down and put your arms around yourself. “It’s okay,” you whisper. “I’m here.”

WRITING PROMPT 1

What do you write to calm this terrified version of yourself? What words of comfort can you give yourself? Let God’s love pour through your pen. Begin with: “Dear [Your Name], I’m here now. I love you, and I’m not leaving you …”

WRITING PROMPT 2

You may be confused, anxious and not sure what is next. That’s okay. God can speak to your heart at any time. Is there a specific thing you need wisdom about? Do you need to comfort yourself about a certain topic? Try writing the following, and see what words God might speak through your heart as you write.

“Dear [Your Name], this is your heart, and I love you, and this is what I want to tell you about [specific thing] …”

WRITING PROMPT 3

Gratitude is the gateway to joy. Even in the midst of darkness, there is always something for which we can give thanks. What words of gratitude can you give to yourself as a reminder of all that is good? Let God’s love pour through your pen as you write:

“Dear [Your Name], I love you, and I’m so excited to remind you of all that is good in life right now …”