Tag Archives: vespers

Glow and Grow With God 

PUC is committed to helping and encouraging students to become closer to Christ and build their relationship with him. A great thing about PUC is there are many ways students can worship, allowing them the opportunity to grow in an environment they feel safe in. 

Every Friday night after vespers, students head to the Campus Center to relax at Afterglow. Afterglow is simply an opportunity to continue the blessing provided at vespers in a more casual setting.

Afterglow acts as a place where people can relax, let go, and let God. Students are encouraged to gather and talk, worship, and support each other without the stressors of school and work, or anything else weighing heavy on their minds. 

Dylan Gray, a sophomore marketing communication and emergency management major, is in charge of Afterglow. He appreciates how much planning and work is put into providing an experience for the students and really enjoys seeing students have such a passion for worshiping God in their hearts. Being able to worship with friends is what inspires him to continue working hard week after week. 

Dylan is dedicated to furthering Afterglow’s goal of creating a place of worship where students can go knowing they’ll find love and support in their time of need. He knows how important it is for every student to understand while they may be struggling, someone else is also and while their struggles might be different, they can still support each other. 

If you haven’t been to Afterglow yet, come! If you’re interested in getting involved, the door is always open. “I came from a public school and didn’t have a space to worship or support each other,” says Dylan. “I appreciate that there is space for that and am thankful for it. I appreciate worshiping with my friends and peers. It is not just a knock off vespers, it’s an organic place of worship and friendship. I just want to worship with people. ”

Editor’s Note: This blog was written prior to the Covid crisis and PUC switching to temporary online education. If you’re interested in learning more about Afterglow, other PUC ministries, or ways to stay connected while we’re apart, reach out to our Campus Ministries team at campusministries@puc.edu or on Instagram @campusministries.puc. 

Worn In, Not Worn Out

By: Craig Philpott

We miss you! We miss seeing your faces on campus. We especially miss worshiping together as a campus family. Since we won’t be able to wander down to the Church tonight to gather for vespers, we wanted to share a short devotional thought instead. This week we asked the director of admissions, Craig Philpott to share a short but meaningful thought. 

The other day I hiked down the path to Linda Falls on the western edge of Howell Mountain. The path is rutted and worn and there are even spots where the path is a bit of a trench from all the years of footsteps that have traveled it. As I walked, I wondered how much wear and tear to the path had come from my 30 years of hiking. I continued on and crossed the flat portion of the trail and looked around at the nearby forest and was reminded how small the trees are in the section of the hill that is almost solid rock. The trees are small and stunted, the brush has open spots of solid rock that no one would call a “meadow.” But life is still there, holding on, growing, not thriving as in easier locations but solid, firm and alive.

Later, as I returned, climbing up the hill toward the road, I again encountered the sections of the path that were deep and worn. This time it struck me that the path was “worn in” not “worn out.” The path has carried the memories of every hiker, every student, every faculty, staff, and guest of the college for over 100 years; and the years have added character to the journey. I know my footsteps have added to the worn-in spots on the trail and I hope my journey has made the path better.

Psalms 16, verses 8-11

“I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

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