By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
It’s still a great way to start the week. It’s still special. It’s still Chapel.
Those sentiments probably will describe a lot of events that will have to be adjusted this fall to accommodate the social distancing the pandemic fight requires. Chapel, Grand Canyon University’s weekly worship gathering, is no different.
Normally held in GCU Arena, Chapel will be in four locations once students return to campus – live music in the Arena and Canyon Activity Center and available via screening in Antelope Gym and the church at 31st Avenue and Camelback Road.
Students will need to obtain their free tickets in advance (details to come), and crowd sizes at each venue will be limited.
“In the midst of what everyone has been through this year, we are ready and excited to gather together for Chapel every Monday morning,” Worship Manager Jared Ulrich said. “It indeed is a special time that the GCU community looks forward to each and every week.
“Especially during this season, getting back to worshiping together at Chapel will prove to be a highlight filled with hope and joy in the midst of so much uncertainty. We will be safe. We will be cautious. But that will not stop us from celebrating and praising our God!”
The format for Chapel is simple: 15 minutes of musical worship performed by all-student Worship teams, then a biblical message by a church pastor or University administrator. It is voluntary, and it will be even more important for students this fall because The Gathering, the all-student worship service on Tuesday nights, had to be canceled for this semester because of COVID-19 concerns.
Just like ground classes, which will be operated on an online platform until students return to campus in late September, Chapel will be online for the first three weeks. Here is the list of speakers with links to some of their previous talks:
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 7 – Dr. Tim Griffin, GCU Pastor and Dean of Students (online)
Sept. 14 – Noe Garcia, North Phoenix Baptist Church (online)
Sept. 21 – Terry Mackey, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (online)
Sept. 28 – Brian Mueller, GCU President
OCTOBER
Oct. 5 – Brian Kruckenberg, New City Church
Oct. 12 – Jodi Hickerson, Mission Church
Oct. 19 – Sean Moore, Faith Christian Center
Oct. 26 – Dr. Tim Griffin
NOVEMBER
Nov. 2 – Chad Moore, Sun Valley Community Church
Nov. 9 – Ashley Wooldridge, Christ’s Church of the Valley
Nov. 16 – Ron Merrell, Heights Church
Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving Chapel
Nov. 30 – Danielle Rinnier, GCU Assistant Dean of Students
DECEMBER
Dec. 7 – Christmas Chapel
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or [email protected].
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Related content:
GCU Magazine: Worship Team strikes a chord at Chapel
GCU Magazine: Students have lifted campus worship to new heights
