Blessed at chapel

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

For me one of the great perks of working at Calvin College is the opportunity to attend morning worship or “chapel” at 10 am. Classes are neither scheduled nor held between 10:00-10:30 am. Some college offices even close their doors at 10 am, hoping to encourage students and staff to attend.

Unfortunately I don’t always make it to chapel.  It’s been a personal goal of mine to attend at least once each week.  Last week I made it three times--I also attended this morning.  That’s not always the case.  Often the tempo of a work project propels that 9:55 am “mark” right past me.  Or I just plain forget and don’t even consider the chapel option many mornings.  Occasionally a colleague will stop by or shoot me an e-mailed invitation.  That is usually enough of a prompt. Sometimes I even take the initiative and invite a colleague.

But one thing is always certain when it comes to my chapel attendance.  I always receive a spiritual blessing when I do go.

I am always struck by how many students attend chapel.  It was not always so at Calvin College.  I was a first year student at Calvin in 1972. Chapel was not well attended that year.  That was the first year that students were not required to attend chapel.  It was a big step for Calvin to make that change back in 1972.  But I believe that the impact that decision had on the quality of worship was significant.  Students chose to attend chapel because of their longing to be there.  And they received a blessing.

Sometimes campus visitors are surprised to learn that chapel attendance is not required at Calvin College.  I believe it is a good thing that students have the option of attending or not.  From where I sit it seems clear that students who attend really desire and even long to be there.  They too receive a spiritual blessing.

Parents, you are always welcome to join the Calvin community for chapel at 10 am.  Some of you live in or near Grand Rapids and chapel attendance is an option for you.  I’m certain that you too will be blessed if you choose to come.

For the rest of you, I’m happy to say that we plan to “roll out” a new Web option later this semester which will allow parents, alumni and friends to listen to chapel live over the Web site.  We will make the proper announcements in Calvin-Parents and on the Web site once this service becomes available.

Then we can nudge each other at 9:50 am and ask, “Hey, wanna go to chapel with me?”

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