Morning Prayer is offered Monday through Friday at 11:15 a.m. each day classes are in session. See samples of some of our services: Tuesday morning prayer, Wednesday Matins, Friday morning prayer, Morning Prayer during Holy Week.
One of the coolest things about the Chapel’s Morning Prayer services is they’re led nearly every day by students from a variety of backgrounds. Morning Prayer during Chapel Break (11:15 to 11:35 a.m.) is a time for students, faculty and staff to gather together as a community of faith. Whichever days of the week you choose to come share a pew, there’s time to connect with others before or after with a cup of coffee or a glass of lemonade. Why not make Morning Prayer a daily habit? We’ll look for you at 11:15 a.m.!
Come hear the background of some of the music of Advent, as part of Morning Prayer beginning Nov. 28.
A variety of campus speakers will speak briefly about hymns such as "Lo! He comes with Clouds Descending" and "Unexpected and Mysterious." Just prior to Morning Prayer from Nov. 28 through Dec. 9th, musicians from across campus will provide special music for the season, an event known as Music Under the Gallery.
Speakers at Morning Prayer will be:
Mon., Nov. 28 Rev. Brian Johnson, Executive Director of Campus Ministries
Tues., Nov. 29 Dr. Fred Niedner, Professor of Theology
Wed., Nov. 30 Maura Cock, Lecturer in Music
Thurs., Dec. 1 Colleen Degen, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship staff member
Friday, Dec. 2 Dr. Dennis Friesen-Carper, Reddel Professor of Music
Mon., Dec. 5 Rev. James Wetzstein, University Pastor
Tues., Dec. 6 Rev. Charlene Cox, University Pastor
Wed., Dec. 7 Dr. Joseph Bognar, Chair, Department of Music; Associate Professor of Music
Also providing Music Under the Gallery will be:
Mon., Nov. 28 West Chester Quartet – Karis Ailabouni, Charlotte Lindstrom, Anna Anderson, Cortney Sourwine
Tues., Nov. 29 Members of the VU Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
Wed., Nov. 30 Acabellas
Thurs., Dec. 1 Flute Choir – “High Frequency”
Fri., Dec. 2 Valparaiso Brass Quartet – Andrew Kortze, Trumpet; Julia Scheiderer, Trumpet; Thomas Vienna, Horn; William Charles, Trombone
Mon., Dec. 5 VuVox
Tues., Dec. 6 Guitar Ensemble
Wed., Dec. 7 Quinn Huebner, piano
Thurs., Dec. 8 Valparaiso Woodwind Quartet -- Shireen Korkzan, Flute; Rebecca Berry, Oboe; Katelyn Leonard, Clarinet; Adam Berry, Horn; Thomas Vienna, Bassoon
Friday, Dec. 9 Members of Sigma Alpha Iota Women's Professional Music Fraternity
Morning Prayer begins at 11:15 and ends at 11:35, but come a little early to hear the special music.
Please join us beginning Thursday, Dec. 8th, at Morning Prayer for an Advent tradition known as the “O Antiphons.”
Here at the Chapel, the “O Antiphons” mark the last seven days of
Morning Prayer each December. On each of these seven days, we remember a
name from the Old Testament that becomes fulfilled in Christ (for
example, “Root of Jesse,” “Key of David,” and “Emmanuel.”) As we
approach the birth of Christ each year, we recall these names by reading
the biblical passage, singing a psalm, and singing a stanza of “O Come,
O Come Emmanuel.”
We also invite you to celebrate the start of
the “O Antiphons” on Dec. 8th by staying after Morning Prayer for
Christmas Stollen (a German sweetbread), coffee and juice.
In order to accommodate the finals schedule, please note that Morning Prayer will move to 10 a.m. during Finals Week, Dec. 12-16, 2011.
Tuesday, Aug. 30 - Rev. Brian Johnson, Executive Director of Campus Ministries
Friday, Sept. 2 - Alissa Kretzmann, Senior, Chair of the Social Action Leadership Team (SALT)
Tuesday, Sept. 6 - Dr. Fred Niedner, Professor of Theology
Friday, Sept. 9 - Jim Sarkisian ('VU 80), President of the Valparaiso Community School Board
Tuesday, Sept. 13 - Dr. John Ruff, director of the Valpo CORE program
Friday, Sept. 16 - John DeWyze, St. Teresa's
Tuesday, Sept. 20 - Dr. Carolyn Leeb, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology
Friday, Sept. 23 - Richard Brauer, associate professor emeritus of art
Tuesday, Sept. 27 - Dr. Kraig Olejniczak, Dean of the College of Engineering
Friday, Sept. 30 - John Webster, senior
Tuesday, Oct. 4 - Dr. Julien Smith, Christ College
Friday, Oct. 7 - Erin Moeller, senior
Tuesday, Oct. 11 - Dr. Matt Ringenberg, Social Work
Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Dr. Sam Graber, English
Friday, Oct. 21 - Austin Hill, senior, Theology major, Praise Band leader
Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Dedication of sculpture in memory of Rev. Darlene Grega
Friday, Oct. 28 - Katie Mattmiller
Tuesday, Nov. 1 - Rev. James Wetzstein
Friday, Nov. 5 - Jacob Just, senior
Tuesday, Nov. 8 - Keith Freeman
Friday, Nov. 11 - Krista Schaefer
Tuesday, Nov. 15 - Dr. Mark Bartusch
Friday, Nov. 18 - Dr. David Western
Dr. Fred Niedner, professor of theology, shared recently why he makes Morning Prayer a priority:
"I come here even on days when I don’t feel particularly “devotional” or “spiritual” because I need to stay in practice. I run, ride a bicycle, and do other crazy things on machines at the YMCA because my body will atrophy and my arthritis will cripple me if I don’t. I need to stay in shape. Similarly, I pray with people like you partly because by this time in my life, I’ve been crucified a few times, so to speak, and I know I need to keep practicing prayer."
Read his full thoughts on the subject here.
But you don't have to be a theologian to enjoy Morning Prayer. Students, faculty and staff from all areas not only worship together, but also are invited to speak.
Our theme for Morning Prayer for the 2010-11 school year was "On Our Way," based on the book On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life, edited by Dorothy Bass.
Read some of the reflections from our On Our Way series:
Rev. Phyllis Kersten, Aug. 27, 2010 and Aug. 31, 2010
September's Theme: Living a whole life attentatively
Father Kevin McCarthy, Sept. 3, 2010
Dr. Fred Niedner, Sept. 7, 2010
Dr. Joseph Goss, Sept. 10, 2010
Dr. John Ruff, Sept. 14, 2010
Dr. Stanley Zygmunt, Sept. 17, 2010
Rev. Dr. Greg Jones, Sept. 21, 2010
Dr. Gretchen Buggeln, Sept. 24, 2010
Lisa Morton, Sept. 28, 2010
October's theme: Discerning God's call
Beth Olejniczak, MSN, RN, Oct. 1, 2010
Dr. Dennis Friesen-Carper, Oct. 5, 2010
Dr. Brighton Anbu, visiting scholar, Oct. 8, 2010
Dr. Christoffer Grundmann, Oct. 12, 2010
John DeWyze, St. Teresa's, Oct. 15, 2010
Darron Farha, Oct. 19, 2010
Dr. Christopher Cock, Oct. 26, 2010
Dr. Kraig Olejniczak, Oct. 29, 2010
November's theme: Living together, living as community
Dr. David Weber, Nov. 2, 2010
Rev. George Cairns, Nov. 5, 2010
Dr. Dorothy Bass, Nov. 9, 2010
Krista Schaefer, Nov. 12, 2010
Dr. Walt Wangerin, Nov. 16, 2010
Deaconess Diane Marten, Nov. 19, 2010
Cameron Overbey, Nov. 29, 2010
Redrick Taylor, Nov. 30, 2010
December's theme: Peacemaking
Dana Goble, Dec. 1, 2010
President Mark Heckler, Dec. 2, 2010
Ellen Orner, Dec. 3, 2010
Linn Tonstad, Dec. 6, 2010
Jacob Just, Dec. 7, 2010
Mary Emily Duba, Dec. 8, 2010
January's theme: Knowing and loving our neighbors of other faiths
Jessica McCallum, Jan. 7, 2011
Rev. James Wetzstein, Jan. 11, 2011
Dr. Stacy Hoult-Saros, Jan. 14, 2011
Nancy Scannell, Jan. 18, 2011
Dr. Jen Miller, Jan. 21, 2011
Dr. Julien Smith, Jan. 25, 2011
Carolyn Heider, Jan. 28, 2011
February's theme: Doing Justice
Amy Lukas, Feb. 1, 2011
Alissa Kretzmann, Feb. 4, 2011
Deaconesss Heather Frank, Feb. 8, 2011
Dr. Bruce Berner, Feb. 11, 2011
Dr. David Western, Feb. 15, 2011
Mary Zastrow, Feb. 18, 2011
Johnna Venuto, Feb. 22, 2011
Deaconess Karen Melang, Feb. 25, 2011
March's theme: Making a Good Living
Jill Alexander Essbaum, March 15, 2011
Sara Danger, March 18, 2011
Paul Danger, March 25, 2011
Tom Boyt, March 29, 2011
April's theme: Living in the Presence of God
John DeWyze, April 1, 2011
Richard Maddox, April 5, 2011
Father Roger Bower, April 8, 2011
Katie Baxter, April 12, 2011
Emily Seitz, April 15, 2011
Dr. Bruce Hrivnak, April 26, 2011
Elliott Stephenson, April 29, 2011