Sundays at the Chapel

Malachi, whose name means “my messenger,” warns that “the day is coming.” On that day, the evil will be destroyed like stubble in a fire, but the “sun of righteousness” will shine on those who honor God.

¹ See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ^2a But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

Some members of the Thessalonian community, because of their belief in the nearness of Christ’s return, had ceased to work, living off the generosity of other members of the community. The writer of this letter warns them bluntly that if they want to eat, they need to work.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister living irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you, ⁸ and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you. ⁹ This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: anyone unwilling to work should not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living irresponsibly, mere busybodies, not doing any work. ¹² Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

As history moves toward God’s fulfillment there will be frightening signs and events. Before the end, believers will draw strength from their relationship to God and will be given the words they need to testify and to endure without fear.

⁵ When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, ⁶ “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

  ⁷ They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” ⁸ And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
  ⁹ “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; ¹¹ there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
  ¹² “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ This will give you an opportunity to testify. ¹⁴ So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, ¹⁵ for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all because of my name. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

A message is given each Sunday morning by either one of our campus ministers, one of the Theology Department professors or a guest preacher. Sermons are recorded during the school year and available through Soundcloud.com or on our sermons page.

We use a variety of worship settings over the course of the church year. Our impressive Reddel Memorial Organ and a choir help to lead the music most Sundays. On others, a praise band will help lead the music. There is may be a procession of people carrying in a smaller cross, torches, and the Bible at the start of the service. You’ll see the ministers and choir wearing robes. Our worshiping community is made up of students and their family members or friends, faculty and staff members and their families, and people from the larger Valparaiso area and beyond. Children are welcome, too! 

There are pads hanging from the chair in front of your seat that may be used during the prayers. If you choose not to kneel at these times, please sit forward in your seat so that the person behind you may kneel if they choose.

It is traditional that hats are removed when inside the Chapel as a sign of respect. However, there is no dress code! For Sunday mornings at the Chapel, people dress in a variety of ways, from jeans or shorts to dresses and jackets and ties. (Be comfortable! The Chapel was constructed without air conditioning.)

Sunday morning is one of eight different worship services held at the Chapel throughout the week. There are two late-night services, popular with students. On Sunday nights at 10 p.m., Candlelight Evening Prayer gathers around word, song and prayer. Celebrate! is our weekly praise band service of Holy Communion that meets on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. Students dress comfortably for these services. Morning Prayer is a 20-minute service every weekday at 10:10 a.m. during the Chapel Break period of the academic day when classes are not in session. Each day of Morning Prayer offers a different style of worship through which the Valpo community joins together in prayer and praise. Valpo students play key parts in both planning and leading all of these services.

Yes! Communion is celebrated here each Sunday morning in the confidence of receiving from our Lord all that he promises when he gives his body and blood to eat and to drink. If you have any concerns about whether you should participate in this element of the service, please speak to the pastor before the service. You may also come to the communion table to receive a blessing instead of communion. Signify this by folding your arms across your body.

Our bread is gluten- and dairy-free. Dealcoholized wine is available. Ushers will direct you where to go.  

On Wednesday evenings, students are encouraged to participate in communion during our mid-week Celebrate! praise band service that begins at 10 p.m.

The Chapel is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the academic year. Students, faculty and staff can use their identification cards to “swipe” into the Chapel in the evenings until 11 p.m. 

Valparaiso is a walking campus, but guests may be dropped off in the turnaround between the Chapel and Harre Union. There is limited handicap parking available there. We recommend that you park in Lot 20, down hill from the Christopher Center and Chapel, or in Lot 15.

The Chapel does not offer tours, but visitors are encouraged to pick up a self-guided tour booklet of the Chapel, available in the narthex, which offers information on different features of the Chapel as well an explanation of the stained glass windows.

A handicap accessible doorway is located at the entrance opposite the Harre Union, from the Chapel turnaround. The Chapel has two family/handicap accessible restrooms on the main level, in the narthex. To access the Gloria Christi Chapel without using stairs, we recommend entering at the ground level on the eastern end of the building. (The Gloria Christi Chapel is a smaller chapel, built below the chancel, on the eastern end of the building.) There are sidewalks with ramps on the southern side of the Chapel and the Helge Center.

Many people find it a blessing to be able to pause in the Chapel of the Resurrection for prayer and personal reflection. You are welcome! There also is a prayer chapel in the Gloria Christi Chapel. The Resurrection Labyrinth, located outside the Chapel on the east end, is accessible 24/7 as a devotional space.