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.
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.
As part of the broadening of Morning Prayer for 2010-11, not only are more students leading it this year but also representatives from St. Teresa’s and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship are involved in its planning and leading. On Thursdays various Christian student groups take turns leading a time of prayers for others and ourselves. Also new this year -- we’re hearing from a wider variety of speakers. They’re here Tuesdays and Fridays, offering their stories and reflecting on themes taken from On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life. Read their homilies/reflections here.
Bible studies are offered on campus throughout the year, organized by a variety of groups such as Residential Ministers.
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. The weekly location is either the CCLIR Board Room or in the Union. 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.
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.
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.
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:
You can also download a copy of the brochure that tells you more about the labyrinth.
The Chapel’s Residential Ministers are students who provide a welcome and a connection with the Chapel and with students who already know the campus and the people. Through the year in each freshman hall, Residential Ministers will organize regular meeting times for prayer and Bible study. They’ll work with students to organize other activities as well. The groups are a way for you to meet new people and form spiritual friendships here at Valpo. Your residential minister knows where the Bible studies and prayer groups are. Talk to them to find out the rich devotional opportunities right in your building. See the Res Min page for details as they become available for 2011-12.
The Chapel works with Residential Life to maintain prayer chapels in each of the residence halls. These are places for prayer and mediation, song and art. Talk to your residential minster if you have a special need.
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.
Watch for more information in the fall of 2011.
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.
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.