Campus Ministry Supports Faith Life Away from Home

ECM 2009: (click on image to enlarge)The Episcopal Campus Ministry-Raleigh (Cheshire House) serves area college students from NCSU, Meredith and Peace colleges and is celebrating its 50th anniversary.  Cheshire House is a safe and hospitable place for students to gather and worship in the Episcopal tradition, and provides a spiritual home for Raleigh college students who are too far from their home church.  Students who grew up in the Episcopal Church participate, as do those who are looking for a church. Many times those students find one at the Cheshire House and join the Episcopal Church. After graduating, most students continue in the Episcopal Church, becoming Sunday school teachers, Vestry members, deacons, priests, and bishops.

Each Sunday evening students gather at the Cheshire House for worship and a meal provided by Raleigh area churches. Bible study groups meet weekly, and students attend programs on the History and Formation of the Episcopal Church, environmental issues, and improving interfaith relationships. The students participate in outreach programs and student assistance in the Raleigh community and also serve on mission trips. All of these programs are implemented following the Diocesan Plan: Making Disciples/Making a Difference, and are based on the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Campus Ministry-Raleigh Advisory Board consists of two parishioners from each church in the Raleigh area. Ed Sharp and Charles Lytle serve on the board from Good Shepherd.  Jan Harris ensures that a home-cooked meal is provided monthly by Good Shepherd parishioners.  Hilary Towle and Chas Sharp are two of Good Shepherd's own that actively participate at Cheshire House and are the beneficiaries of its ministry.  The Diocese of N.C. supports the salary of the chaplain only, so the financial support received from Raleigh area churches is essential to the operation of Cheshire House.  Good Shepherd has been a faithful supporter of Cheshire House for many years by designating part of the Easter Offering for Cheshire House.

For more information contact Deborah Fox, the chaplain at Cheshire House, at 919-834-2428, or visit http://www.ecm-raleigh.org/

- Ed Sharp, Cheshire House Board member