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Fourth-year math student Ashlee Schultz plays the piano at the University Lutheran Church, where

For many students, attending church may be a rare occurrence in their college lives, and usually might happen at times like Easter or Christmas.

Yet a group of eight UCLA students call the University Lutheran Chapel on Strathmore Avenue home – literally.

As part of a live-in program organized by the church, these students rent low-cost rooms within the chapel building – a tall structure which soars high above the North Village area and is characterized by the 63 stairs required to get to it from the street.

Although they are not all Lutherans, the students living in the chapel are brought together under the same roof by their Christian beliefs.

Living in constant immersion makes it easier to come to terms with one’s spirituality, said Samuel Brady, fourth-year political science student.

“Even if you are not actively trying to find (spiritual truth), it slowly sinks in because you are constantly surrounded by it here,” he said.

In addition to participating in liturgies and events, each student volunteers 10 hours every week for the chapel.

Congregational vice president Dan Fynaardt said group activities with like-minded fellow residents are particularly conducive to spiritual growth.

“A lot of people get into the habit of making worshipping God and growing in faith just a Sunday thing,” Fynaardt said.

“By living here at the ULC, it’s not just a Sunday thing – day in and day out we have opportunities literally right at our doorstep to grow and break out of our comfort zones to truly become models of Christ,” he added.

Faith St. Jean, the campus ministry associate who oversees the ULC, said the live-in program allows students to remain dedicated to their spiritual life, while still providing them with a fun, college-life atmosphere.

“It’s like (MTV’s) Real World, Christian-style,” she said.

At the same time, the constant immersion in religious beliefs sometimes puts extra pressure on the students, she said.

“It’s not like you can sleep through Sunday morning services,” she joked, adding that services are usually delayed until everyone is awake.

Living quarters within the chapel are made up of five bedrooms, a common living room and a kitchen.

Residents at the ULC are gearing up for Easter Sunday services, during which some will play music.