Gustavus Adolphus College

Contents: Christ Chapel Endowments - Sunday Offerings - Community Garden - Disaster Response

Christ Chapel Endowments
Gifts to any of the Chapel Endowment funds may be made through the Office of Institutional Advancement . Anyone may make gifts to any of the endowments. The names on the endowments represent the people who started the funds, or the people in whose honor the funds were created.

The Christ Chapel Endowment for funding programs where students have opportunities to integrate faith and learning. These skills are essential to the life of the College and those who live, work and study here, as well as to maintaining our mission as a church related college.

The John M. and Rose Marie Chell Foundation for Faith Christ Chapel Endowment to provide a permanent base of funds for Christ Chapel of Gustavus Adolphus College. The funds that are available shall be used to further the ministry of Word and Sacrament through Christ Chapel to students and faculty of the Gustavus campus community.

The Sponberg Family Chapel Endowment Fund to provide an endowment fund, the income of which is to be used for benefit of students of Gustavus Adolphus College involved in the Christ Chapel programs.

The O.W. Confer Family Chapel Endowment Fund for general chapel related expenses.

The Brostrom Endowment Fund for Christ Chapel for general chapel related expenses.

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Sunday Offerings
Sunday morning offerings are designated by the Apprentices or through the Chaplains' Office. Members of the worshipping community can bring forward a concern that they would like the offerings to be designated toward including local, national, and international concerns. Please speak with one of the Chaplains if you have an idea. In the past year, offerings were designated to:

• St. David's Child Development and Family Services "House with Heart" program (Advent 2002).

• Gusties Against Poverty for programs to directly benefit the hungry in our area (mid-fall 2002 including Hunger and Homelessness week).

• Gustavus student service projects within the St. Peter Community (early fall 2002).

• Outreach and service programs of Christ Chapel (Family Weekend 2002).

• To help defray the cost of Spring Break Work Trips for students (late spring 2002).

• The Alfonso Acevedo Community Protection Center to hlp continue educating and empowering the children of El Salvador. Service programs include health services (psychology, dentistry, laboratory, natural medicines, preventative education), sustainable agricultural education, housing projects, drug education, general education and food to children under 9 years (early spring 2002).

• The Community Garden of St. Peter, a collaborative project between Gustavus, the University of Minnesota Extension Service, School District 508 and the Community of St. Peter (January 2002).

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Community Garden
The Community Garden of St. Peter is a collaborative educational and community-building project sponsored by Gustavus, the Nicollet County Extension Services, and School District 508. The mission of the project is to provide accessible garden space to everyone who lives in the St. Peter area. All gardeners receive plants and seeds to start their plots, and compost, water, and gardening tools are available for use at the site. A Garden Buds Mentoring Program is also being developed for children and youth in the community who would like to learn more about gardening and build a meaningful relationship with an adult.

The Chaplains' Office has been supportive of the Community Garden through offering donations and other work. If you are interested in donating money, you may send a check payable to "St. Peter Community Garden" to:

St. Peter Community and Family Education
Attn: Nancy Penn
600 South 5th Street Suite 207
St. Peter, MN 56082

If you would like more information about the garden, want to reserve a plot, or volunteer your time, you may contact one of the Chaplains, or Lisa Heldke, 931-4296, Gastón Alzate, 933-6079 or Kelly Kunkel, 931-6800

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Disaster Response
In the spring of 1998, St. Peter suffered a devastating tornado that caused massive destruction on campus and in the community. Many people lost their homes. Most campus buildings were relocated for the rest of that spring. Several buildings on campus had to be torn down or removed.

Critical in the recovery of the community was Lutheran Disaster Response. Workers for this effort stayed in the St. Peter Community for over a year after the event. They assisted in helping people work with insurance companies or FEMA and also helped to secure clothes, food, and appliances. They hosted groups for people to respond to the grief and loss. They also assisted in youth programming and responded to needs in the schools.

In addition, alumni of the college and people affiliated with churches helped with the rebuilding effort.

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