Saturday, February 06, 2010

St. Paul's Chapel in Iowa City


Here at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel we have found that there are many “languages” that transcend cultural barriers: food, music, card games and… knitting? It’s true. Every Tuesday morning ladies from the United States, Taiwan and Korea gather at the Chapel to knit and crochet while discussing current events, family life then end with prayer and a short devotional time. Many of the ladies who come are wives of International students or are here with their children as they study at the University or a local high school. This group is a great outlet for social interaction and sharing the love of Christ. It’s also a place where they can learn about our culture here in Iowa City, and, judging from this picture and the beautiful afghan, they learn quickly! The Hawkeye afghan was made by one of the ladies in the group for her child who is attending the University and she was kind enough to share the pattern with the rest of the group. Our Tuesday morning group is always fun to be with and it’s great to see the creativity, laugh with each other and learn about each other’s cultures. This is what International Student Ministry at St. Paul’s is all about – sharing each other’s lives, learning from each other, and most importantly, sharing the love of God found in Christ Jesus.