We're a Campus Ministry Congregation of the ELCA.
We gather weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm, plus Sunday mornings at 10 am.
University Lutheran is the only LGBTQ+ affirming Christian campus ministry serving Stanford University. Students from Palo Alto University, Menlo College, Foothill College, De Anza College, and Cañada College are also warmly welcome.
We come from many backgrounds. Some of us are Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical, UCC, or UU. Some come from other traditions, or none at all. What matters here isn’t where you come from, but whether you want to be part of a thoughtful, caring community.
This is a place where you can show up as yourself. We care more about people than performance, and more about care than achievement. Together we build friendships, share meals, and make space for the kinds of conversations you don’t often get to have elsewhere.
Things like:
•Death and dying
• How queerness and Christianity totally go together
• What salvation might even mean (and whether it’s really a thing)
• Whether you hear God in your life…or don’t
• The complicated moments of discernment and direction that shape life
All of it approached with honesty, depth, thoughtful conversation, and often a good deal of laughter.
Students have always helped shape the life of this community. At times, university-affiliated members have served on church council, and our campus and buildings are available as a gathering place for student life.
University Lutheran Palo Alto is one of hundreds of Lutheran Campus Ministry sites across the US affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, giving us a relationship to several Lutheran Campus Ministries in California and across the country.
We come from many backgrounds. Some of us are Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical, UCC, or UU. Some come from other traditions, or none at all. What matters here isn’t where you come from, but whether you want to be part of a thoughtful, caring community.
This is a place where you can show up as yourself. We care more about people than performance, and more about care than achievement. Together we build friendships, share meals, and make space for the kinds of conversations you don’t often get to have elsewhere.
Things like:
•Death and dying
• How queerness and Christianity totally go together
• What salvation might even mean (and whether it’s really a thing)
• Whether you hear God in your life…or don’t
• The complicated moments of discernment and direction that shape life
All of it approached with honesty, depth, thoughtful conversation, and often a good deal of laughter.
Students have always helped shape the life of this community. At times, university-affiliated members have served on church council, and our campus and buildings are available as a gathering place for student life.
University Lutheran Palo Alto is one of hundreds of Lutheran Campus Ministry sites across the US affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, giving us a relationship to several Lutheran Campus Ministries in California and across the country.
Ways To Get Together
Here are a few easy ways to gather with fellow students, as well as recent former students weekly:
Monday Evenings, 6:30 pm: We meet virtually (on Zoom) to read and explore scripture together. You'll need to email Rev. Sam for the Zoom link.
Wednesday Evenings, 6 pm: In person dinner + conversation or spiritual practice. Typically we do a church service with communion once a month. Usually we gather at Old Union, but on occasion we make a point of gathering at the University Lutheran Parsonage (it's a little more spacious and comfortable!). You can drop in any time announced or unannounced. Though, if you text Rev. Sam we can make sure you know where we're meeting, and be on the lookout for you.
Sunday Mornings, 10 am: Sunday morning church is low key, and comes with communion every week. Rev. Sam is typically the pastor leading the service. You have the option to join us through Zoom if remote is easier than in person (email for the link). We try to keep the service to about an hour, and there are always some good snacks afterwards! When it comes to church here, we are a progressive, thoughtful community who welcomes people as they are. You can read more about what to expect on the church service page.
There are also a range of special events scattered throughout the year. We typically email about those, and try to also post about them in Social Media spaces.
Monday Evenings, 6:30 pm: We meet virtually (on Zoom) to read and explore scripture together. You'll need to email Rev. Sam for the Zoom link.
Wednesday Evenings, 6 pm: In person dinner + conversation or spiritual practice. Typically we do a church service with communion once a month. Usually we gather at Old Union, but on occasion we make a point of gathering at the University Lutheran Parsonage (it's a little more spacious and comfortable!). You can drop in any time announced or unannounced. Though, if you text Rev. Sam we can make sure you know where we're meeting, and be on the lookout for you.
Sunday Mornings, 10 am: Sunday morning church is low key, and comes with communion every week. Rev. Sam is typically the pastor leading the service. You have the option to join us through Zoom if remote is easier than in person (email for the link). We try to keep the service to about an hour, and there are always some good snacks afterwards! When it comes to church here, we are a progressive, thoughtful community who welcomes people as they are. You can read more about what to expect on the church service page.
There are also a range of special events scattered throughout the year. We typically email about those, and try to also post about them in Social Media spaces.
Click to email Pr. Sam
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Click to email Chaplain Travis
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