Worship Opportunities on Campus
My favorite part of daily life at Concordia is the evident effort put into the spiritual life here. The staff and many of the students are very intentional about developing and maintaining a Christian community, whether that be through classes, events, and even just regular discussion. God truly blesses our campus community with wonderful fellowship for the strengthening of the body of Christ.
Aside from what I already mentioned, the worship opportunities on campus are phenomenal for daily devotional life as well as giving food for thought. Daily chapel in Weller Auditorium is at 11 am every weekday, and a steady crowd of typically 120 people attends to sing, hear God’s spoken Word, and hear His blessings. Pastor Matthias, the campus chaplain, often preaches, but there are many occasions in which Concordia’s professors and area pastors give the message as well. On Mondays and Tuesdays we sing a hymn out of the Lutheran Service Book, and on Wednesdays we use one of the Divine Services and have a Service of the Sacrament. Wrapping up the week are praise bands who lead songs on Thursdays and Fridays. Regardless of your musical preferences, Concordia’s chapel services are a unique and beautiful break for fellowship, unity, and a time to “relax and celebrate the fact that Jesus lives, He always will, and so will you,” as Chaplain Matthias often reminds us.
Other opportunities exist for campus worship, too. Evening Prayer and Praise are also hosted in Weller Auditorium (though Evening Prayer is typically in the Music Building when it is a functional building). Evening Prayer is led by some of the pre-seminary and music students, and begins at 9:45 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. An evening service from the Lutheran Service Book is used, accompanied by scripture readings and a hymn. Praise is every Wednesday at 9 pm, and is comprised of music led by various praise bands, a student message, and a time for group or individual prayer. Many students attend Evening Prayer and Praise, and they make for excellent times of prayer and strengthening of faith within a community.
I hear students often talking about the chapel message and songs, and it is not uncommon to overhear students discussing Praise or Evening Prayer in the campus community centers. Worship means a lot to the lives of the students here, including myself. I personally find that the messages of Law and Gospel, practical wisdom, and the hope we have in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are both edifying and uplifting. It serves as a good break in the day to soak in the blessings God gives to His children on this campus, and I am built up by the time spent in worship.
Concordia’s worship life is vibrant and intentional. Every student is invited to any of these events, and there are many Bible study groups on campus as well. I strongly encourage everyone to be involved in at least one of these regular worship opportunities; not only is it good for building community, but it is good for building up the individual in a world that seeks to destroy faith. After all, we should worship together, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near,” as the author of Hebrews says in chapter 10. So, I strongly encourage you to come and join the campus worship life, and I look forward to seeing you there.