Thursdays · 8:30 PM
Thursday Upper Room
Worship led by students, a 25-minute word, prayer teams and food. We wrap at ten and the spades table runs till eleven.
THU8:30
Every Thursday in term · 1904 Fayetteville St, upstairs
New on campus?
Upstairs on Fayetteville Street, every Thursday night.
An hour of worship, a short word from Scripture and whatever is in the slow cooker. Eighty or so students climb the stairs most weeks, and by October the freshmen are always the loudest.
Who we are
A campus ministry since 1972, run mostly by students
Upper Room began when four students and a Methodist chaplain started praying in the attic of a rented house across from the main gate. The house changed hands twice. The attic is now a proper second floor with a sound system, two couches nobody will throw out and a kitchen that somehow feeds eighty on a Thursday.
Students lead the worship, run the dorm studies and drive the Sunday van alongside our two staff. We are Baptist, AME, COGIC, Methodist, nondenominational and still figuring it out. You do not have to know which one you are to come up the stairs.
Your week with us
Four things that happen every week
Pick one. Most students start with Thursday and end up at all four by spring.
Mon–Wed · 9:00 PM
Dorm studies
Eight to twelve people in a lounge in your own hall, reading one book of the Bible across the semester. Snacks provided, opinions welcome.
Sundays · 9:40 AM
The Sunday van
Two fifteen-seat vans leave the flagpole for four partner churches across Durham, and bring you back by 1:30.
Sundays · 5:30 PM
Sunday plate
A free home-cooked supper upstairs, made by a different church kitchen each week. Last Sunday was smothered chicken, greens and peach cobbler.
Tuesdays · 7:00 PM
Choir and praise team
Rehearsal in the big room upstairs. Singers, keys, bass and drums. No audition, but come on time.
In their words
Why students keep climbing the stairs
My mama made me promise I'd find a church. I found a van, a living room and a plate of mac and cheese. That counted.
I was a transfer and didn't know anybody on the Yard. Jalen asked my name at the door on my first Thursday and remembered it the next week.
The dorm study is the only hour of my week when nobody is asking me for anything. We just read Mark and argue.
Fall semester
Coming up on the calendar
Oct15
Homecoming week praise break
8:30 PM · Upstairs, 1904 Fayetteville St
Thursday night with the alumni choir back in the room. Doors at 8, and expect it to be standing room only.
Oct18
Homecoming alumni brunch
10:30 AM · Front yard, under the tent
Chicken and waffles for students and every alum who walks up. Bring your line name.
Nov6
Fall retreat
Fri 5 PM – Sun 2 PM · Eno River camp, Hillsborough
Two nights in cabins, a bonfire and no group chats. $40 covers everything, and scholarships are quietly available.
Nov20
Friendsgiving upstairs
6:30 PM · Upstairs, 1904 Fayetteville St
For everybody who can't get home until Christmas. Turkey from Greater Fayette, sides from you.
Dec7
Finals breakfast
10:00 PM · Upstairs, 1904 Fayetteville St
Pancakes, grits and prayer at ten at night. Study rooms open till 2 AM all week.
Jan18
MLK Day of Service
8:30 AM · Meet at the flagpole
Crews to three Hayti sites: a food pantry, a school library and a seniors' building.
Nothing in that category this month.
Why the name
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room. These all continued with one accord in prayer.
This semester
August to now, upstairs and around town
Taken by the students on the media team, always with permission.
Want a photo taken down? Text the office and it's gone the same day.
Come up the stairs once.
Thursday at 8:30. The door on the left side of the porch, then straight up. If it isn't for you, you still got fed.