You don't need to let us know in advance if you are coming, especially if you were invited by a current GCF attendee and already know the exact meeting address. That said, we would love a heads-up if possible. You can do that by filling out the Find Out More form.

Getting Here

This Fall we will be meeting primarily on the third floor of Scott-Bates Common (The Insomnia Cookie Entrance on 33rd Street). 

Walking

Our meeting place is about a 5-minute walk from The Beach (east gate of Homewood Campus). From Charles Street, take 33rd Street. Scott-Bates Commons is about half-way down the block.

Driving

Street parking is generally available, especially on St. Paul Street between 33rd and 34th Street

Homewood-Peabody-JHMI Shuttle 

If you are traveling southbound from Homewood, get off at stop #9 (33rd Street & St. Paul). If you are heading northbound from JHMI, get off at stop #7 (33rd Street & N. Charles). From either stop, it is about a 2 minute walk to our meeting place. Find the shuttle schedule and the route map here.

Blue Jay Night Ride

If you are a current Hopkins student with a valid university email address, you can request a door-to-door Night Ride to our meeting place. It may take up to 20 minutes for the dispatcher to assign a ride, plus extra time for drop-offs and pick-ups along the way. We recommend requesting your ride at least 30 minutes in advance to be safe. Learn more about this service here.

We Might Be Able to Give You a Ride!

We know it can feel a little daunting to visit a new community for the first time, even though we really are a friendly bunch. If it helps, we can pair you with someone to go together. A few GCF members drive and may be able to pick you up if you live near the Homewood campus. Or we can pair you with a walking buddy. Just let us know!

What to Expect When You Are Here

Arriving

Our meeting place is in conference room space on the 3rd floor of Scott-Bates. You'll need a J-Card (or a friend with a J-Card) to enter the building. Take the elevator to the third floor and look for Room 303, Salon C.

Dress

Our meeting is casual, so feel free to wear whatever you are most comfortable in. 

Who Will Be There

You will meet a mix of grad students, postdocs, and a few folks who have graduated but are still lingering around Baltimore! We come from all sorts of departments—Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Philosophy, Computer Science, Math, Nursing, and more. Most of us are in our 20s and 30s, and we come from a variety of church backgrounds, including Baptist, Catholic, Non-Denominational, and others.

Meeting Flow

We start with light snacks and fellowship from 7:30 to 8:00 PM. After that, we gather for 10 to 15 minutes of worship as a large group. Then, everyone splits into smaller groups for Bible study. Our Bible discussions follow a multi-week theme (series), with each session focused on an individual study. So, no prior knowledge of previous studies is required—though if you are subscribed to our mailing list, you will receive the PDF of each week's study to review at your own time.

The study is facilitated by one or two student leaders and usually starts with an opening or icebreaker session, followed by the main study, and then a prayer time where everyone is welcome to share any praises or prayer requests. 

We usually wrap up around 9:30 PM, but some students like to stick around and chat!

Worship

A mix of modern Christian songs and classic hymns, led by fellow GCF members.

Snacks

Our snacks are usually prepared by the host and students. Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions! If you are our guest, no need to bring anything. For regular attendees, people usually take turns bringing a sweet or savory snack at least once per semester (you will find the sign-up sheet in the main meeting room). 

Monthly Birthday Celebration

On the first Wednesday of each month, we celebrate everyone with a birthday that month with cake and a happy birthday song. Tell us your birthday month here!