The chapel department sets Covenant College apart from so many institutions of higher education, and there exists a team of individuals to safeguard the mission of “getting to the heart of Jesus,” as Chaplain Lowe sets up each year’s goals for the chapel program.
Chaplain Lowe disclosed some of the prep that goes into the chapel talks that we hear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, in saying that he personally talks to every person that is invited to speak in chapel beforehand. “I have a discussion with them about the mission and the vision of Chapel, and it’s a really sweet thing,” he said. Chaplain Lowe invites speakers via email, they meet, and then talk about the student body.
“They usually ask if there are any themes or needs on campus that would be good to speak to,” he said. He goes on to describe that there is always something that he and Stephanie Formenti are trying to work into the talks and conversations individually in the chapel department that they have external speakers come into and share in, or just present to them as something to consider.
“Those are places where I will speak in. We’re looking to cut through some of the cultural Christian stuff and get to the heart of Christ.” Chaplains Lowe is hoping to always encourage students with the opportunities of chapel. The work that goes into the worship is also something to note and appreciate about the corporate time together. “We get to experience music, prayers and speakers that are about encountering Jesus together,” Chaplain Lowe said.
After an initial discussion with Chaplain Lowe, the speakers do the rest on their own and show up to talk to the student body with the Covenant chapel mission in mind. Chaplain Lowe really trusts those whom he invites to speak. He expressed that the intentionality and care behind chapel talks take shape in the speakers that are invited and that he believes our speakers are quite good.
“It’s actually harder, I think, than a pastor who picks a book and walks through it. I think it’s harder to choose something occasional,” said Stephanie Formenti of the chapel department. To choose something that the students will resonate with or encourage them in a way that hits well is an effort that is deeply thought out and has our best interests at heart.
Echoing what Chaplain Lowe said about leaning away from culture and more into the heart of Jesus, Stephanie Formenti added, “Cultural issues only make sense when you know who Jesus is. A lot of our problems are not that we don’t know stuff, it’s that we forget it, so a lot of times it’s about reminding people of what we know to be true.” That seems to be the main goal, and on the receiving end we have corporate worship and caring faculty that desire to see growth in the community and individually by way of bringing the Word to everyday life at this college.