Though organized religion may be declining among millennials, for students and community members who still want to sit in a pew during their holy day to worship God or engage in community life with like-minded individuals, East Lansing boasts a number of different houses of worship for those of many different faiths.
St. John Catholic Church & Student Center
For Roman Catholics, St. John exists as an option. It’s a short walk from campus, located at 327 M.A.C. Ave. Sunday Mass times include 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a daytime mass is offered at 12:15 p.m. The church also offers reconciliation, commonly referred to as confession, an hour before each of the weekday masses and on Tuesdays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. John Catholic Church also offers a Freshman Retreat to take place in September, described as “an evening of reflection, pizza, sharing, learning and praying,” according to the website, helping to connect other Catholic Spartans.
The Peoples Church
This interdenominational Christian Church, located at 200 W. Grand River Ave., offers services on Sunday at 8 a.m. in the chapel and at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, although during the summer the times change to 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. respectively. During the week, the church hosts Wednesday Night Live! which includes dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by programs at 6:30.
River Terrace Church
This contemporary Christian Church is located at 1509 River Terrace, across from Hubbard Hall, and is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. They offer a summer service on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Lester & Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center
MSU Hillel, dedicating its building on 360 Charles St. since 2002, exists as a place to help young members of the Jewish community experience Jewish culture. Many “know little of their Jewish heritage and thus Hillel provides Jewish content at a time when young people are searching for meaning in their lives and are in danger of assimilating into the community around them,” the website reads.
Hillel maintains a working relationship with the Jewish Student Union, a voting member on the ASMSU General Assembly. Every week during the Fall and Spring semesters, a Reform and Conservative service is held, followed by a free Shabbat dinner. During the Passover season in the spring, Hillel offers a Passover Seder.
“This Seder that we do here, it’s for us to allow the students to be able to celebrate the holiday and it’s really important for us to keep our doors open,” Justin Polk, program associate for Hillel, told The State News in April.
The Islamic Center of East Lansing
The Islamic Center, located at 920 S. Harrison Rd., is affiliated with The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing and is a place Muslims of the area can feel welcome. The center offers a First Friday Prayer at 12:15 p.m. and a Second Friday Prayer at 1:45 p.m., and is very welcoming of visitors. For those interested in learning about Islam and Muslims, a free class is offered on the first Sunday of every month at 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
