Religious Life Community at Simpson College has made some changes this year. RLC is now offering two different forms of worship, Quench and Nourish, and students are already liking the changes.

RLC provides opportunities for students, staff and members of the community to become involved in service projects within the campus, community and around the globe.

From a variety of church services and Bible studies to alternative Friday nights with food, games and fellowship, RLC offers endless opportunities for Simpson students to share their faith and become involved through interaction.

The Social Justice Group at Simpson College, under the volunteer leadership of seniors Molly Peterson and Robin Whitford, allows students with the opportunity to view films and discuss issues on a global level.

“A lot of these films really got our attention. We see this as an opportunity to share them with others and discuss everything from film making, to the issue the films present, to how these problems relate to us, and most importantly, what we can do to make a difference,” Whitford said. “Part of that is to simply be informed.”

The Quench church service, held at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, is both contemporary and casual with a praise band composed of Simpson students.

Students have the opportunity to worship in comfortable attire with fellowship in a welcoming and casual atmosphere.

Nourish, the more traditional service of the two, is held at 6 p.m. on Thursday of every week.

Following the agenda of a traditional Methodist service, worship at Nourish consists of hymns accompanied by the piano and organ.

This school year, RLC is forming a worship committee consisting of two students from each graduating class at Simpson.

Members of the committee will participate in directing and controlling sound, power points and arranging who will be preaching each month.

“The worship committee molds and refines the way the church service works,” junior Eva DePue, chapel intern of worship, said.

The sermons for both Wednesday and Thursday evenings have the same message and are often delivered by the same speaker.

Communion is offered each week and a prayer service is held once a month.

The prayer service is accompanied by acoustic music and consists of prayer and opportunities to discuss the sermon in terms of how it relates to students.

RLC reaches out not only to the Simpson campus, but into the community as well.

Students are always welcome to become involved in each of the organizations and service projects.

The Breakfast Club provides opportunities for Simpson students to interact with inner city children.

On Thursday mornings, Simpson students volunteer their time to eat breakfast and have fellowship with children primarily from impoverished residencies.

“Their purpose is to break the cycle of poverty,” Chapel Intern of Service and Missions senior Megan Culbertson said.

The Freedom for Youth program on Monday and Wednesday evenings provides Simpson students with the opportunity to visit the Freedom for Youth Campus in Des Moines.

There, school children city-wide are provided dinner and assistance with their homework. The program is faith-based allowing Simpson students to openly share their faith with the children who attend the programs.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, students can volunteer their time at the Catholic Worker House where meals are prepared and served to the homeless and those who are living in poverty.

“The main focus is to talk to people who don’t have anyone else to talk to in their lives,” Culbertson said.

The numerous services and activities offered through RLC at Simpson College allow each student the opportunity to get involved in both the campus and community.

Keep an eye out around campus for signs advertising the various services to become involved in RLC at Simpson.