Who we are:

ELCM @

A Student Group
We are undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty from all around the world. We have a wide variety of backgrounds and majors, but we have one thing in common: a need to take time from our busy lives of studying and working, a need for fellowship and engagement, and a need to keep our perspectives healthy.

Engaging the world
While issues have changed since our founding in the 60s, ELCM is still a community committed to social justice and hospitality to strangers. (Click here to see the results of our Oreo Cookie Federal Budget!) As a community "at work in the world," we are committed to justice, respect for conscience, and equality for all people, especially those who are most at risk in society.

Part of University Church
University Church, or UniChu as it is affectionately known, is our home base, providing a center for our activities and an important link to the community. You've probably walked or ridden your bike right by us on the Southeast side of campus. We're at 1611 Stanford Avenue.

UniChu

A Church Home
University Church, a progressive, ecumenical, congregation across Stanford Ave. from campus in the College Terrace neighborhood, is the church-home for ELCM. Our theology is progressive, our worship is organic, our welcome is radical, and Christ's table is open to all. If you are in search of a congregational community, join us here at 1611 Stanford Ave for worship, fellowship, study, reflection on God's call, and engagement with the world.

Our History
This church's origin is in the Lutheranism of the turbulent 1960's, when the nation, the universities, and the churches were polarizing around issues like the Vietnam War, Women's Liberation, Sexual Freedom, and political and individual freedom from inherited values. During the time of the Death Squads in El Salvador, the church social halls became a place of sanctuary for people fleeing Central American wars. It was a new voice in Lutheran Christianity for many students & townspeople. Today, in the midst of war and a global struggle for liberation, Uni Chu finds itself bringing new perspectives to old questions.

Read more about UniChu

NOTE: Pr. Greg will be on vacation for 2 weeks.

Join us Sunday the 10th, when Pr. Cora Scheel is our preacher and presider,

and on Sunday the 17th, when Vicar Justin Baxter is our preacher/presider.

PG returns on Sunday the 24th.

Join Us For...

Worship

Bread and Belonging

College students (and college-aged folk) are welcome to this weekly gathering for dinner and conversation, every Tuesday evening of the school year from 5:30-7:30 in the CIRCLE Common Room. Our gathering always consists of dinner (almost always home-cooked), conversation, and prayer. We have Bible study, discuss current events, play games, watch movies, etc. All are welcome!

Choir Practice

Love to sing, but too little time? The University Church Choir may be right for you. The choir rehearses during the school year on Tuesdays at 7 pm in the UniChu sanctuary, and sings twice a month at our 10:00 Sunday morning worship. The choir schedule follows the Stanford calendar and the choir director is very accommodating to student activities, homework loads, etc. So come sing when you can! We would love to have you!

Service Projects, Recreational Events, Forums, and More

Ministry Partners

Amigos de Palo Alto
Amigos de Palo Alto is a Spanish Immersion preschool housed at, but not affiliated with, University Church. Amigos offers parents a safe, loving, and trustworthy environment where they may leave their children, both for childcare and to begin learning from bi-lingual instructors how to speak and learn Spanish the same way their native language was learned — naturally! The two preschool sessions are offered: Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM and Tuesday and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM.

The After School Program known as Amigos Fun Club is designed for children in Kindergarten, First and Second grades. The program offers story time, arts and crafts, games and homework help if needed. Children will have a chance to socialize in Spanish, regardless if Spanish is the language spoken at home or acquired through our immersion program.

South Bay Sanctuary Covenant
SBSC is an ecumenical group of churches, religious groups and concerned individuals from Redwood City to Los Gatos. SBSC began in 1983 by assisting Central American refugees living among us and later expanded its concern to include some of the crucial problems facing people in El Salvador that were forcing them to flee to the U.S. In general, SBSC has advocated for better local and federal policies in order to improve conditions for refugees here and in Central American countries.

Alcoholics Anonymous AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; it is self-supporting through participant contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, political organization or institution. The primary purpose is to stay sober and to help others do the same. For a schedule of AA group meetings at UniChu, please contact the church office.

Stanford Associated Religions The Office for Religious Life has as its mission "To guide, nurture and enhance spiritual, religious and ethical life within the Stanford University community." As a member of Stanford Associated Religions, ELCM is committed and devoted to ensuring lively, thoughtful and supportive contexts for Stanford students, faculty and staff who wish to pursue spiritual interests. We recognize that a spiritual/religious journey can be an important, balancing complement to the numerous challlenges one faces in the pursuit of academic and career goals.