Looking Forward

SAVE THE DATE

The Worship & Arts and Life Together committees are sponsoring the outdoor worship and picnic potluck for Sunday, July 27th. The Committees will provide Vegetarian and meat hot dogs, buns, condiments and drinks.

Dear Friends of International Students in Athens,

Each year, international students arrive in Athens from around the world to study at Ohio University, bringing with them knowledge, culture, and a spirit of global exchange that deeply enriches our community. They are not just students— they are our neighbors, friends, and honored guests.

This summer, many international students have remained in Athens. Many internship opportunities were cancelled and many did not travel home out of concern that they might be denied reentry. Because of visa restrictions, they cannot work off campus— but on-campus jobs are few in the summer months. Recognizing the situation, the university created some additional jobs through each college, but many more students still need assistance. We don’t have a means to directly measure the number of international students in need, but we do have some indicators:

• 176 students have already applied for emergency assistance from the ISSS
  
• 150 international students visit Cat’s Cupboard food pantry each month
• A survey taken by international student leaders found that 94% of respondents were actively seeking a paid internship or on campus job.  90% were struggling to pay their rent, and 82% were food insecure.
  

You can make a powerful difference right now by donating to the OHIO International Student Emergency Relief Fund at this link.

This fund helps students cover basic living expenses -- especially rent, which may exceed $800 a month. Students still owe rent throughout the summer, but they stopped receiving wages in mid-May, and fall income will not resume until mid-September—four long months. Your contribution can provide a lifeline during these challenging months. Learn more about the emergency relief fund administered by OHIO’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at this link.

There are two other important ways you can help:

Provide food by donating to Cat’s Cupboard. More than 150 international students are relying on the university’s food pantry during the summer months. International students compiled a list of foods they are familiar with and know how to prepare at this link.

Host an incoming international student. OHIO is eagerly expecting 250 new international students this fall.  Many of them will not have arranged housing.  By the time they arrive in mid-August, housing selection is extremely limited, and international students do not know their way around and lack transportation.  If you live in Athens and could host a newly arriving international student for a week or so until they can arrange housing, please fill out this form at this link.

Your generosity helps ensure that Athens remains a welcoming, supportive place for all students — no matter where they come from.

With gratitude,

Joshua Kampim
Center for International Studies, Senator

Stephen Gyesi
African Students Union, President

Hylie (Flournoy) Voss
Sugar Bush Foundation

Shayne Mae R. Lopez
Athens County Foundation

Athens County Children's Services is collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly to help offset the impact of children going without school lunches this summer.  Donations can be placed in the bin located in the narthex. 

Do you have a favorite memory of Christ Lutheran Church?  Maybe it was decades ago or even just last week?  Would someone be interested in hearing it?  YES!!!

The Outreach Committee of CLC would like to “memorialize” such memories in a pamphlet for others to reminisce and enjoy.

We are looking for brief vignettes to include in this document.  And we are looking for folks who are currently members OR folks who have been members or supporter in the past.  So please share this request far and wide to those with whom you are still in contact.

They can be as brief as you’d like!  This information is needed by August, although we can’t say just now when they will be published.  We will need time to organize before publishing!

Here are some topics that have popped in our minds:  

                  *Church beginnings in the movie theater

                  *Our previous rental house

                  *Renovation of our current building

                  * Special memories of a particular church service (Such as something that happened, or a special song you remember or a particular sermon that moved you)

                  *Former pastors

                  *Former interns

                  *Building of the LLC apartments

                  *Worship during Covid

                  *Music

                  *Activities :  Montana de Luz trips, Youth Gatherings, Service Trips by college students, children and family events such as Halloween hay rides, swimming parties, Lutefisk Dinners, “lock-ins”, Children’s Christmas programs, St. Patty’s Day parties, “Small 
Groups” during the 1980s, Women’s Retreats, AAL activities, working with non-profits such as My Sister’s Place, Athens County Food Pantry, CWS Hunger Walks, Blessing of the Animals, various church committees and their activities, and so much more!   

                  * Was there something that made you feel like you welcome at the church, or something that made you think, “This is the church for me.”

We would like you to send your memories to the Outreach Committee. You can email them to Nick Claussen at nickc324@gmail.com,  or write out your memories and hand them to Committee members Linda Sauer, Karen Beverly, John Laughlin or Nick Claussen or mail them to Christ Lutheran Church, 69 Mill Street, Athens, Ohio 45701. Thanks!