[ B L E S S I N G ]
| Brooke (she/her) is a natural leader, with deep leadership roots shaped by 13 years as a Girl Scout in Western Washington. Before coming to Oregon State University , she was also honored to serve as her hometown’s Daffodil Princess (an experience that further nurtured her sense of service and community). When she started her first year at OSU, Brooke wanted to explore different faith communities and churches. Thinking back to her first visit to the local Episcopal Church in Corvallis, Brooke shared “I just showed up at this random church, and was invited to sit down by an older woman named Phyllis.” What began as a simple visit turned into a six-hour stay for the service, coffee hour, and adult faith formation. On her way out the door, the Episcopal priest invited her to the campus ministry. He said, “Oh my gosh, you’re a college student? You have to go to this campus ministry tonight. It’s pretty awesome.” Brooke laughed as she said, “and he was right.” Her first impression of the campus ministry was overwhelmingly positive. “I thought it had really good chill vibes, and it wasn’t extremist and aggressive; I always felt so welcomed, and it was fun.” The ministry quickly became something more than an extracurricular activity; it became a space where Brooke could decompress during the week and connect authentically with others. In contrast to other Christian campus ministries that sometimes drive an agenda with students, Brooke found the Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry community genuine. She was drawn to its inclusivity, as “somewhere that really preached love and acceptance,” and its commitment to supporting the broader community. Now, Brooke rarely misses a Sunday dinner or Tuesday night Maker’s Space in the campus ministry. Brooke also loves going to church on Sunday morning at the local Episcopal Church. “I just find traditional services hold so much beauty; there’s something about seeing the stained glass and Stations of the Cross that has so much emotion. It is so calming… I feel so moved in my heart, in my bones, in my body.” Brooke’s favorite part of church is the blessing; she adores carrying the words God’s blessing into her everyday life. In the same spirit, thank you for supporting our campus ministry that leads with inclusion, celebration, and God’s beloved blessing of each and every student. |
[ C O N N E C T I O N]
| Julia (she/they) dreams of becoming a book editor. As an English major at Oregon State University, she also finds joy in playing the clarinet and crocheting. Growing up in Episcopal tradition, Julia instantly found a church connection in Corvallis by attending services with her grandparents, who are longtime members of the local Episcopal church. Both her grandparents and the Episcopal priest repeatedly encouraged her to explore the Lutheran–Episcopal campus ministry. Her grandma was especially persistent, and Julia smiled, saying, “she was asking me every time I saw her, “have you gone yet? Are you still going?” Eventually, Julia gathered the courage to attend one Sunday dinner. “I don’t know that I would have actively sought it out on my own. I might have later,” she shared. “The main thing I was nervous about was whether people would be nice.” Her first impressions were simple but meaningful: the food was good, and the people were kind. She found a warm and inviting space with lots of plants, banned books on the shelves, and a pride flag on the wall- all sorts of things that made her feel comfortable. “Even on the first day,” Julia said, “it didn’t feel like I was an outsider coming in. I felt like I was part of it immediately.” For Julia, the campus ministry has become a place of connection. “It helped me feel like I was having more social time with people, more connected to different people,” she reflected. “Now I know people from all around and in different grades.” More than that, the community helped Julia feel at home at OSU. “It made me feel like I belong here, that I’m not just taking classes.” In the week to week of academic life, Julia looks forward to craft nights, yummy food, and staying to talk to people. “It’s nice,” she said, “that if I have a bad day, there’s something to look forward to on Sunday and Tuesday, even just chicken nuggets. They’re a wonderful comfort food.” Thank you for supporting a campus ministry that offers connection and comfort to students like Julia, one meal and one moment at a time. |
[ P L A C E ]
| As a first year botany major at Oregon State University, Jase (they/them) arrived on campus with a sense of possibility. Jase loves the outdoors, and they are proud to be the first female Eagle Scout in their family. They are also passionate about art, everything from paint, clay, and sculpture (especially out of found objects). Jase grew up in the Episcopal church, but stepped away from the church for six years. During their first term of college, Jase felt drawn back to church, and decided to check out the local Episcopal church in Corvallis. Jace found warmth and welcome, especially from older women in the congregation. The welcome continued, as Jase shared, laughing, “On my second Sunday at church, Rev. David suggested that I go to Luther House. He gave me very minimal instructions on how to get there.” With a little courage, Jase found themselves stepping into the campus ministry house. They were immediately welcomed by the pastor and students gathered around the table. “My first evening, I almost knocked over a candle,” Jase joked, “but it felt like I had found another community I could be with.” As Jase spent more time getting to know the students, their sense of belonging deepened, not only within campus ministry, but in the church. Standing in the church’s sanctuary, Jase remembers thinking, “Wow, I feel like this is the place for me to be. This is home, or like home.” The relationships formed in campus ministry and church gave Jase a reason to return week after week. Each time they came back to the campus ministry, the table seemed to grow. “We had to keep adding chairs and extending it. If we didn’t, we would all be squished.” By the end of the fall term, one shared meal stretched all the way onto the couches. Because of campus ministry, Jase found belonging in a community of faith, in what they call “the youth of the religious community I am in, and belong.” Thank you for making it possible for students like Jase to find joy and home in faith on campus. |
[ L I F E L O N G ]
| Born and raised in Corvallis, Mike also attended Oregon State University. After graduating, he worked in Corvallis before moving around the United States. Now, in his retirement years, Mike is once again back home in Corvallis. “When I started college, I wanted to be a chemist; my idea of a chemist was someone in a white lab coat holding a test tube,” Mike recalls. As the school year began, Mike was invited by the campus pastor to explore the Lutheran campus ministry. At the time, Mike describes himself as bashful and “homey.” He started coming to Luther House in the evenings to study. Soon, he found himself surrounded by a welcoming community of students and neighbors who often stayed late into the night. By the end of his first year, Mike was elected president of the Lutheran campus ministry student organization. The campus pastor encouraged his leadership through summer planning meetings and conversations about programming for the coming year. By the fall, Mike was regularly speaking at gatherings and growing into his own voice and path. One tradition that began during Mike’s time at Luther House was Sunday night dinners, which remain a beloved part of campus ministry today. At the time, dorms didn’t serve dinner on Sunday nights, so students would gather at Luther House. With help from the pastor’s wife, who did the cooking, Sunday night dinners became a meaningful way to build community. Luther House truly felt like home for Mike. He fondly remembers students gathering in what is now the pastor’s office to watch Johnny Carson and Star Trek on TV (a rare treat when there were only a few televisions on campus). The campus ministry also gave Mike the chance to travel to Chicago for a national Lutheran student leadership conference, where he connected with students from across the country. Although his perspectives differed from others’, the genuine relationships formed that week, and the appreciation others had for his voice, left a lifelong impression. “Luther House started my church life,” Mike shared, reflecting on the many leadership roles as he has held in the Lutheran church since those early days. To this day, the campus ministry continues to nurture the voices and leadership of young people who shape the future of the church. Thank you for your generosity to campus ministry, which continues to sustain the church from generation to generation. |
[ M U S T A R D S E E D ]
| Michael has many passions and interests. For example, he can solve an 11x11x11 Rubik’s Cube, play the French horn, and come up with the best icebreakers in a group of new people. Over the years, Michael worked at various Lutheran camps, where he discovered he could find camaraderie and community in almost any Lutheran setting. He recalls that a family friend was the first to tell him about Luther House. During a campus tour, he knocked on the door and the campus pastor answered. The rest is history. Like many college students, Michael has faced significant transitions: changing majors, switching schools, shifting career paths, and discovering new vocations and callings. Along the way, he’s learning to advocate for himself and find his own sense of agency. “When I came to OSU, I wanted to find a community,” he says. “Luther House was the place to begin.” Luther House became Michael’s favorite outlet for connection and support (and, he admits, the free, healthy meals were also a great reason to return). Like many students, Michael found it challenging to reach out to others individually. Yet a growing “mustard seed of faith” in God and in community carries him through many academic, personal, and vocational changes. What Michael values most about Luther House is the friendliness of the community. There’s no single defining moment that stands out to him. Instead, it’s the “accumulation of moments of being here and the safety of trust” that have built a sense of belonging. “Luther House is a place of consistency, no matter where I was or what was happening in the world, it was a place I could return to. A place where I could drop my shoulders and just be myself, no matter what else was going on.” Luther House has given Michael the space to share his faith, “fully by my choice, my way, and my desire to explore faith.” |
[ P U R P O S E ]
| When Katrina Hay was a graduate student at Oregon State University, she discovered the welcoming faith community of Luther House. Now a professor of physics at Pacific Lutheran University, she continues to foster communities that reflect that same ethos of openness, thoughtfulness, and care. “Luther House was a helpful place for me to realize that there are Christian communities that are open-minded, not close-minded, and progressive,” she says. “I think those messages were important to hear, that not all Christians are the same. Finding Luther House at that stage in grad school showed me that there is a community of Christians who actually think and care about the same things I do, who believe in equality. It brought me a deep sense of peace to find Luther House.” Today, Dr. Katrina Hay is committed to building communities that are equitable, open to questioning, and faithful in advocating for a better world. In and outside the classroom, she invites students to identify their core values and explore how those values might shape their vocational callings. Beyond just a career or job title, Professor Hay encourages students to reflect critically on their communities, cultures, and how they want to serve the world. She often poses the question: “How can service be a life-extending prospect—not one that drains? What does service look like when it enriches us and fulfills our calling?” Professor Hay sees her time at Luther House as an essential part of her own vocational journey, learning how to live vocationally in all areas of life (not just in terms of professional identity). She also fondly recalls the interfaith meals and meaningful conversations at Luther House, especially the Tuesday lunches that were open to all and helped build lasting relationships. |
[ P E R S P E C T I V E ]
| When she’s not studying for her chemical engineering classes at Oregon State University, Simone loves to run and read—ways she finds new ideas . During her first year of college, Simone was doing laundry in her dorm with her roommates when they noticed a poster for Luther House Sunday dinners. Curious and a little adventurous, they decided to check it out. “I remember meeting so many interesting people that night,” Simone says. “When we were walking back to our dorm, we looked at each other and said, we have to come back. We couldn’t not come back to Luther House.” What Simone discovered was a community where conversations had depth and meaning. In high school, she loved her English and history classes for the way they opened up space to explore different perspectives. At Luther House, that kind of dialogue came naturally. “We immediately got into conversations about beliefs and faith and politics—politics come up pretty often” (which is true). “Especially as a STEM major, we don’t necessarily talk about these things in our classes.” Around the table at Luther House, Simone found an opportunity to ask thoughtful questions, to engage with new people, and to listen deeply. “I wouldn’t be the same if I hadn’t met the people I met here. Everyone here is so different- there’s always someone with a new or different perspective and life story.” For Simone, this community has become more than a place to share meals—it’s a place of reflection, growth, and grounding. “Luther House taught me the ability to slow down, to reflect, and to think about yourself and your actions more- rather than being in a constant state of movement, and always feeling like you’re pushing through to the next thing.” Thank you for supporting campus ministry—where students like Simone find space to explore faith, perspective, and purpose. |
[ L I G H T ]
| Svea is outdoorsy at heart. She grew up in Alaska before heading south to study engineering at Oregon State University. Alongside her studies, Svea nurtures her creative side—she’s a potter who finds joy in both wheel throwing and handbuilding with clay. She’s also a practicing Buddhist who meditates regularly and stays attuned to the ways the sacred moves through her life. As a first-year engineering student, Svea and her roommates adopted a “try everything” mindset when they arrived on campus. One day, they spotted a poster in the basement laundry room of their dorm—it advertised a free dinner and a conversation about God. “I liked the people,” Svea remembers. “And I liked that it was a formal dinner, like a family meal. It gave us space to sit down and talk about what was really going on—roommate struggles, classes, everything behind the curtain. ”Those Sunday dinners at Luther House soon became part of Svea’s spiritual rhythm. She found more than a meal—she found a community rooted in care, curiosity, and a shared connection to something deeper. One evening, Svea joined other students in singing Holden Evening Prayer. “I was going through a really rough time mentally—adjusting to living on my own, in a house with no mom,” she shares. She still remembers the spoken line: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In that moment, “I reconnected to God within myself. I felt a light inside me.” Svea carried those words with her, journaling and writing about this moment of the presence of God. Today, she’s deeply grateful to be part of a community “where people belong—whether it’s your first day, or you’ve been coming for years.” Thank you for supporting campus ministry—where students like Svea discover the spark of the divine in themselves and one other through family dinners and evening prayers. |
[ L O W P R E S S U R E ]
| Hazel holds a black belt in Taekwondo—she’s disciplined, driven, and deeply hardworking. She carries an indomitable spirit. Originally from Washington, Hazel arrived at Oregon State University not knowing a single person. Her roommates were randomly assigned, and the dorm conversations followed a predictable script: “What’s your major?” “Where are you from?” One evening in the dorm laundry room, Hazel noticed a flyer advertising a home-cooked meal at Luther House. Curious, she and her roommates decided to check it out. That night, the conversation shifted. Instead of small talk, people asked, “What’s your experience of faith?” and even, “What’s your opinion on low-rise pants?” It was different—and refreshing. Hazel and her roommates came back the next week. And the week after that. Before long, dinner at Luther House became part of their weekly rhythm. “I was looking for something to root me and connect me to this unfamiliar place,” Hazel reflects. “Everything was new, so to have that dinner every week—it was really comforting.” One Sunday, Hazel and her roommates volunteered to cook waffles for the group. “It was a turning point,” she says. “We were contributing. We were part of the ‘how.’ It wasn’t just a dinner we attended—it was becoming ours.” The warm, softly lit dining room reminded Hazel of home—of Sunday night dinners with family. “We were really busy, but we still carved out time to be together.” For Hazel, Luther House became a low-pressure haven in a high-pressure academic world. Even with the demands of grades, jobs, and the uncertainty of the future, one truth remained: “We all deserve to connect, to sit down, and to eat together. Nothing can change that.” Thank you for helping students create a sense of home—at Luther House and beyond. |
[ E N O U G H ]
| Hannah studies ecological engineering at Oregon State University. As a third year student, Hannah is thoughtful and observant. She is steady in her faith and grounded in the Episcopal tradition. Since coming to Oregon State University, though, Hannah found some challenges in the “one way” others prescribe a practice of faith. Hannah first noticed the Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry of Luther House during the student welcome fair. Luther House stood out to her because the campus ministry was proudly flying a pride flag. Hannah wasn’t necessarily looking for a community of faith, but she liked the sense of community and the safe place for all people. “If I need anything, good or bad, I can find support here; I can be myself and be proud of that.” Hannah joined the Luther House fall retreat, taking time to step away from school and expectations and spend a weekend in the mountains. At the end of the retreat, Hannah handed her campus pastor a note: “I had a really rough week with a lot of doubt. Not about God, but rather if I’m doing enough or being ‘Godly’ or ‘Christian’ enough… This retreat helped me so much. The talks, time, and prayers reaffirmed my beliefs, even justifying my faith. I truly did feel like God was giving me a hug, telling me that everything was okay and that I was/was doing enough.” For Hannah, Luther House is a community where she is affirmed, accepted, and reassured of a loving God. Thank you for supporting campus ministry that reassures students they are enough. Thank you for helping us see God at work in spirit-full and encouraging ways in students like Hannah. |
[ K N O W N ]
| Madeleine grew up in Presbyterian tradition. In her teen years, she traveled with peers on three mission trips- twice to Spokane to work with a youth homeless shelter, and once to Puerto Rico. Early in college, she took a baccalaureate core class in world religions and it made her reconsider her own religious experiences and knowledge of religion. She wanted to learn more deep and meaningful theology. During her first year at Oregon State University, Madeleine saw posters in her dorm for Luther House dinner, but she was too intimidated to go by herself. Madeleine had been attending Grace Lutheran with her friends. One Sunday, she heard the Luther House campus pastor announce that there would be waffles for dinner. “Free waffles led to a much more meaningful experience in community with Christ.” The first night Madeleine arrived, she noticed that everyone knew one another. “It was like walking in on family dinner. I thought, “I’m new, am I intruding? But it was an experience of being part of a strong community that is close and known.” The promise of not having to cook dinner drew Madeleine back. “We’re so overwhelmed, so busy, but we have to eat.” It was easier to return the first time, build relationships, and want to see friends. Because of Luther House, Madeleine is more grounded in her community. “Once I took the little step of going to Luther House, I should also volunteer at the animal shelter, and volunteer at the theater.” Luther House helps keep Christianity at the forefront of her life, especially when campus life moves from homework to midterms to finals. “Luther House is a safe faith space for learning, growing, discerning belief in faith- in living into what faith means.” Thank you for supporting the faith community, which feels open and welcoming to students like Madeleine. “No one is going to be critical or judgmental of your questions or how much you know.” |
[ G O O D N E S S ]
| Ceara loves getting out into nature. She is a birder and photographer, and loves the outdoors. When she is inside, Ceara loves to get creative by oil painting, crocheting, and sewing. Ceara grew up with Catholic parents who encouraged her to discover her own faith journey and meaning within her own life. With friends, she attended church in Corvallis, but it was intimidating for Ceara to try out religious communities on her own. “I tagged along with a friend and joined Luther House for waffles for dinner,” she shared. At Luther House, Ceara discovered a welcoming, nonjudgmental, open community. With her best friend by her side, Ceara grew more comfortable coming back to Sunday dinner, again and again. At the beginning of winter term, Ceara took a risk and joined Luther House for a retreat at the Oregon Coast. While she had attended dinners regularly fall term, she didn’t know anyone well- yet. Late-night games of Ticket to Ride helped her to get to know other students more individually. The retreat also helped Ceara disconnect from regular life, turn inward, and reflect. “The retreat happened at the right time for me; I thought about what in life I should be focusing on.” Ceara credits the retreat for her focus and practice of “calling attention to the goodness of life.” Because of Luther House, Ceara is able to explore the meaning of faith in her life and practice gratitude in her daily life. “The people are what make this space so great, learning from people of different backgrounds and majors… hearing all different experiences and different topics.” She is most thankful for the people, the sense of the community, and the opportunity to be herself in community as she grows in her journey of faith. Thank you for supporting spacious retreats at the coast that give time for students to reflect to build relationships. Thank you for supporting students like Ceara as they grow in faith and community. |
[ S T E P B Y S T E P ]
| As the academic year comes to a close, we are so grateful for your support of the Lutheran- Episcopal campus ministry at Oregon State. We celebrate our graduating students and we look forward to inviting our returning students back in the fall- and welcoming new students. Your generosity during the end of the school year will launch us into a strong start in the fall- supporting students like Zach as they grow in faith, community, and purpose. Zach is a writer, poet, and on occasion, a composer. Zach adores his family, especially his twin sister. He is passionate about religious topics- particularly those he can deeply explore and study. Shortly after the election, Zach shared his grief and uncertainty about the state of the world with his favorite religion professor. It was difficult for students like Zach to live life as normal, living under the stress and awareness of a rapidly changing world. His professor invited him to a Bonhoeffer reading group through Luther House, where he could focus his grief into something deeper. Each week, Zach joined other students, professors, and the campus pastor to share concerns and reflections. The book group quickly became a touchstone of community for Zach. “I was looking mainly for community. I have this policy for myself: if I ever get involved in something I want to say yes to as many things as possible. We’re given so few opportunities in other parts of life to be gifted connection like this.” In a world full of turmoil and anger, the reading group gave Zach a space to feel rooted, relaxed and at peace every week. Zach not only found companions on the way as he read Bonhoeffer’s writings and adventured to Holden Village with Luther House students, but also discovered how to express his unique gifts in community. “I realize I’m capable of more than I thought I was- not only when it comes to walking in snow [at Holden Village] but being there for people, and being supported- an open ear for people’s concerns and experiences… it is really empowering.” Zach recently graduated. As he prepares to walk this spring, Zach is remembering his dad, who passed away in 2018. “I am indebted to him for sharing his own spiritual journey… I’m carrying his life, step by step.” Gratitude flows out from Zach in the gift of his life, education, and community. |
[ Q U A R A N T I N E ]
| Emma is a dedicated, disciplined student- perhaps not surprising as someone who grew up in a military family. As an accounting major, Emma also finds time to write books and large volumes of fan fiction. Emma is meticulous with her time as a commuter student at OSU in the honors college, usually focused on the practicalities of her academic education. Most of her days are either spent at school in classes and doing homework, or at home with family. Emma is active in her home congregation, serving on her church council. But Emma still felt disconnected from her congregation. “I missed having other religious people around my age.” She had bursts of interest in faith, but it wasn’t a constant in her life. “I took [my faith] out on Sundays but didn’t think about it otherwise.”Emma’s parents encouraged her to check out the Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry. One rainy day during finals, she wandered into Luther House where she discovered a cozy home, welcoming staff, and hot chocolate. At pub theology nights, Emma found connection with other students. “I can express my faith and what is important to me.” She remembers the conversations about faith backgrounds and faith journeys “eased me in, emotionally.”Pub theology continues to be a place Emma feels comfortable sharing her journey of faith, including frustrations about church, the importance of her family in her faith, and the joy of an inclusive and affirming faith community of young adults.Emma feels a connection with her faith and her whole life. “My faith is not quarantined from the rest of my life.” Emma seeks out podcasts from progressive Christian content creators online who share affirming values. She reads more, listens more, and is confident to share more openly and more often about her faith with her peers. Thank you for supporting the important work of campus ministry that allows students like Emma to dive into interesting conversations about faith, and form immediate connections and relationships with other young adults. |
[ R O O T S ]
| Nate likes clothing, and he is proud to be from Corvallis (“the best Pac 12 town in the country”). As a student at Oregon State University, Nate found home in the apparel design department. Nate grew up at Grace Lutheran in Corvallis, and to him, Luther House always felt like another possible home. Growing up, Nate found himself solo in the church’s youth ministry cohort and one of the few young adults in his home congregation. “As much as my own faith was molded and shaped in times before Luther House, I still was incredibly isolated; I knew a [faith community] was out there.” “I came to Luther House looking for the God that loves His community as they come.” As one of a handful of students in a fallow period of Luther House, Nate has been a part of building a community where students know they are loved and they belong. “I heard the yearning for the table, and felt it in myself and grew into that with a community of young adults.” There has been a lot of growth and change happening at Luther House-, not only for the student community, but for Nate as well. At Luther House, Nate does church things he always wanted to do, like preach, teach, and set the table for communion. Luther House has deep roots for Nate in his story of faith; he is connected to the people who have come before him in faith around the table. The campus ministry offers Nate many opportunities to lead and learn, particularly organizing with his community around climate resilience in the practice of loving his neighbors, preaching at local congregations, and writing liturgy. Nate continues to grow into a life engaged in faith and justice because of the Eucharistic table. Thanks to Luther House, Nate is confident in the integrity of his life of faith to meet Christ in everyone along the journey. Thank you for supporting our pastoral accompaniment of students like Nate in their baptismal vocations to live as children of God, proud OSU students, and future fashion designers. |
[ H O P E F U L]
| You don’t hear that much these days. There is so much fear and division dominating the stories and narratives shared in our news outlets that any sense of hope and burgeoning growth is hard to come by. It can be hard to feel rooted into any real sense of purpose or vision. But not for Eric. “We are going to show up, because we know our why. Our why is to do acts of compassion. Our why is a binding together instead of loosening.” This was how former board chair and champion Luther House supporter described the mission and direction of the student ministry here at Oregon State. Eric went on to say that churches and ministries cannot stay the same. Already so much has changed, but that change can actually be a catalyst for dreams and reimagining! Eric understands the transformative power of embracing and living into change, “We are ready for change. The great victory of realizing that we can change! Demonstrate a pathway forward, with new measurements for success….actually a moment of great hope.” We know Eric is always up for an adventure and challenge of change- he has been a pilot since 15 and even hiked to the basecamp of Everest! We are so thankful that Eric continues to show up and support Luther House as a foundation where students and the community can ask questions, live and experiment with the changing political and religious landscape, and be bound closer together. |
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