What is Chapel?

THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF CHAPEL

What do we celebrate every Tuesday as we come together in Chapel? In my opinion, we come together as a community in full support of our school mission which states that “every child is a child of God.” It’s not about making everyone Christian or everyone an Episcopalian. It’s about making everyone holy and healthy, which is the work of the Holy Spirit.

“Come Holy Spirit; touch the hearts and minds of all who enter this holy space.”

That is my fervent, personal prayer for everyone before each chapel no matter what that day’s offering might be.

I remember during my first year as Chaplain, after Tuesday’s chapel service I was expressing how very much I wished for a formal chapel building on our campus. As I gazed daily at the beautiful SP Chapel I must confess to “chapel envy.” Mrs. Phillips cured me of that thought immediately as she responded emphatically, “But Chaplain Walton, our time together in the Price Gym is special, holy and it’s OURS!” She was right and I never again looked up the hill with desiring eyes!”

What makes it so? Chapel is a time to experience how powerful silence in community can be! I am so very impressed by the silent reverence in which the girls enter Chapel every Tuesday. We have received compliments from many amazed and impressed guests.

Silence gives us all a chance to step away from the ever-increasing pace and volume of our busy schedules and reflect on the fact that the physical world is not the only reality and that there is something truly greater than the here and now - a little touch of the numinous - a mysterious power that suggests the presence of God. As we hear from Holy Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Chapel is also a time to experience raising our voices in song and to appreciate the gift of music from Mr. Goen, our organist, Mrs. Mack, Mrs. Flower-Rogers, and all the choirs and soloists who so generously share their God-given gifts with us. Scripture bids us to “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing!”

Mrs. Mack believes that “music transcends everything. It reaches and restores the soul like nothing else.” The Reverend Roger Bowen says, “Music can be a powerfully-unifying force, drawing out a calming and holy presence from beneath the words and notes.” No wonder some of the fondest memories of many alumnae are the times they sang together in chapel.

Chapel is a time for prayer and hearing words of Holy Scripture. The spirit of prayer is God’s spirit in human beings. Prayer and the reading of scripture is the environment through which God grows and renews, corrects and forgives, heals and transforms human society and the individuals in it. It is very concrete and very powerful.

Over and over scripture offers us an alternative vision, not only of ourselves but of others and ultimately of the whole world. It is through prayer and Holy Scripture that truth, love, faith, and hope flourish and in which evil, greed, selfishness, violence, injustice, and corruption can find no root.

The repetition of hymns, anthems, silent moments, prayer, and scripture in chapel provides opportunities for us all to grow in spirit and continue to discover who we are and whose we are. It is this dedication and commitment that gives us the spiritual strength to face the many hardships of life (and there are many for us all) and the inner desire to reach out to those in need. Very importantly, it also gives us an opportunity to celebrate that which brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong.

We can spend our lives learning about God, but it is in experiencing God in community that we exceed our understanding. As we reach out to handle God, it is we who are handled, gently but with powerful effect. May we all be a blessing to one another every Tuesday morning at 8:05 a.m. and every day as we remind ourselves “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

The Rev. Mary Walton, Chaplain