Diocese of Nebraska Campus Connections
You can help connect new college students to a spiritual community in the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska! We know the transition to (and life in) college can be challenging for both students and their families, and so we are working with parishes in our college towns to help welcome our students and connect them to programs of outreach, growth, and discipleship. If you know a student, or if you are a student yourself, who'd like to be connected to a faith community, please submit your/their name, college/university, email, and phone number (and parent's address) and we will reach out and connect them to Episcopal campus ministries and/or local churches.
Omaha area
All Saints Episcopal Church in Omaha has a weekly “Roast, Religion, and Rants” table in the UNO library where students can stop by for coffee, prayer and discussion (and ranting if they feel the need). All Saints is also teaming with the Omaha area ELCA for weekly fellowship with UNO, St. Mary’s, Creighton, and Metro students. Contact Fr. Keith @ 402-393-8612 for more information.
St Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Elkhorn is five minutes from the Metro Elkhorn campus. St. A’s has a “Canterbury Village” of boosters for our parish youth, and their work includes an “Adopt a College Student” program for our parish youth away at college. Also St. A’s is involved with Habitat for Humanity, EfM, C.O.P.E.(Christian Outreach Program of Elkhorn), Creighton Native American Student Outreach and a number of other programs.
Hastings College
St. Mark's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral in Hastings offers several opportunities for church services, outreach, fellowship, or educational opportunities. Sunday services are at 8 & 10 a.m. and a Healing Eucharist is offered on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. St. Mark’s Fellowship is a group that meets monthly at a different restaurant or brewery in town for a social evening. Please check with the church office or our Facebook page for St. Mark’s Fellowship Dates. The first Sunday of the month after the 10 a.m. service we have a potluck that always has plenty of food for everyone to share in. On the second Sunday of odd numbered months, we participate in a program called “Open Table” where we make over 650 sandwiches and lunch bags to be taken to Catholic Social Services and handed out to whoever asks for a lunch. On the second Saturday of even numbered months, we hold a Laundry Love event at the local laundromat from 2-5 p.m. where we pay for folks to do their laundry. Other Outreach opportunities are often available throughout the year. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Dean Katie at the church office or check us out on Facebook!
Lincoln area
At St. Mark’s on the Campus you will find a community where all are welcome no matter their age, race, gender identity or sexual orientation.
We are a community that loves Jesus, loves reading the Bible together and puts our faith into action working for justice in our community and the world. We’re a community that believes no question is off limits and no doubt is too big for God. We hope you’ll join us on Sundays for 10:30 am Holy Eucharist with as much music as Covid19 allows us at public worship at this time. This service is also broadcast on Facebook Live.
This year our welcome to students will be in two parts:
- On Aug 16 during the campus map event (10:00am-Noon) you are invited to visit the information and greeting table in our courtyard at 13th and R.
- Then come back on Aug 22 from 3:00-6:00 pm for Snack/Chat 2020 a time of food, friendly faces and fun.
UNK
St Luke's Episcopal Church has a presence at UNK's "Blue and Gold Showcase" on campus on August 23rd to provide information on the parish, including posters of Famous Episcopalians and "Top 10 Reasons...", plus snow-cones and an invitation to visit St. Luke's. The following three Sundays, St. Luke's hosts "Beyond Blue and Gold Day" at the parish where the parish hall will be set up as a ministry fair to give visitors a look at what we are about. St. Luke’s also participates in the annual Kearney “Destination Downtown” August 29th.
Chadron State
Grace Episcopal Church in Chardon offers services at 10:30 each Sunday morning and Evening Prayer followed by a free dinner at 6:00 on the Second Sunday of each month. During the school year, Fr. John Adams and a few other ministers have lunch in the Chadron State cafeteria, providing an opportunity for students to converse with any of us.
To find an Episcopal Church in a college community or anywhere else in Nebraska, click here.
If your parish has a program for college aged students, please contact Fr. Keith Winton. Plus, if you are interested in starting a program of welcome and discipleship for college students, please let us know, we would love to brainstorm with you!
