Chaplain's Welcome


It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Episcopal and Anglican tradition! Welcome to the campus ministry and community at St. Mike’s. We are an inclusive community, celebrating the dignity of all people as we work together to promote peace and justice.

We come from all walks of life – some of us are students, some faculty, some Isla Vista, Goleta, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara neighbors. Some of us were raised in the church, others of us are new to the church and still others of us are seeking souls.

We offer programming for the Santa Barbara-area university and residential community that includes student activities, meditative worship, forums, social events and retreats. Every Sunday morning we gather at 10am for a multi-generational community Eucharist with music.

We believe the Gospel doesn’t matter a rat’s tail if it doesn’t touch and transform lives. Do you have a passion for environmental ministry, community outreach, ministry and the arts, intellectual and spiritual exchange, radical welcome, multicultural ministry, alternative liturgy, service-learning projects, young adult formation, peace-making and/or social justice?  The opportunities for creative ministry here are great!

Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here. We invite your questions, your stories, your hopes and your doubts as we journey together in spiritual community. Come check out the “church with hips” on Picasso Road and test our hospitality! We’re not your parents’ church. We hope that you will find us a welcoming place for discernment, reflection, exploration, study and spiritual growth. May you learn to give, laugh, love, play, lead, go deeper and be passionate about the world during your time here.

I’m always happy to meet with students, student groups, staff, faculty and area residents on or off campus. Please drop me a note (revjanelle@gmail.com) or give me a call (805/968-2712) to schedule an appointment. I generally am in the office (Little House—adjacent to the chapel) Sunday through Thursday. Also, be sure to check out our Facebook group and blog, as well as this website for inspiring reflections and up to date information on our program offerings. But do come to church -- because there is more to life than just a relationship with your computer!

Hope to see you soon in the neighborhood!

Peace,

Nicole Janelle+

Chaplain & Vicar


Why I call St. Mike's home...

reflections from some sojourners


My name is Jazmin. I'm a junior at UCSB and women's studies major. Last school year was my first experience in St. Mike's College Crew [Student Group]. College Crew is a very important place because college is a really confusing time. Not only is there the separation from parents and all of goodies that go along with being at home, Isla Vista can sometimes be a very lonely, isolating place. Sure, there are lots of parties and other social activities, but there are few places to really connect with peers and have a safe space. The Little House at Saint Michael's provides that space. Not only is it a place for College Crew to meet, but any student can get a key to use the space for studying, prayer, or just taking a quiet moment out of the whirlwind that is college. College Crew is more than just a meeting of like-minded individuals in a private room once a week, in fact I would say that is only one small part of it. We are entirely student driven and while the Reverend Nicole does attend, she does so as a friend and mentor, someone we can turn to for advice, whether it be about deciding to get baptized, missing our family or just the little day to day details. College Crew is a place where anything can be brought up and although we may all have differing views, there is room for everyone at the table.

Jazmin
Incoming senior from Santa Barbara, women’s studies major and queer studies minor
Bishop's Advisory Committee (BAC) member, Diocesan Convention delegate alternate, Taize Prayer leader

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Coming to UCSB as a freshman, I found the school a bit intimidating in size and a long way from home. To assuage my homesickness, I immediately began signing up for as many clubs as I could and soon was attending ballroom dance, community service organizations, dorm events, and seminars with startling frequency. I found a spectrum of activities and interests I enjoyed, but still missed a greater sense of community in the somewhat-isolated student population. That changed one Sunday when I came to St. Mike's at the invitation of my piano teacher. While trying to locate the bike parking on the luscious church grounds, I felt peace at being in such a nice place of nature, and following choir practice and service, such a place of nurture. I value the wide age range of the congregation, sharing different perspective, lifestyle, and experience. The family mentality has made my three years in Santa Barbara a loving and supported experience. Following that first Sunday, I have returned to St. Mike's regularly, to sing and socialize with friends, teachers. My second year, I joined the Bishop's Advisory Committee and found another side to the church: finances, grounds, membership, business. All the while, teamwork and a lot of faith propel the church. I enjoy learning the wheels behind the Sunday service, a useful tool for any student. The church serves a vital function as a mission to the community of Isla Vista and UCSB, welcoming newcomers and practicing good work. Serving on the BAC has further opened my eyes to the opportunities to serve in the community and the awesome things the church already does. As much as I enjoy participating in the choir, I enjoy the planning and organization from the BAC. I look forward to the fall when I will return not only to my courses, clubs, and friends, but also to the comfort and family at St. Mike's.

Sarah
Graduated senior from Elk Grove (CA), biochemistry major and music minor
BAC member, Choir member

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Why St. Mike's is so cool...from a Jewish gal's perspective.

1. May peace be with you. Or just peace is cool too- I just like the idea that we are all keeping in mind the idea of peace, I feel like it is such a positive statement and that it is something we should strive for everyday in our world and in our lives. It seems all too easy to forget that such a thing can exist in our violent and war filled world. The especially big bonus of this time is the chance to connect with everyone else that comes- to actually physically connect by touching someone's hand, and to get to know people. It's a very warm gesture.

2. The bread (cracker) and wine (body & blood). Why I don't even partake of the actual refreshments, I love this part because everyone joins in a circle. It feels like everyone in the community is coming together, which is extremely powerful. It gives everyone the time to reflect and have a moment to connect with whatever they feel like they need to connect with. Everyone gets their 5 seconds, and everyone gets to watch everyone else get their five seconds. It's nice to be blessed- it just feels like someone is looking out for you.

3. The sermon. This totally rocks my socks. I have such reverence for the Reverend (well I guess that must be where the word comes from) who is able to bring stories that are so old to life. She inspires me to want to go out and change things, better myself, better our world, make it a more just place- who would have ever thought that the bible could be brought to life so relevantly in our society today?

4. The music. The piano is hot. It's cool to hear everyone get into it and sing together.

What I hear from the people of St. Mike's louder than anything:

We care about you. You are part of our community here ("wherever you are on your spiritual journey"). You're safe. Welcome.

I think all of this, and I'm a Jew, so chances are, whatever you are, you'd probably like to hang out at St. Mikes too.

Elizabeth
Former Staff Member, Office of Student Life
UCSB Alum

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Saint Michael’s University Church is an important place for me to take part in the university and community life of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Isla Vista. I am a professor in UCSB’s Department of Music and enjoy engaging with students, faculty colleagues, and university staff in that capacity, but Saint Michael’s offers me a chance to interact with many of these same individuals in a different way. I am especially attracted to the gathering of individuals I would have little opportunity to meet elsewhere. This includes professors and students from different university departments, and congregants who may or may not be associated with the university in any other way. Saint Michael’s is a place where questions of faith are encouraged, where worship is practiced, and community is affirmed. Saint Michael’s helps me enact my vision of true campus and community life: there is not real separation of the “ivory tower” from the rest of society. In all human interactions, we as Christians are called to love, serve, and support those around us. This Episcopal Campus Ministry is one place where I feel I am able to accomplish this ideal.

Tim
Associate Professor, Department of Music
Affiliated Faculty, Global and International Studies
Bishop’s Warden & BAC member, Choir member

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As a nearly-lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, I decided to come to UC Santa Barbara because of the warm welcome I received at St. Michael's, among other factors.  I have had the joy and privilege of serving as a member of the choir there, and have met many good friends through the weekly suppers for college students. I am grateful for all the support and opportunities for service and spiritual growth that our Episcopal Campus Ministry has given me.

From April-July 2007, I studied abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan.  I was powerfully blessed to be living in a city with several Anglican churches, and to become a part of the community at the one closest to my apartment, St. John's Episcopal Church.  From the very first service I attended there, the welcoming feelings I got from the community were just as strong as they had been when I first went to St. Michael's.  I was part of a growing community of international young people there, with people from Korea, Indonesia, and Myanmar.  We shared several wonderful times of bonding together, including two meals at our priest's house and a lunch that we all cooked together and then shared in the parish hall.  Many of those young people were invited to come to church by a Mr. Yamamoto, who is their teacher at a private Japanese language school and who is a member of the congregation.  I am hopeful that I and the rest of the College Crew at St. Michael's can reach out to our peers as boldly as he does to his students.

The Anglican Church in Japan was an important and enriching part of my life there until the week before I left Japan.  One of the impressions I took away from the experience was that the ties between separate church congregations there are very strong.  I thought the number of times guest preachers came in and preached the sermon at our church was quite high for a four-month period, which also suggests a high degree of cooperation between churches.  Also, at least four churches came together to form a choir that rehearsed two Saturdays a month, of which I was a member.  I had a wonderful experience in Japan, and I look forward to another great year at St. Michael's.

Amy
Graduated senior from Rancho Cucamonga (CA), Japanese major
Choir member

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Despite being a campus ministry, St. Michael’s has been giving me a lot of opportunities to reach out to people outside the campus. Our campus ministry co-hosted the annual Province 8 retreat with the campus ministry at CSU Channel Islands in spring 2007. More than seventy college students and young adults from California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Hawaii gathered here at Santa Barbara. During this three-day retreat, we dedicated ourselves to God through prayers, Bible reading and communion. In addition, we had an enjoyable immersion experience with the migrant farmers who worked in a strawberry farm in Ventura County, to know more about the job and the everyday life of the migrant farmers. Besides that, we also shared our thoughts on a wide variety of topics, ranging from social issues to church and faith, in the workshops. The retreat has built up a network among college students from different part of the country.

In summer 2007, St. Michael’s Campus Ministry sent me to the Peace Camp as a counselor. The Peace Camp was a five-day camp for middle school students organized by the Revs. Julie Morris and Will Wauters with the support of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. The camp was held at Camp Stevens in Julian, San Diego County, California. During the five days, I assisted the chaplains (including Nicole) in planning and leading activities for the campers, and discussed with the campers about how to be peacemakers. This was the first ever Peace Camp in our Diocese. Thanks to the grace of God, the camp had gained some success, and we hope to make the Peace Camp an annual program!

Apart from these activities, I am also involved in the formation of a young adult group for college students and young adults in the whole Santa Barbara area, intended to benefit the students at UCSB, Santa Barbara City College and Westmont College. On behalf of St. Michael’s Campus Ministry, I have been communicating with a group of students at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Barbara, and collaborating with them in this exciting new ministry.

Alan
CLAS Staff Member, UCSB
Graduated senior from Hong Kong, physics major
2007 Diocesan Convention delegate, College Crew member

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I came into college with a completely different mindset than what I have now. Although I’ve never been as big a partier as some of my friends, I had no real foresight into the future and where I was going. I decided to return to the church and St. Michael’s due to a desire to improve my balance and keep me in line with my true ideals. Christianity teaches respect for all people and responsibility for the world, principles with which I now strongly identify. St. Mike’s has helped me transition into the adult that I want to become rather than the adult I’ve seen so many others here turn into, and for that I am truly grateful.

Colin
Incoming senior from San Diego area, biology major
Progressive Christian Students leader

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Hi, I’m Dawn and I am a sophomore at UCSB. My experience there so far has taught me that college is a time of broadening one’s awareness and knowledge. This past year, I’ve definitely expanded my religious horizons. Growing up in the Episcopal and Catholic Church, I’ve grown a great appreciation for the role of religious tradition.  However, lately I’ve been blessed with the opportunities to experience additional styles of worship that contribute to my religious practice.

My participation in the UCSB Gospel Choir, has brought a new level of enthusiasm and vigor into my sung adoration for Christ.  When the catchy hymns start, there’s no escaping the urge to clap, dance, and sometimes even cry tears of joy.  It is a powerful release of thanks and exaltation.  In one of my favorite songs entitled “Totally”, we sing “If you’re gonna praise Him, 99 won’t do – totally do it, totally do it!” The words are infectious, and I find myself totally praising God, with all my heart, soul, and might.  

I also witnessed this uplifting communal praise during my recent summer in Kenya.  The orphanage, in which I volunteered, was alive with 75 energetic children who despite their unfortunate circumstances (which were substandard from a Western perspective) had so much thankfulness. Every night before supper, the children would congregate for an hour of sung worship. The passion that filled the room was so moving. I’ll never forget when Christine, the quiet and shy fourteen-year-old, led the whole group proudly in a wonderful call and response song. It truly shows the capacity of the Holy Spirit to inspire and transform.

These new experiences have supplemented and enhanced my ways of worship. While in college I have gained an education beyond academics; I have fortified my appreciation and understanding of Christianity. And I look forward to further exploring new dimensions within my religion.

Dawn
Incoming sophomore from San Mateo (CA), art major
Progressive Christian Students leader, 2008 Diocesan Convention delegate

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In my hometown of Elk Grove, I would go to church every Sunday, spend a few hours with friends and then meander into worship, and then go back home. Ever since I was in kindergarten, I remember church being a cornerstone of my life. My parents oftentimes encouraged me to become more involved in the church, be it through the youth group or helping out during worship.

Here in Santa Barbara, I’m finding new ways to incorporate God and the church into my life. Although I can’t say that I attend worship every Sunday, I try my best to make it to church as often as I can. Being on my own helps to reinforce the nomadism and wandering elements that are so prevalent in the Bible. I mean, someone’s always on a journey somewhere, be it Moses in Egypt or Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem or Jesus in the desert.

I’m constantly reminded of God’s love and wonder everyday I walk around the UCSB campus just as I see it in the close-knit communities that form in the residence halls. People from all walks of life (as well as faith) are converging in a crucible of education, compassion, and respect, reflecting the values and morals I claim as a Christian.

I would venture to say that in moving to UCSB, I’ve learned to recognize the sense of community and love that is so prevalent in church appearing in everyday life. God is always present, you just have to learn how to see it.

Although on the sun-drenched beaches of Santa Barbara, it isn’t so hard to see.

Chip
Incoming sophomore from Elk Grove (CA)
Communications Intern, BAC member
 
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A Note of Thanksgiving on the Cusp of Graduation…

I'm writing this letter as the sun sets, ending another of the perfectly clear days that are so abundant here in Santa Barbara. It's hard to believe that I only have five more days to enjoy life in this beautiful place. I am graduating early, at the end of this year's Winter Quarter.

As I've mentioned before, the kind, friendly welcome I received from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church when I first came here as a college-shopping high-school student was one of the deciding factors in my choice to attend UC Santa Barbara. On Sunday, March 9, I received an equally kind and friendly send-off from the church. This time, the entire congregation, not just the priest, got up and laid their hands upon me as they prayed for me. I feel truly blessed by the community here at St. Michael's. They have been my friends, sources of encouragement and support, and companions in worship for the last four years. St. Michael's has exceeded my initial expectations: not only has it allowed me to continue to attend Episcopal Eucharist every Sunday, but it has connected me with good friends, and allowed me to explore and grow into new roles in the church community. Those new roles have been as an adult choir member, a Lay Eucharistic Minister, and a Co-Clerk of the Bishop's Advisory Committee, all of which have given me enjoyable and fruitful experiences. I've grown in so many ways in these four years, and St. Michael's has provided a wonderful environment for growth.

It's not just me who has grown, either. The list of ministries and opportunities for involvement that St. Michael's has to offer has expanded greatly in recent years. This year, our new on-campus student organization, Progressive Christian Students, has been meeting for interesting, stimulating lunchtime conversations every week. Our conversations have centered around the themes of what our Christian traditions and spirituality mean, and how they should interact with our daily lives. The church’s own young adult group, the College Crew, has also been meeting weekly for dinner and Compline Prayer. From March 28th through the 30th, members of both groups are planning to attend the annual Province VIII conference for young adults in the Episcopal Church. I'm very excited and pleased to say that I will be attending this conference again, after a two-year absence. I'm one of four students from St. Michael's attending, which is a good turnout.

With our new Bilingual Community Yoga and Compline program about to be launched, and the prospect of more PCS and College Crew members and activities in the future, I have no doubt that St. Michael's will continue to grow and reach out to students long after I've walked across the stage during the Commencement ceremony in June. I thank all of you for making all these new ministries possible, and hope for your continued support.  St. Michael's has truly been a key element of my life at UC Santa Barbara, and I will always have fond memories of my time here.

Amy is excited to be spending the spring working with refugees in Kentucky through the Episcopal Church’s Short Term Internship Program.

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What is Saving your Life these Days?

What is saving your life now? It's a question that I often ask my students, as an invitation to them to confront what matters in their lives. Sometimes, they respond with things: mocha frappucino, a recent CD that they play again and again.  At other moments, it's an action or a place: a well-placed nap, or the scene of jonquils blooming in central Texas. For me, what has been saving my life now is in the gathering of unlikely people, in unlikely spaces.

There is something fatiguing in whispering constantly, and this is what I've been doing for the past decade in the hallways of the academy.  A passing, flippant reference to church has usually been the way I've witnessed "faith" to my colleagues and friends in the university.  But the secrecy of whispers takes an enormous amount of unrequited labor, and this year a group of us decided that it was time to hear the clear tenor of our collective voice.  Every Tuesday this quarter, at noon, the Rev. Nicole Janelle and I have been meeting for lunch in the lobby of the Student Resource Building at UCSB, along with members of the Progressive Christian Students, a group whose commitment to progressive faith practice is matched by the seriousness of its inquiries.  We began by asking ourselves what worries us about such public affirmation of our faith, by asking the question "What's Wrong With Christianity?"  Since then, throughout the quarter, we have probed the deep recesses of the Christian life, how our walk with Christ informs what we do when we stop at the ballot box, how our engagement with the world crying for justice transforms our the Lenten journey. We've shared Eucharist in this very space, awkwardly receiving bread and wine as curious staff and students look on. And we continue throughout this quarter and into the next, haltingly struggling together with questions that we don't have the complete answer to, but know somehow that we'll only get those answers if we stick together.

Sometimes, our gatherings have generated a lot of excitement; our “faith, politics, and the primaries” event brought interest from people who'd never considered stepping inside a church. Other times, the group consisted of no more than just a few who don't fill up a table.  But the numbers are beside the point. What is the point is that sometimes, just gathering is what matters, asking the questions together. Sometimes, gathering is all we need to move forward in the journey, to give us courage to stop whispering and to speak clearly with our mouths, bodies, and spirits the radical message of God's inclusive justice.  So that's what's saving my life now. What's saving yours?

Jim Lee, member of St. Paul’s in Ventura, is Associate Professor of Asian American Studies at UCSB and postulant for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Jim joins the chaplain in facilitating the Progressive Christian Student Group at UCSB.