Events
Church Unbound ~ Wednesdays, 6:30 pm
Church Unbound is our summer weekly gathering. We gather at Pres House or somewhere else in the city for food (bring your own dinner), conversation (a.k.a. “Midweek Musings”), and fun! Church Unbound meets every Wednesday at 6:30 pm, ending on August 24.
MAY SCHEDULE
- May 25 ~ Musing: “Why Christian?”
JUNE SCHEDULE
- June 8 ~ Musing: “Is God perfect?”
- June 15 ~ Kayaking on Lake Mendota (rescheduled for June 29)
- June 22 ~ Musing: “What happens when we die?”
- June 29 ~ Kayaking on Lake Mendota
JULY SCHEDULE
- July 6 ~ PowerPoint Night
- July 13 ~ Concert on the Square (meet at Pres House at 6:30 to walk together)
- July 20 ~ Musing: “What should Christians believe about other religions?”
- July 27 ~ S’mores at Picnic Point (Fire Circle #2)
AUGUST SCHEDULE
- August 3 ~ Musing: “Do miracles really happen?”
- August 10 ~ Terrace Art Zone (meet at Pres House at 6 pm)
- August 17 ~ Musing: “Where does evil come from?”
- August 24 ~ Movie Night at Pres House: Soul
WISCONSIN WELCOME ~ August 31 - September 14
Open House ~ August 31 and September 1, 7 – 10 pm
Games, snacks, crafts, and open jam sessions. Come any time from 7 to 10 pm to take a break from unpacking, make some new friends, and enjoy (or play) some live music!
Cookie Break ~ September 2, 4 – 6 pm
One of our most iconic events and a great way to meet new people. We set up on the patio and give away hundreds — yes, hundreds — of free Insomnia Cookies. Plus, we break out the prize wheel. You might win some candy, a reusable straw, or a crisp high-five.
Welcome Worship ~ September 4, 4:30 pm
Our first worship gathering of the new school year. We start upstairs in the chapel but end downstairs in Lower Hall where we’ll eat a delicious home-cooked meal together. No end time listed because there’s no telling how long you’ll want to hang.
Trivia Night ~ September 5, 7 – 8:30 pm
Come alone or with a group of (up to) five. Either way, we’ll make sure you have a chance to meet some new people, answer some wild questions, and win some sweet prizes. And we guarantee to stump you at least once.
Midweek Morsels ~ September 7, 4 – 6 pm
The kickoff for everyone’s favorite midweek hangout; every Wednesday, 4-6 pm. We serve up some delicious homemade baked goods along with free coffee and tea. The Wii is on, the puzzles and board games are out, and the vibes are immaculate. Whether you come to socialize or study, Midweek Morsels is what you make it.
Grad Coffee Hour Kickoff ~ September 8, 8:30 – 9:30 am
We’ll have free coffee and tea along with Greenbush donuts for you to enjoy; plus, you’ll get to connect with other grad students. It’s a great way to start the day!
Grad Student Happy Hour ~ September 13, 5 – 7 pm
Come enjoy free mocktails and hors d’oeuvres while meeting and mingling with other graduate students at UW-Madison! RSVP requested, though not required.
"WHO INVENTED RACE? ENSLAVED AFRICANS AND WHITE CHRISTIAN BODIES" | September 27, 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Race is all around us, structuring our lives and organizing the world. It’s as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. Which is strange, considering it’s made up.
Who’s responsible for this thing we call race? Where — and when — did it come from? And why is Christianity wreaking havoc at the center of it all? In this highly interactive workshop facilitated by Nii Addo Abrahams, we’ll tackle these important questions together.
This workshop kicks off a series of four workshops hosted by Pres House on the history of American Christianity and race. Let us know you’re coming!
PUMPKIN PATCH ADVENTURE | October 27, 6 pm
We’re heading to Treinen Farm for some classic fall fun! There’s a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and other fun activities. We’ll meet at Pres House at 6 pm to make sure everyone has a ride. Tickets are $14 online or $16.50 at the gate.
MURDER MYSTERY PARTY | November 4, 6 - 8 pm
Just imagine it: an evening of socializing, eating, and hanging out with your friends. And then, all of a sudden, there’s been a murder! And the murderer is still among us…
We’ll need to work together to figure out who the killer is. Will you join us?
Our murder mystery party will be a great time! When you arrive, you’ll be assigned a character and a role to play in our story. No need to prep ahead of time (unless it’s a costume); just show up ready to have a spooky fun time!
You’ll need to register in advance so that we can prepare the story. There are non-binary, female, and male characters available.
FALL RETREAT | November 11 - 13
Fall Retreat is a great way to take a break from your normal routine and enjoy some time away from campus with friends! We eat, play, and make memories together while holding space for spiritual reflection and conversation. Whether you are brand new to Pres House or have been a part of the community for years, Fall Retreat is one of the best ways to build relationships at Pres House.
FRIENDSGIVING | November 18, 6 pm
We’re hosting a Friendsgiving on Friday, November 18th at 6:00 p.m. in Lower Hall. We’d love it if you joined us for a fun dinner before Thanksgiving Break. You are encouraged to bring a dish to share if you are able, but if not, that’s ok too! Hope to see you there!
YULE BALL | December 2, 6 - 9 pm
For our last social event of the semester, we are hosting Yule Ball, a fun-filled festive night at Pres House! There is no dress code, but you are welcome to wear anything from your fanciest dress to your favorite holiday sweater. Snacks and treats will be provided, and you are encouraged to bring some of your own homemade cookies for our cookie competition! We will have games, dancing, and your favorite holiday tunes. We hope to see you there!
MIDWEEK MORSELS KICK-OFF | January 25, 4 - 6 pm
Reunite and reconnect with your Pres House fam at our first Midweek Morsels of the year! We’re keeping the tradition alive and kicking things off by serving up dozens of delicious Greenbush donuts. There will also be games and puzzles! Come and stay for as long as you’d like.
CANDID WORKSHOP: "TAPPING YOUR POWER: MOTIVATING FOR SUCCESS IN 2023" | January 31, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Join peers and coach Ginger Morgan to learn how you can tap into motivation to boost your growth, progress, and success in 2023. Free pizza after the workshop.
TRIVIA NIGHT | February 1, 6:30 pm
During fall kickoff, we learned that y’all really, really like trivia. We like to keep the people happy. So we’re bringing it back! Check back soon for more details on team size, prizes, format, and more. No matter what, though, we guarantee a good time!
OUTDOOR ICE SKATING | February 18, 1:30 pm
Pres House is going skating! Whether you’ve never been before or you’re a seasoned pro, we’d love to have you join us on February 18th at 1:30 pm to go ice skating. We plan on meeting outside Pres House and then walking over to Outdoor UW in Memorial Union to rent skates. The cost is $5/hour to rent.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll be meeting at the Shell instead to skate indoors. The cost is $4 to skate and $3 to rent if we are at the Shell.
LOCK-IN | April 1-2
Ever wanted to explore the church after hours? PH is hosting a lock-in from April 1st at 5 pm to April 2nd at 10 am! This will be an awesome event where you get to have a jam-packed sleepover with your friends! This will include passion PowerPoint presentations, grog (a better version of freeze tag), mafia/werewolf, and much more. We will also have a cooking competition for our dinner! And it all ends with a wonderful breakfast! So bring your best PJs for a night to remember! The deadline to register is Monday, March 27th (the day after spring break).
PRES HOUSE PROM | April
Check back later for more details!