Fall lineups for Chapel, The Gathering announced

By Rick Vacek
The Chapel service draws a big crowd every Monday morning in GCU Arena.
The Chapel service draws a big crowd every Monday morning in GCU Arena.

By Karen Fernau
GCU News Bureau

To senior Josh James, Chapel is more than just a weekly worship service at Grand Canyon University. It’s a touchstone that connects him to his faith, friends and campus.

Students get inspired at Chapel, where the message is spiritual, not political.
Students get inspired at Chapel, where the message is spiritual, not political.

“Chapel helps me deal with all the stresses of student life and has been the lens through which I’ve experienced college,” said James, a Christian studies major from Phoenix.

“It’s how I hit the reset button.”

Today, James is one of a six student leaders and 28 band members behind Chapel, a mega-worship service that attracts nearly 6,000 students, staff and faculty on Monday mornings in GCU Arena.

Chapel begins at 11:15 a.m. sharp and combines a 15-minute musical worship performance with a 30-minute inspirational talk by a guest speaker, usually from a local church.

Speakers are chosen for their ability to connect with millennials, said Jared Ulrich, GCU worship manager. Their messages are spiritual, not political.

Like James, he believes Chapel is more than music and worship.

“It’s become part of our DNA. Chapel gets the week off to a great start,” said Ulrich, who credits student leaders like James for Chapel’s appeal.

For others, Chapel’s success is tied to its open-arm spirit. The reason it is attractive, they say, is that people of different church backgrounds can come and be involved.

"This is what makes it so special, makes it such an important part of GCU,” said James, a guitarist and singer who, like all band members, auditioned for his leadership role.

In addition to Chapel, GCU hosts The Gathering, a worship service for students at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays in Antelope Gym. About 1,500 students attend weekly.

GCU President Brian Mueller
GCU President Brian Mueller

CHAPEL SCHEDULE

Aug. 29: Brian Mueller, GCU president

Sept. 5: No Chapel (Labor Day)

Sept. 12: Beth Guckenberger, Back to Back Ministries

Sept. 19: Brian Kruckenberg, New City Church

Sept. 26: Ron Merrell, The Heights Church

Oct. 3: Chris Brown, North Coast Church

Oct. 10: Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU dean of students

Oct. 17: Tim Kimmel, Family Matters

Oct. 24: Jeremy Jernigan, Central Christian Church

Oct: 31: Ryan Buskirk, Young Life

Nov. 7: Courtney Cleveland, speaker and author

Nov. 14: Chad Moore, Sun Valley Community Church

Nov. 21: No Chapel (fall break)

Nov. 28: Tim Beal, Cornerstone Church

Dec. 5: Christmas service

Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU's dean of students
Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU's dean of students

THE GATHERING SCHEDULE

Aug. 30: Danielle Rinnier, GCU director of spiritual life

Sept. 6: David Stockton, Living Streams Church

Sept. 13: Worship Night

Sept. 20: Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU dean of students

Sept. 27: Ben Bost, Search Ministries

Oct. 4: Worship Night

Oct. 11: Sean Myers, Redemption Church

Oct. 18: Jared Ulrich, GCU worship manager

Oct. 25: Travis Phillips, Antioch Community Church

Nov. 1: Worship Night

Nov. 8: Luke Parker, Living Streams Church

Nov. 15: Pastor Tim Griffin, GCU dean of students

Nov. 21: No The Gathering (fall break)

Nov. 29: Braelyn Armenta, GCU

Contact Karen Fernau at (602) 639-8344 or [email protected].

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Bible Verse

"Consider carefully what you hear," Jesus continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Mark 4:24-25



Jesus continued His message, saying, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)

To Read More: www.verseoftheday.com/