Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

0 rxuiTi iiuj KRISTIN FREESTATE Staff Writer To some, it's just a blue building on Pickens Street that looks similar to IHOP. But to the people within, PALM Campus Ministry is something more. "We aren't just a group, we're a family," ju9 nior Brian Corley said. PALM (Partnership Among Lutherans and Methodists) is a campus ministry that, in spite of its name, strives to be an interdenominational community. Under the guidance of Methodist Pastor Tom Wall, Lutheran interim campus ministers Scott and Cathv Mims and campus ministry associate Calvin Washington, the group enjoys a busy existence of weekly worship, Wednesday evening programs and a variety of social and service activities. "People from all areas, from all walks, have found a home here," Cathy Mims said. To maintain an open atmosphere, the people at PALM work to make their activities as universal as possible. Sunday evening services include aspects of both Lutheran and Methodist worship, as well as international songs and customs. Diversity and trees seem to be an integral part of the PALM building's 35-year history. In the past, Lutherans and Methodists on campus had been separated. With the birth of the ELM ^ Center, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Methodists came together with other religions, and ELM evolved into PALM. In addition to student programs, the PALM center alsd houses a variety of organizations, providing a meeting place and worship center. "People, no matter their differences, can find a welcome and can find something for their own journey," Wall said. Wall is in his eighth year at the PALM center. As the Methodist campus pastor, he ministers to the Methodist students, faculty and staff ^ on campus, works on university departments and committees and volunteers his services for causes such as the Oxfam Anti-Hunger Coalition and Religious Awareness Days. Wall said he hopes PALM will become an "agent of reconciliation and healing to bring people together and to help them understand their commonness." m ** X 4-TI r7 W ?Xo*?AJLJ Call your Gameco > < rtures sj Until last year, Wall worked with Linda Mitchell, who was the Lutheran campus pastor. When Mitchell left last Christmas to work at a different position on campus, the job was left open. After some unsuccessful attempts to fill the position, a PALM board member proposed an alternative solution: hire Lutheran seminary students Scott and Cathy Mims. Scott and Cathy Mims are in their last semester at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and will serve as interim pastors at PALM through May. Married for about three years, the couple work together to plan and lead worship and programs, work on outreach, perform administrative tasks such as fund raising and trying "to help make disciples and to be there for folks at PALM," Scott Mims said. Cathy and Scott Mims said they feel they have learned a lot in their brief time at PALM because they help students "make connections between their faith and their everyday fives." Cathy Mims said, "I hope to learn some concrete ways to inform my understanding of shaping leaders in the church [and] to be aware of some of the special needs and concerns and strengths and gifts that college students bring to the church." The fourth main figure in the PALM community is campus ministry associ Calvin Washington. Washington shares sponsibilities similar to those of Wall Cathy and Scott Mims: teaching, preaching, re ing out and counselling. In addition, Washinj hopes to promote diversity and student u: amonp PALM mpmWs PALM remains mainly a student-led o nization. "People here aren't volunteers," Cathy M said. "I've been very impressed with the c mitment on the part of the students." Under the leadership of junior co-presid< Corley and Michele Price, student executives 1 worship, publicity, outreach, social and ser committees and plan out the topics for Wed] day evening Body & Soul programs. Body & Soul, one of PALM'S main activii is held every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The: range from the state of the environment to B sson AH6 (*For customers who ck sales rep at (801 ETC. )iritual cc IBl PALM Campus Ministry is an organization that h service activities. Pictured above is a Sunday pos ate study. As with Sunday worship, the evening en i re- with a free meal. and PALM offers a variety of activities beyoi ach- the traditional Wednesday and Sunday evenu ?ton programs. "PALM is where you can see Christianity work daily," senior Wendy Weary said. r^a Service opportunities include volunteer woi at the Bethlehem Center, an after-school cent hns for elementary school children; Tucker Center, om- nursing home for special-needs seniors; Habit for Humanity and a number of one-shot oppc ents tunities. lead The highlight service event of the year is tl vice Sea Islands Workcamp, a weeklong project nes- May in which students from campus ministri statewide come together to help renovate horn ties, for the needy on Charleston's Sea Islands. mes In addition to service opportunities, PAL ible provides for the social interaction of its membe 00 :tivate ALLTEL service. While su 3)608-2625. i *A umiiumiy SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK nlrla wppL 1 v mpptinora nnri ia invnlvprl in anninl nnrl t-worship group. ds with evenings of movies, plays, cosmic bowling and card competitions. id Other means of community-building include ig midday prayer, a time for meditation and personal renewal, the newly formed PALM choir and at Covenant Discipleship groups. In Covenant groups, small groups of stark dents have the chance to meet to encourage and er direct one another in their spiritual growth. Foa cusing on the areas of worship, devotion, comat passion and justice, the group meets once a week ir_ for an hour to pray, study the Bible and discuss their problems, joys and concerns. ie Wall said his singular vision for is "that we jn continue to strive to be a community of welfare es and reconciliation [and] to offer a community es where individuals can grow in their faith and find meaning from their lives and can live out an ethic of love and service." M rs Super comp; (7.4 oz.) ^ ^ Excellent so W Five ring vo Three micro| 100 minute! W Up to 28 he * On standard 10 memory Last numbei pplies last.) I ^ bbhhhbbhI for Requires c restrictions ? ; Site of the Pay USC Symphony, Aaron Rosand to perform Thursday at Koger STAFF REPORTS The USC Symphony, under the direction of Donald Portnoy, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Koger Center for the Arts. Violinist Aaron Rosand, the concert's featured artists, will play the Tchaikovsky "Violin Concerto." Also included on the evening's program are Beethoven's "Fidelio Overture," and Mendelsshon's "Reformation Symphony." Tickets may be purchased in advance at $13 (regular), $10 (faculty and staff) and $7 (students) through the Carolina Coliseum or on the evening of the concert in the lobby of the Koger Center. Rosand made his solo debut with the Chicago Symphony at the age of 10. Sinrp that fjphnt hp has annparpH with the orchestras of Bernstein, Maazel, Rostropovich, and others throughout the United States in Europe. As quoted in the Miami Herald, "The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto was full of pungent character, style and radiant tone ... The brilliance, the spacious strength of his playing always takes me by surprise." "When any violinist can exhort his instrument to sing and thunder, sigh and declaim, as incandescently as Aaron Rosand, he must be counted among the chosen few of his art," an article in the Los Angeles Times said. Rosand is best known for his recordings, of which there are at least 20, and his reviews can also be found in magazines like Strad and Gramophone. und quality lume settings phone volume settings ; of talk time iurs of standby time I battery locations r redial .TEL is proud to be the Official eless Communications Provider the Carolina Panthers. >ne-year service agreement. Certain ; apply. See store for details. DATA* <?i.