A personal devotional life is always a blessing. At the Chapel, we're ready to help you maintain your present devotional life or make a fresh start on one. Here are just a few resources that are available to every member of the University commmunity.You are also welcome to stop in the Chapel to pray even when worship services are not in process.

Daily Morning Prayer

The single most frequent worship opportunity during the school year is Morning Prayer at 11:15 a.m. each class day. It's just 20 minutes long. Worship styles change from day to day, season to season, with music ranging from ancient to contemporary. Morning Prayer is a time for students, faculty, and staff to gather as a community of faith, share space in the pew, hear God’s word, pray, and give praise. See a sample of Morning Prayer, thanks to VUTV.

Bible Study

Bible studies are offered on campus throughout the year, organized by a variety of groups such as Residential Ministers and SALT. See the Campus Activities Calendar.

In addition, all are welcome to attend the on-going Chinese-language Bible study on campus, held each Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. Beginning May 27, the study will move to the CCLIR President's Room. Whether you were born in China or are learning the language and wish to practice its use, you are welcome to attend. Bibles are available. For more information, please email valpo.cca@gmail.com.

Spiritual Direction for individuals

If you're seeking spiritual direction and prefer a one-on-one setting to a retreat, Deaconess E. Louise Williams is now offering this service at the Chapel. Louise is a VU graduate and has been a deaconess for over 40 years. She has an MA in Christian Spiritualities from Mundelein College, Chicago. She has been a spiritual director for many years and currently meets monthly with a peer group of spiritual directors. She is co-facilitator of the Michiana Spiritual Directors Network and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. She is Executive Director Emeritus of the Lutheran Deaconess Association and teaches part time in the Theology Department at Valpo.

If you wish to use the resource of Spiritual Direction at the Chapel, please contact louise.williams@valpio.edu for an appointment. There is no charge for students. This service is also available to faculty and staff of Valpo.

Fellowship Hall/Christian Servant Leadership

The Fellowship Hall (formerly Fellowship House) was re-shaped in the Fall of 2009 as an on-campus program for Christian leaders. Commitment to common prayer, leadership discussions, seminars and sharing of information are the responsibilities expected of its members. You are invited to join in on weekly devotions with this community on Thursdays at 10 p.m., in the Guild-Memorial chapel.

Applications for living in Fellowship Hall, an intentional Christian community on campus, were due by Feb. 24. Fellowship Hall will be housed for 2012-13 on the second  floor of Guild/Memorial Halls.  

The Resurrection Labyrinth and "I AM" Garden

Outside the Chapel on the east end of the building you will find the Resurrection Labyrinth and "I AM" Garden. A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It is not a maze, because a maze is like a puzzle to be solved. Rather, a labyrinth has only one path, from one continuous line. The way in is also the way out. You are welcome to visit the labyrinth at any time. Our labyrinth includes markers along the way with "I AM" statements of Jesus, for Christ is our journey and our destination.

Some general guidelines for walking a labyrinth are:

• Focus: Pause and wait at the entrance. Become quiet and centered.
• Experience: Walk purposefully. Observe the process. When you reach the center, stay there and focus several minutes. Say a prayer. Leave when it seems appropriate. Be attentive on the way out.
• Exit: Turn and fact the entrance. You may wish to given an acknowledgement of ending, such as "Amen."
• Reflect: After walking the labyrinth, reflect back on your experience.

You can also download a copy of the brochure that tells you more about the labyrinth.

Spiritual Retreats

The Chapel offers a series of retreats through out the year that lead participants in the disciplines of prayer and spiritual discernment, especially in the area of life vocation.

Quietly appreciating and meditating on the beauty of God’s good creation… sharing caring conversation with a new friend… listening to God’s word with new ears… That’s what the Lifetree Retreat is all about. In quiet contemplation, you are invited to learn to listen to God through individual and group activities, prayer and worship, Bible study, and fellowship. 

The retreat is intended to help participants find ways to hear God’s voice in their daily lives.  Whether you have questions about vocation, relationships, faith, whatever, you will learn how to quiet yourself and listen for God’s voice.
 

VU Prayer Book

In celebration of Valpo's 150th anniversary, a new prayer book became available in August 2008 to members of the campus community. In Thy Light We See Light: The Valparaiso University Prayer Book includes prayers from Valpo's outgoing and incoming presidents and traditional campus events such as Advent Vespers, as well as prayers related to faith and learning, stress and struggle, giving thanks, relationships, and sorrow and loss. Also contained in the book are examples of varied ways of praying and how one can practice these different approaches. Copies are available for purchase at the University Book Center or online at valpo.edu/bookcenter.

The prayer book will be supplemented by an online community in which members can post prayer requests, meet prayer partners, learn about ways to pray and view prayer resources. All are welcome to join the community at pray.valpo.edu. Read the full story here.

Some Thoughts on Silence

Silence has been highly prized as a Christian discipline because as one attends to God’s voice, spoken during private prayer, worship service, the proclaiming of scripture, in solitary walks, etc., one’s inner being becomes focused and intent on receiving life, blessing, and spiritual riches from the One who is the source of life. The Taize Worship Around the Cross service offered during the Morning Prayer rotation makes good use of silence.

One needs to grow used to being in silence, for we tend to become uncomfortable when there are no sounds to distract us.  Many of us struggle to still the chatter in our minds in order to pray and to create a space to receive God’s word to us in prayer.

Silence may be considered simply a peaceful attentiveness to God’s presence, a time to be quiet and let your soul breathe deeply once again.  It may be a time for reflection on the words and music heard, a time for personal prayer and confession, a time to rest in God’s peace from the busyness of life.  Silence can be a means of being in touch with feelings and thoughts, as well as an invitation to discern with God’s eyes and ears what needs to change in us for us to better reflect the image and likeness of God in whom we have been created.