College Ministries
The diocese supports three important campus ministires.
University of Rhode Island
St. Augustine’s Church is the Episcopal Center for the University of Rhode Island. Its community embodies a progressive understanding of Christianity, enlivened by the URI campus and its intellectual vigor. St. Augustine’s offers a place to explore, learn, and inquire into your faith at any age. Their worship is come-as-you-are, child-friendly, and informal. Life within this community offers camaraderie in the Gospel work of feeding, sheltering, and celebrating God’s goodness; practicing wise stewardship in creation; offering deep prayer; not to mention hosting great parties.
The Episcopal Center at URI is integrated into the life of St. Augustine’s congregation. However, there are several ministries that are by, with or for students including:
The Feed A Friend program – a direct outreach to the URI campus community. Once a month parishioners host a meal in the parish hall for students. The only ‘admission’ is that each friend bring a friend. The menus are chosen by the students.
LGBTQ Outreach includes hosting the LGBTQ Spirit Group, joining Sing Out’s performances when they occur, supporting Coming Out week activities, hosting the LGBTQ Anniversary Symposium Opening, and enjoying getting to know the LGBTQ students through other programs.
Campus “To Go” Ministries started in 2013 with “Ashes To Go” on Ash Wednesday. Clergy and parishioners descended on the URI campus with signs and ashes so that students who were unable to make it to church were still able to receive them. The response was unbelievable and this has become an annual tradition. From here, the next step was “Hot Cross Buns To Go” on Holy Thursday; “Smarties To Go” on the day before final exams where students were given a prayer and a “Smarties” candy; and “Apples To Go” before final exams this fall. There’s no telling where this ministry will go…
The Rhody Outpost is an outgrowth of a talk by the director of the Johnny Cake Center and two of our URI students who recognized the hunger that exists on college campuses. With a collaborative effort from the Johnny Cake Center’s, the Feinstein Foundation, URI and St. Augustine’s, the students created a food pantry in St. Augustine’s facility that serves URI students in need of assistance.
Contact or visit St. Augustine’s and Episcopal Ministry Center at URI.
Rhode Island College (RIC)
The Rev. Savannah Ponder is the Episcopal chaplain at RIC, and has been working with students to provide food to students facing food shortages, especially at holidays. She keeps office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Unity Center on the ground floor of Donovan Dining Center. Schedule an appointment: https://calendly.com/revsavannahponder/chaplain or reach her by email.
Chaplain Chats
Wednesdays 12:30-1:30pm
Chaplain Chats are BACK! Every Wednesday, you can chat with RIC’s chaplain, Rev. Savannah Ponder. All students, regardless of faith, are welcome. Dates, topics, and locations listed below:
January 28 at Beestro – “Welcome back!”
February 4 at Unity Center – “How do you personally define faith?”
February 11 at Lavender Lounge (Student Union 434) – “How can I navigate being religious and a member of the LGBTQ+ community?”
February 18 – Ashes To Go for Ash Wednesday, no chat held today
All chats below will be at the Unity Center:
February 25 – Open Chat
March 4 – Open Chat
March 18 – “SHEpherds of Faith – Women Leading the Call”
March 25 – “When life spills over, how can we recenter?”
April 1 – “Closing Time”
S. Stephen’s Church, on the Brown University Campus
S. Stephen’s Young Adults is open to Young Adults and University students throughout Rhode Island, and exists to provide a spiritual anchor for young adults and students, offering opportunities for worship, friendship, and service.
Join them on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm for Evening Prayer with Mass in the Lady Chapel at S. Stephen’s, with dinner and fellowship to follow at 7:15pm.
