Calvin Institute of Christian Worship - Union University, Jackson, Tennessee

Grants

Home > Grants > Worship Renewal Grants > Featured Grants

Union University, Jackson, Tennessee

A special edition of Unionite, the Union University magazine, chronicled the devastation and hope of the Union community in the wake of the tornado.

At 7:02 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 the Union University campus in Jackson, Tennessee, was devastated by a tornado. Following a nearly five-hour emergency effort, all students—including 13 who were trapped in the fallen rubble—were rescued. Fifty-one students were taken to the hospital, nine of whom suffered serious injury. By God's providence, no lives were lost. Of the 41 buildings on campus, 32 sustained damage.

Union University had received a 2007 Worship Renewal Grant and leaders were prepared to present the major learning event of the grant year on February 14 to 16, 2008. Suddenly those plans were dramatically and permanently altered. As rebuilding and healing began, the leaders asked how they might change the grant project to focus on worship that grows out of thankfulness and pastoral care through the university.

A chapel series, "Singing the Lord's Song AGAIN, Renewing the Psalms in Worship Today," in the spring of 2009, has been the result of that planning. Theologians, pastors, musicians, authors and teachers from throughout North America have been invited to speak to students, faculty and staff in chapel services focused on the Psalms.

We are grateful to Union University for the plans that have been made and for their willingness to share with us audio files of the presentations, including a presentation by our director, John Witvliet.