Every Wednesday morning as the library bells chime ten, a swarm of students begin making their way down the hill toward Metheny Fieldhouse. Every week, students, faculty, and staff alike lay aside their work and gather in the only indoor space large enough at Geneva to accommodate 1,000 people. Over the noise of chatter, the cheerful sound of singing from New Song — the College’s musical ministry group — carries, creating an atmosphere of joyful expectation. Students file into the bleachers and the rows of chairs on the gym floor, often sitting with their friend group or athletics team. As 10:10 approaches, John Wilhelm, director of campus ministry, gives a few campus announcements before quieting the room for a few moments of private prayer to start our weekly chapel service.
Though not a formal worship service, Chapel at Geneva College contains many of the same elements, including singing, preaching, and Scripture reading. A certain number of Chapel attendances are required for students, but the campus just about “shuts down” for an hour to make attendance possible. No classes are scheduled during the 10:10 hour, and many campus buildings are closed at that time, allowing as many faculty and staff as possible to attend. This facilitates a unique, mutual encouragement between generations as students worship alongside faculty, staff, and College leaders.
So, what can you expect at a Geneva College Chapel service?
Psalm Singing
One of the distinctive features that new students quickly notice is the a cappella psalm singing at Chapel, led by Matthew Kickasola, music and humanities professor. Because Geneva is affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, its chapel service reflects an RP worship service, which includes singing the psalms without instruments. Though psalm singing might be unfamiliar to many incoming students, its simplicity is a beautiful way to connect us to the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that the psalms are ultimately fulfilled in Christ — that as we sing the psalms, we are singing the very words of Christ that can then become true in our own lives if we are saved in Christ. Psalm singing also connects us to church history, as many saints before us were sustained and strengthened through singing the psalms.
If the psalms are new to you, feel free to listen for a verse and then jump in and sing! Some tunes may be familiar while others may take some learning, but remember that singing is a precious gift of God and intended for all to participate in.
Prayer
Each week, a faculty or staff member prays during Chapel, praising God, thanking Him, and offering requests on behalf of the Geneva community. This is a blessed time of communing with the Lord together.
Scripture Reading/Recitation
Then, a student group leads a call and response Scripture reading and the recitation of either the Nicene Creed or the Ten Commandments. This is a special way for many students to participate in Chapel, and through the year, we typically have various athletics teams and student clubs lead this part of Chapel. We recite either the Nicene Creed or the Ten Commandments because they reflect the basic doctrines of the Christian faith that Christians share in common, regardless of denomination.
Testimonies
A few years ago, testimony time from a faculty or staff member was added to the Chapel service. During this portion, we get to hear stories of God’s faithfulness in the lives of the Geneva community. This is a favorite aspect of service for many students, as we deepen our understanding of who God is through the story of His work in others’ lives.
Preaching
We have the blessing of hearing the word preached each week from a variety of local pastors. Last year, the book of Hebrews was exegetically preached, section by section. In recent years, we have also heard sermons on the Ten Commandments and the book of John.
Closing
Chapel service ends with the whole campus singing Psalm 117, a more modern style rendition of this beautiful psalm that speaks of praising the Lord for His faithfulness. Students leave Chapel with these comforting verses reverberating in their minds, reminding them through the day of the presence of the Lord.
If you’re a prospective student, then hopefully this blog has given you a glimpse into what Chapel at Geneva will be like. If you’re a current student, hopefully you’ve been reminded of why we have different components of Chapel. I'm continuously grateful for this opportunity to gather as a campus and worship the Lord. Often, I find myself caught by the beauty there is in the swarm of students returning up the hill to classes, study, and lunch after Chapel. The words of Psalm 133:1 echo through me: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
Sarabeth Schuck ‘25
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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