Saturday Service Project

Faith * Community * Action

We're aiming for two group service projects a month this semester and beyond.
February kicks of this week, and we'll attack project number one on Saturday at St. Luke's Christian Church on Franklin Ave. This church had 8 feet of water, but has been open for some time already: serving meals during the week to residents and others working to reclaim the area from the water, operating a food bank, offering Christian worship services on Sundays, and more. We get to help continue the clean up of the church, do some yard & garden work, organize some things, and maybe more. This is a great opportunity to build on one of the few signs of life in this hard-hit area of New Orleans.

We will work from 9:30am until 2:00pm (should be back to uptown campuses by 2:30pm)

Meet-up at PJ's on Freret, 8:44am this Saturday, the 4th.

RSVP as lunch and rides will be arranged according to the response we receive (be sure to note food allergies, food preferences; ie, vegan, etc.., and if you need to return earlier than 2:30).
RSVP to xa@nolaxa.com or 504.324.9880

Blog of the Week 30.Jan.06

Ok, Blog of the Week is back online. Sorry for the downtime.

This week, a humorous entry from Mrs. Deanna Bell:

Halllllllllllllllllllllllllarious (for Laura)

So, every Friday is John Roger's and my Sabbath. So I thought instead of the "run of the mill" cereal for breakfast, I would cook a nice, hot breakfast. Using Bisquick, and the griddle Derrick and Ashley gave us , I made some yummy waffles. I sat the plates in front of us, and John Roger says, "oh, where is it?!" excitedly as he frolics to the kitchen the grab the powdered sugar canister, as he looooves powdered sugar on waffles, pancakes, and almost everything else. He takes heaping spoonfuls and piles it on his waffle. He finally looks satisfied so he pours syrup on top. After a few seconds, he realizes that he powered sugar is not dissolving like it usually does, in utter diappointment he looks up at me and says, "this is flour, isn't it!" This is my cue to bust out laughing. Obviously he grabbed the wrong canister. But no, it doesn't stop there. So, he thinks it would be a good, effective idea to wash the flour off the waffle! hehehe After he realizes he doesn't want to eat a soggy waffle, and he looks frustraighted, yet still hungry, I make him another one. Moral of the story: know your white powdery stuff, yeah!

And, if you would like to catch of for last week: Laura Post is last week's belated Blog of the Week. Click here for the winning entry.

Kip Dynamite and More Explosive News

Sweet!
Did you see Kip roller-blading around Tulane and Loyola this week? If not, click here for some hilarious pictures.
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In other news: There will be a Chi Alpha Service at Christian Life Center in Kenner this Sunday. (That means there will be a talk about what Chi Alpha is, and Matt & Jen will give the sermon.) If you would like to come, and need a ride, please email or call us: 504.324.9880.

If you enjoyed Soaringwords, or missed it, but want in on the fun, there will be another opportunity Tuesday the 31st from 6:30pm - 9pm at Tulane's McAlister Auditorium in the Robing Room. Hillel will be providing dinner, if you like. You can come for as long or as short a time as you want. Some of the Tuesday Satellite groups will probably head over after their meetings (let your Satellite leader know if you want to do that). If you are going apart from a Satellite group contact Ilyse at Hillel so she can know how many people are coming.

Finally, we want to encouarge everyone who can to be a part of the blood drive at Tulane:
The Blood Center buses will be on campus at McAlister & Drill Road Tuesday, Jan. 30 - Friday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Please go by and donate to help re-establish the New Orleans blood banks!

Also, volunteers are needed to work the booth (give information and sign donors in) all week. If you would like to volunteer an hour of your time, please e-mail Kristen Palumbo at kpalumbo@tulane.edu with times you are available.

New Pictures are Up

Hey, check out the nifty new pictures in the photo galleries--much fun.
If you have some XA pics you would like to share, email them to us, or leave a comment to this post with the web address of your online photo gallery (yahoo, facebook, etc...).

Also, kep up-to-date with what's happening via the online calendar. It will be filling up with all kinds of good information over the next couple of days.

Finally, we need some quality xanga posts. If you haven't yet, join Chi Alpha New Orleans' xanga blogring. We like to post a 'blog of the week' here. That feature will be returning very soon.

Have a great week!

photo: Maryse of Xavier U fame, makes beautiful art on a Soaringwords quilt for a New Orleans child in the hospital at Outreach New Orleans.

Started : Satellites

A week in review via pictures (more in the galleries by Monday, promise):

--George and Laura got the fruit ready for the chocolate fondue fountain at our latenight party (the orange pieces made a beautiful giraffe--thanks George).



Matthieu and Stephen were working the Guesstures, baby.









Eager to work the faith * community * action at the Tulane - Chi Alpha Orientation.




And now, the fun continues in a Satellite group near you:

Mondays @ 8:30pm : co-ed in Tulane-Paterson's 3rd floor lounge
contacts: Jesse (985) 212.9796 or Jen (504) 324.9880

Tuesdays:
co-ed in Tulane-Willow A room 311 @ 7pm
contacts: Brian (504) 583.6105 or Matthieu (404) 457.7975

co-ed in Tulane-Monroe's 4th floor lounge @ 7pm
contact: Deanna (504) 495.5837

Wednesdays:
guys group @ Loyola's Wolf Den @ 7pm
contacts: Matt (504) 909.1428 or Derek (970) 629.3954

ladies group @ Loyola's Carollton Hall (aka "New Res")
meet in the front lobby at 6:15
contact: Laura (985) 768.0639

Maps to Upcoming Events

Hello, hello!

Let's get a clue as to where all this stuff is supposed to be happening (in case you're new, or it's on a campus that's not your own).

XA Orientation - for more info call us at the numbers listed above, or email us.

The Gathering
a God-experience at Stone Auditorium in Tulane's Woldenberg Art Center
Thursday, 19 Jan 7-8:45pm

Welcome Back to Chi Alpha New Orleans

We're glad you decided to stop by Chi Alpha New Orlena's online presence.

We are gearing up for an amazing semester of faith, community, and action. This city is seriously in need of all three these days.

The online calendar is updated, now, so gift it a look. Come join us in person, soon!

If you want to know more about out beliefs, here's an online statement of faith.

Also, be sure to check back on this page regularly, it is always being updated, and is open for your contributions (comments) as well.

Getting things Rolling

To kick off the semester we will be hosting a prayer gathering at Loyola, tomorrow (the 9th) at 7pm in the Octavia I room of the Danna Center. All are welcome.

However, our main kick-off is next weekend. Sunday night the 15th we're having a little bash. It will start at 10pm at 211 Cherokee Street. We'll play some games, eat some food, and just reconnect. At midnight we'll go to 'bed'. Ladies will stay at Cheorkee St, and the guys will head out to John Roger & Deanna's place in Metairie. If you're not up for that, then you can actually go to bed at your own place.

Then, Monday, we're having a vision casting get together from 10am-3:00pm. Lunch will be included. This is open to everyone who really wants to get the scoop on what Chi Alpha is all about, and to help us gather momentum to have a productive semester. As I type this, I have realized that we have not decided on a location for Monday's activities. If you are interested, keep an eye on the web page here, or get in touch with us for more details.

Also, if you're up for it, we'll have a pre-party prayer time at 211 Cherokee from 8:30-9:30pm on Sunday.

That's all for now. Please let us know if there is any way we can help you settle in, etc...

Blog of the Week 3.Jan.05

A regular contributor, Miss Laura Post:

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

livelifelarger

Staring in the water like Esops foolish dog I can’t help but reflect on what it was I almost lost What it was I wanted, what I got instead Leaves me broken and grateful I’m broken and grateful I came here to write about the WMS before I forgot what I wanted to say, but I've lost all words. Something has definitely changed. Many things. I came back with a deeper appreciation and a greater admiration for missionaries. I can now pray for specific missionaries who have invested in me and made an imprint in my life just from the two hours or so we ate lunch or dinner together. I know that God has expected much from me, because I've been given SO much. Like Scott Martin said, no generation before us has ever been as blessed as we are. And I know in my life, that has been especially true. And to whom He has given much, much is required. Still, I haven't commited anything to God out of obligation, but out of passion. He has made me love missions. And as much passion I have for missions overseas, I have even greater passion for what's going on here. Now, at the halfway point in my college career, I am excited about returning to Loyola. He has great things in store for New Orleans. I enjoyed catching up with Chi Alphans I have missed. What I find to be the most interesting thing is that since Katrina, despite having to relocate and make hard adjustments, we have come through it as people with stronger faith. Everyone's stories about where they have been and what they've been doing are so encouraging. God knew we could handle it. He has turned this whole ordeal into something very good...

7:34 PM - add eprops - add comments - email it

Happy New Year to You

Well, it's 2006! Welcome; I hope you make great use of it.

We had a blast last night, and today promises to be a splendid initiation into a new year. Check out a few pics: http://tulane.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004656&l=235a7&id=2809800