As you may have already guessed, this website will discuss some small groups held at the United Campus Ministry (UCM), the church across the street from the UAC bus stop. They have been sectioned based on the evenings I visit the building and what's usually happening around that time.
I discovered the UCM during my first year of college. I wanted to find a church I could go to while away from home, and this being close to my dorm was a plus. It also helped that everyone I met was friendly and willing to guide me through each event or activity I asked about on the lot. They've also been ready to help with this project and a few others, even if those ideas didn't pan out, so some of their faces may seem familiar!
Here, I'll share a story of how a friend of mine, Avery Delleney, found the UCM during her first year at Texas State University:
Initially, I wanted to talk about Wednesday, when service is held, because I was interested in sound and recording. It would've been sectioned by the Music Team's rehearsals, the worship itself, and the post-sermon discussion. Unfortunately, this fell flat when I came with the camera equipment I rented out and discovered that only three people would be playing that night! As it turned out, most of the band was busy, and this was the first time something like this had happened in about two years, so it would just be a singer, a singer/pianist, and an acoustic guitar player. I didn't want to wait another week for the rest of the band to show up, and I would have less time, so I decided to change it and obtain some footage for Monday and Tuesday before it was Wednesday again. Along the way, I decided I wouldn't get the music team because it wouldn't make sense with the rest of what I was doing.
When thinking about which groups to include, I left some out when I finished. Of course, there are a few more groups than I mentioned. These include the monthly Men's Group and the Mental Wellness Group I wasn't a part of then. I decided to leave them alone because I needed to be more familiar with them or because I didn't think they would meet in the time I had left after making my topic decision.
The Monday Night Community Group (MNCG) meets every Monday during the spring and fall semesters. Each week, the group explores a restaurant in San Marcos and hangs out together. From there, they discuss God and expand their friendships with Him and one another. Sometimes, they stay at the UCM for a study or gaming session. Though these only occur a few times throughout the school year, a discussion is not held due to the meeting's purpose.
The MNCH gather at the UCM about an hour before leaving at 7p.m. From there, they will either walk or drive to a local restaurant. These can range from shared items such as pizza rolls at Gumby's and chips and salsa at Torchy's to individual meals such as slushies at Sonic and fro-yo at Frozen Cave. Once everyone is seated with food at their table, the group opens with a prayer and talks about each person's highs and lows for the week. Then, the discussion topic is introduced, citing a passage from the Bible and applying that to how each member interacts with the people around them and how they can change that with the lesson learned that day.
Rex Kerwin, UCM Ministry Intern, leads Spring 2023's MNCG. He recently took up the position in the same semester. Having the official title of Community and Friendship Intern, he spends 10 hours a week at the UCM to hang out and as a part of his job. His responsibilities include helping run worship on Wednesdays and helping run other events throughout the week. The video will focus more on MNCG's history and explore its benefits to students and interns.
Beloved is the UCM's women's group. It starts at 7:30p.m. and can last from 30 minutes to about an hour. Its origins come from one of the pastors believing there weren't many groups in the usual church where women could gather. As a result, she decided that one needed to be created for the UCM. Attendee numbers have steadily grown, averaging four to eight members each time.
Meetings are held on the UCM lot, each focusing on the women encouraging one another throughout the process. Sometimes they read passages from the Bible and connect that with a lesson. There have also been times when a leisurely activity goes hand-in-hand with a Bible message. Other times, it's a stress-relieving day, either making arts and crafts or having a therapy session with an expert. Either way, the members talk about their day and some of their favorite music or events after the meeting ends.
The photos consist of some of these meetings. These may give more insight into what Beloved does each time they meet. The first is the group roasting Smores by the campfire pit in November. The second is of them creating mini wreaths and ornaments in one of the meeting rooms around Christmastime. In the third one, they are watching an episode of "Sexy Beasts" in the dining room and accompanying it with a discussion on inner/outer beauty.
A few changes have been made over the years. For instance, Beloved used to be held every Tuesday. However, new leaders and time constraints made it less easy to keep up as the semesters continued. So, it became every other Tuesday starting in spring 2023. A meeting can also occur in either the dining room or one of the meeting rooms, which are adjacent but serve different purposes depending on the activity.
This is the day of worship, starting at 7:30p.m. People gather an hour or two before then. Some are a part of the music team, which plays during worship and rehearses before then. Others are attending a meeting scheduled for the other UCM teams. The Welcome Team also greets those entering and hanging out in the building, and some people chat in different areas on the same floor.
Near the end of worship, announcements are made. One of these is always mentioned with community or church events whose dates are approaching nearby. This is for those that want to delve deeper into the sermon and talks held with smaller groups in the chapel. It's called the AfterWorship Discussion and is considered a small group. It occurs right after worship ends at 8:30p.m.
Most people don't stay for that, though there are some exceptions. Sometimes, activities are held in the chapel alongside the usual discussions in the dining room. Also, the UCM can hold a party instead. These also occur in the dining room and can be based on a holiday like Christmas or Easter or a fun activity like karaoke or game night. Regardless, the UCM usually stays open for a few hours after worship until the last few people turn the lights off for the night.
