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Celebration / Hymn Sing Combined Worship
Join Hymn Sing and Celebration for a combined worship service in Park Woods Cabin!. The trail to the cabin enters Park Woods behind the Parkwoods Apartments.
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANXXK.
Sunday, November 15, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
FCA Meeting
A place with athletes to speak about their walk with God. (Everyone is welcome),
Location: UC 211/212,
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWKT.
Monday, November 16, 2026, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
"Who is Jesus?" Bible Study
Join a weekly Discovery Bible Study led by EMU Faith and Spiritual Life Affiliate, Carol Tobin.
Discovery Bible Study is a safe place to see for yourself what the Bible says.
Location: Campus Center Greeting Hall (1st floor),
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWPT.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Campus Worship - Spying on Jesus
Explore the historical Jesus in Spying on Jesus, a novella by pastor and author Ryan Ahlgrim, is the authors "attempt to imaginatively reconstruct the ministry and message of Jesus with as much historical verisimilitude and plausibility as (possible), based on decades of research. It’s also an opportunity ... to dig deeper into the meaning of Jesus’ message by having the narrator be a skeptic who is constantly challenging what Jesus is saying (he’s also a spy for the government!). My hope is that this imaginative story helps people see Jesus in surprising ways that challenge ... assumptions about how to live and what to live for."
Campus Worship is an invitational space for gathered worship in Christian traditions and a variety of styles. Campus Worship is held in Martin Chapel (Seminary Building) on Wednesday mornings every other week scheduled opposite of Convocation.
Read more here about campus worship and other worship services on campus.
2 Engage Points,
This event will be livestreamed…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANQRL.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 10:15 AM – 11:05 AM.
Seminary Building, Room 215 Martin Chapel, Seminary Building, Room 218 Fellowship Area.
ENC Purple
Organization: Faith and Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWGT.
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
University Commons, Room 211 Conference Room.
Relationship & Dating Panel
We are having a dating, relationship, family panel to help students discover how to do healthy relationships with Spiritual insight.
Held in UC 177,
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANZGX.
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Hymn Sing
Hymn Sing meets every-other-week on Sundays at 7pm in Martin Chapel. All are welcome!
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life. Event Locator: 2026-AANWDA.
Sunday, November 22, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Seminary Building, Room 213 Kitchenette, Seminary Building, Room 215 Martin Chapel, Seminary Building, Room 218 Fellowship Area.
Full Moon Gift Gathering
All are invited to gather in the Discipleship Center on the EMU campus hill (or outside on the hill if the weather is suitable) for a time of sharing things that have been a gift to you recently. Gifts might be experiences of receiving a blessing, delight, hope, joy, gratitude, or connection. It could be a poem, art, or song that you share. It might be food or a flower to bring to the gathering.
Each person will be offered opportunity to share anything for 1-3 minutes and it's okay to simply come and receive what others share.
All ages, faiths, and no faith welcomed. There will be no pre-screening or censorship, but please respect the potential of young ears present.
November through March, bring a candle for the focus area. Chairs are provided.
April through October, an outdoor campfire and water to drink will be provided. Bring your own water bottle and chairs or blanket.
Please consider walking or parking farther away so that those with accessibility needs can park closest for easy walking. …
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life. Event Locator: 2026-AANXVZ.
Monday, November 23, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Discipleship Center, Room 101.
FCA Meeting
A place with athletes to speak about their walk with God. (Everyone is welcome),
Location: UC 211/212,
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWKT.
Monday, November 23, 2026, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
"Who is Jesus?" Bible Study
Join a weekly Discovery Bible Study led by EMU Faith and Spiritual Life Affiliate, Carol Tobin.
Discovery Bible Study is a safe place to see for yourself what the Bible says.
Location: Campus Center Greeting Hall (1st floor),
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWPT.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Loy Krathong, November 5-6
Loy Krathong, also named Festival of Lights, is a Thai Buddhist festival honoring the water goddess. For the Thai Buddhists, this holiday signifies letting go and committing to a fresh start. Paper lanterns are floated away to release negativity and welcome the new year. ,
It is observed on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, usually in November.
Interview with EMU Associate Professor, Heike Peckruhn,
During Loy Krathong, decorative baskets (krathong) made with leaves and flowers hold a lantern (candle) and food offering. This is floated (loy) into a river or pond with a wish. The holiday has various meanings attached to it. For Heike, this connects her to her mother’s culture. “This holiday fills a spiritual gap of ancestor remembrance that is without resonance among Christian holidays.”
Upcoming dates of Loy Krathong are November 13-14, 2027; November 1-2, 2028; November 21, 2029; November 10, 2030.
You can access the complete Multifaith Religious and Cultural…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2025-AANJDS.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 5:00 PM – 11:59 PM.
ENC Purple
Organization: Faith and Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWGT.
Thursday, November 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
University Commons, Room 211 Conference Room.
Advent, November 29 - December 24
Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. Wikipedia,
"The Christian season of Advent begins not in clarity or comfort, but in the dark. The days grow shorter. The nights stretch longer. And both personally and collectively, it can feel like we are riding into a strong headwind. Progress can feel slower than we want—even when we are doing meaningful, faithful work. Advent does not deny the resistance we face. It teaches us how to live faithfully within it. We light candles not because the darkness can be resolved, but because light is dependable. The promise of Advent is that we are not alone as we move through it.
"Pause and notice the light already present in your life: the people who steadied you, the growth you didn’t expect, the strength you discovered…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2025-AANJDT.
Sunday, November 29, 2026, 7:00 AM.
FCA Meeting
A place with athletes to speak about their walk with God. (Everyone is welcome),
Location: UC 211/212,
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWKT.
Monday, November 30, 2026, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
"Who is Jesus?" Bible Study
Join a weekly Discovery Bible Study led by EMU Faith and Spiritual Life Affiliate, Carol Tobin.
Discovery Bible Study is a safe place to see for yourself what the Bible says.
Location: Campus Center Greeting Hall (1st floor),
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWPT.
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
ENC Purple
Organization: Faith and Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWGT.
Thursday, December 3, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
University Commons, Room 211 Conference Room.
Hanukkah, December 4 - 12
Hanukkah is often called the Festival of Lights — a time of warmth, joy, and illumination during the darkest season of the year. This eight-day holiday invites Jews around the world to pause, gather with family and friends, and kindle light in both their homes and their hearts.
Each night, as Jews light a candle on the hanukkiah, they reflect on resilience, hope, and the power of light to overcome darkness.
(from https://ifcmw.org/),
The following is from an interview with Courtney Joyner, EMU faculty:
Hanukkah is a minor holiday. There is nothing in rabbinical literature (Talmud) that requires you to observe it. However, during the last century, the celebration of Hanukkah in the United States has transformed from a minor festival into one of American Jews’ most widely observed holidays. “Christmas became increasingly central in 19th-century America, the day for giving gifts to children, eventually becoming a national holiday. As a result of all that, Hanukkah was infused with a vast new energy,…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2025-AANJDW.
Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:00 PM.
Celebration Student Worship Service
Celebration is a student-led Christian worship service featuring praise songs, scripture and reflection. It is held every two weeks on Sunday evenings from 7-8 p.m. The services are open to everyone.
Celebration takes place in UC 177 (lower level University Commons - south entrance).
For more information and/or to get involved, contact the Celebration Leadership Team at celebration@emu.edu.
1 Engage Point available beginning September 20.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANVWJ.
Sunday, December 6, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
University Commons, Room 177 Meeting Room.
FCA Meeting
A place with athletes to speak about their walk with God. (Everyone is welcome),
Location: UC 211/212,
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWKT.
Monday, December 7, 2026, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
"Who is Jesus?" Bible Study
Join a weekly Discovery Bible Study led by EMU Faith and Spiritual Life Affiliate, Carol Tobin.
Discovery Bible Study is a safe place to see for yourself what the Bible says.
Location: Campus Center Greeting Hall (1st floor),
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWPT.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Campus Worship Christmas Stories & Songs
Many of us are beginning to prepare for Christmas, either by observing Advent, an extended season of preparation, or in other ways. This morning we will celebrate and share some of the stories and songs of Christmas with musicians __________; student chaplain and seminary student readers, and _______ sharing reflections on the central message of Christmas.
Campus Worship is an invitational space for gathered worship in Christian traditions and a variety of styles. Campus Worship is held in Martin Chapel (Seminary Building) on Wednesday mornings every other week scheduled opposite of Convocation.
Read more here about campus worship and other worship services on campus.
2 Engage Points,
This event will be livestreamed on EMU's YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@EasternMennoniteUniv/streams and will continue be available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/@EasternMennoniteUniv.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANQRM.
Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 10:15 AM – 11:05 AM.
Seminary Building, Room 215 Martin Chapel, Seminary Building, Room 218 Fellowship Area.
ENC Purple
Organization: Faith and Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWGT.
Thursday, December 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
University Commons, Room 211 Conference Room.
Hymn Sing
Hymn Sing meets every-other-week on Sundays at 7pm in Martin Chapel. All are welcome!
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life. Event Locator: 2026-AANWDA.
Sunday, December 13, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Seminary Building, Room 213 Kitchenette, Seminary Building, Room 215 Martin Chapel, Seminary Building, Room 218 Fellowship Area.
FCA Meeting
A place with athletes to speak about their walk with God. (Everyone is welcome),
Location: UC 211/212,
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWKT.
Monday, December 14, 2026, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
"Who is Jesus?" Bible Study
Join a weekly Discovery Bible Study led by EMU Faith and Spiritual Life Affiliate, Carol Tobin.
Discovery Bible Study is a safe place to see for yourself what the Bible says.
Location: Campus Center Greeting Hall (1st floor),
1 Engage Point.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWPT.
Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Christmas Caroling at VMRC
All are welcome to join Y-Serve and Hymn Sing leaders for a bit of Christmas caroling! Meet at the Black Lives Matter mural (lower level entrance of University Commons) to walk to the VMRC Woodland Homes neighborhood for Christmas Caroling at several of the homes. Wear holiday festive clothing, earrings, hats or scarfs. Song sheets will be provided.
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Faith & Spiritual Life, Y-Serve. Event Locator: 2026-AANZJN.
Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM.
ENC Purple
Organization: Faith and Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANWGT.
Thursday, December 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
University Commons, Room 211 Conference Room.
Christmas Day
Many people in the United States, and other places, celebrate Christmas Day on December 25. The day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth. (timeanddate.com),
Excerpts from interview with EMU student, Marciella Shallomita, below.
"Christmas has always been a busy and beautiful holiday that I grew up celebrating. When I started being involved in ministry with the worship team and children’s ministry, the week of Christmas was always a busy week with rehearsals, church events, and more. However, looking at the holiday itself, Christmas was always a time of remembering how God came on earth as one of us, human, to redeem us and deliver us. Jesus didn’t come into the world as a king of some land, but came to earth in the most humble way possible. I value this holiday as it brings many people together in the church. Various members who have been busy with work and have not attended church usually come on this day.
"For many, this time of year might be a time to have family reunions and have meals together, but…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2025-AANJDV.
Friday, December 25, 2026, 7:00 AM.
Genna (Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas
Interview with EMU student, Ruth Abera,
"From my religious background I most value the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas holiday which is also known as Genna. This holiday is important to me for several reasons. Firstly, it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, which is central to my Christian faith and brings me a sense of spiritual joy. Secondly, it's a time of coming together with family and friends, strengthening bonds over sharing traditional meals, and customs. Last but not least it's a moment to celebrate my rich Ethiopian cultural heritage, which often includes vibrant music, dance, and unique rituals.
"Genna is a holiday deeply rooted in the enjoyment of traditional meals, often featuring ingredients like meat, dairy, and eggs. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church observes a 40-day fasting period leading up to Christmas, known as the fast of Advent or Tsome Nebiyat. Believers abstain from meat and dairy products during this time, focusing on prayer, repentance, and spiritual preparation.
"I often…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2026-AANRBK.
Thursday, January 7, 2027, 7:00 AM.
Campus Worship: Senior Student Chaplains
Gather with our senior student chaplains for our campus worship series entitled, What's Your Story? Reflections on Call and Vocation, featuring faculty, staff, and student chaplains in this case, sharing reflections on their sense of calling and vocation (purpose and meaning).
-Who or what impacted and inspired your sense of who you were in your childhood and youth and what gave you meaning? -How has your faith or spirituality informed your sense of calling and vocation/purpose? -How are you preparing to lean into the fullness of your sense of calling and vocation in your present life and potential future work?
Campus Worship is an invitational space for gathered worship in Christian traditions and a variety of styles. Campus Worship is held in Martin Chapel (Seminary Building) on Wednesday mornings every other week scheduled opposite of Convocation.
Read more here about campus worship and other worship services on campus.
2 Engage Points,
This event will be livestreamed on EMU's YouTube: …
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANQRF.
Wednesday, January 27, 2027, 10:15 AM – 11:05 AM.
Seminary Building, Room 215 Martin Chapel, Seminary Building, Room 218 Fellowship Area.
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities, among others. It is often a time for feasting, for cleaning, and to honor the ancestors. Beginning on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, the New Year celebration is usually celebrated for multiple days—not just one day as in the Gregorian calendar’s New Year.
Cindi Boyer, EMU student (2023 Interview),
Cindi reflected in her interview on the importance of getting together with other local Asian families to celebrate not only the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival but also the full moon every month. These would be intergenerational gatherings; Mandarin-speaking gatherings wouldn’t necessarily include music or dancing, but lots of card games, including a betting game like bridge. "It would be dinner, and socializing, the kids would hang out and the adults would play…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2026-AANRBL.
Sunday, February 7, 2027, 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Ramadan, Feb 7 - Mar 8
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest months for Muslims worldwide. It is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community for observant Muslims. The observance of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, representing fundamental acts of worship and the foundation of a Muslim's faith.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from consuming food, drink, tobacco, and engaging in sexual behavior. The fast is broken each day with a meal called an iftar, which is often initiated with the eating of dates and followed by a larger meal that includes a variety of foods. The pre-dawn meal is called suhoor.
Ramadan this year takes the evening of February 17-March 18. In upcoming years, Ramadan falls on the following dates: Evening of Thu, Jan 27, 2028 – Fri, Feb 25, 2028, Evening of Mon, Jan 15, 2029 – Tue, Feb 13, 2029, Evening of Sat, Jan 5, 2030 – Sun, Feb 3, 2030, ,
You can access the complete Multifaith Religious and…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2026-AANRBM.
Sunday, February 7, 2027, 7:00 PM.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Lent, occurs 46 days before Easter and is associated with penitence, reflection, and fasting. On this day, ashes are typically applied to the foreheads of believers in the form of a cross, often accompanied by the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or a similar phrase. The ashes are usually derived from the burning of palm branches blessed on the previous year's Palm Sunday.
Interview with EMU University Chaplain and Director of the Office of Faith and Spiritual Life, Brian Martin Burkholder.
"As a young person, I recall having ashes smudged on my forehead by the pastor of the church where I grew up. The words most often spoken by the pastor were, 'From dust you have come and to dust you will go.' The ritual of imposing/receiving ashes was solemn and filled with humility before God. We were facing our own mortality. Today, I find the service to be moving as I acknowledge my relationship before God as Creator, Redeemer and…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2026-AANRBP.
Wednesday, February 10, 2027, 7:00 AM.
Lent, Feb 10 - March 25
Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry. Wikipedia,
EMU Student Emma Nord reflects, "The Christian season of Lent is a meaningful time for me. It’s a time of lament, a period of waiting in the discomfort. We know the Easter resurrection is coming, but we’re not there yet. We spend these 40 days acknowledging just how much we need salvation- how many ways our world is hurting. Many Christians choose to give something up for Lent that they have taken for granted in everyday life - chocolate, coffee, meat, social media, TV, commuting by car. Some Christians choose to take on a prayerful or spiritual practice during this season, either instead of or in addition to giving something up. These practices serve as a reminder of the things that really matter— God, community, creation[.]"
"When I was in…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Center for Interfaith Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Interfaith Calendar. Event Locator: 2026-AANRBQ.
Wednesday, February 10, 2027, 7:00 AM.
Campus Worship: Exploring Ash Wednesday
Have you heard of Ash Wednesday but never really understood it? Why do some Christians smudge ashes on their foreheads on this day? What meaning does this ritual have for some followers of Jesus? Are there other ways to acknowledge humility before God?
Come for a learning experience held within a worship service exploring the intentions and rituals of Ash Wednesday as we mark the first day of the western Christian season of Lent. You will be invited to visit one or more stations for receiving ashes on your forehead or the back of your hand and pouring dry sand and tracing your fingers through the sand tray. You might also choose to sit in silence prayerfully listening to the music that holds the space.
This campus worship service is co-sponsored by the EMU Seminary.
Campus Worship is an invitational space for gathered worship in Christian traditions and a variety of styles. Campus Worship is held in Martin Chapel (Seminary Building) on Wednesday mornings every other week scheduled opposite of…
Organization: Faith & Spiritual Life. Categories: Spiritual Life, Worship, Faith & Spiritual Life, Spiritual Renewal, EMU Engage. Event Locator: 2026-AANQZW.
Wednesday, February 10, 2027, 10:15 AM – 11:05 AM.
Seminary Building, Room 215 Martin Chapel, Seminary Building, Room 218 Fellowship Area.