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Chapel
As part of the educational mission of Geneva College, a weekly devotional time for the college community is conducted on Wednesdays from 10:15-11 a.m. This devotional time provides opportunity for the campus to gather together to praise God, hear His word, and seek His favor and direction. Attendance is mandatory for students and the entire campus community is encouraged to participate.
Educational - Chapel provides the Geneva community with an opportunity to be instructed on different aspects of the Christian life; to be encouraged as we deal with issues and temptations that confront us; to be challenged to address the needs of the community and the world in which we live.
Devotional - Chapel provides an opportunity for the campus community to focus on Jesus Christ and His work for us and in us; to praise Him, and to pray that we might follow and serve Him.
Universal - Chapel provides an opportunity to recognize and experience the breadth of the worldwide Christian community and incorporates contributions from various cultures and Christian traditions.
Singing of Psalms
Psalm singing is one of the distinctive features of Chapel. While uncommon in many churches today, psalm singing has been the historic practice for Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican Churches, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, as well as most Presbyterian, Reformed, Baptist and Congregational churches for generations. Chapel psalm selections attempt to show the wide range of emotions and praise to God found in the psalms.
The Psalms reflect the spirit of God's people and they are an appropriate pattern for our corporate expressions in Chapel.
We praise God for His glorious works of creation and redemption, for His faithfulness to His word, for His goodness and justice, for the beauty of His handiwork.
We come to confess our sins and to plead for grace in times of human distress. Since all of these are profoundly evident in the Psalms, we take this opportunity to explore the Psalms together.
For 2011-2012, the Chapel Leadership Team has chosen the theme “Crazy Love,” based on the book by Francis Chan.
In the preface Chan declares: “This book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers.” Chan’s purpose is not to “bash” the church, but to affirm our desire for “more God” “even if you are surrounded by people who feel they have “enough God.”
According to Chan, God’s Love is “Crazy” because it is totally undeserved. God’s “crazy love” for us calls for “crazy love” in response. Why would the creator of the entire universe love us? It’s crazy!
What about His love causes people to leave all and sacrifice all to follow Him? It’s crazy!
It’s crazy, unless the God of the universe is all that He says and is worth all that we might sacrifice. Missionary Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Throughout the year we will be considering different aspects of God’s “Crazy Love,” as well as the implications for those who have experienced that love.
Speakers will include on campus faculty, staff, and students, as well as guests from off campus.