We gather together to worship and hear an encouraging message in chapel every week here at Calvin Christian High School. Chapel is a time of fellowship as a Christian school, a time to stop all of our business and listen to the word of God. High School chapel has been held in the gym for the last several years but has been moved to the LC for the first time this year. We’ve been asking students around Calvin what they think of the transition from the gym to the Learning Commons. The students we spoke to stated several pros and cons about the new chapel area.
Chapel in the Learning Commons was meant to make chapel a more comfortable and welcoming place but was also moved from the gym because the praise band needed more time to set up. Chapel in the LC allows the worship team to set up more easily, saving a lot of time. Despite this, the chairs in the LC also need to be set up and taken down every time we have chapel. Many students argue that having to set up chairs instead of just pulling out bleachers is a waste of time. Students have had to stay five to ten minutes after chapel to stack chairs, causing some of them to even be late to class. In conclusion, is having chapel in the LC really saving us time and effort?
Several students commented that they liked chapel in the LC because of air conditioning, and said that it felt like a more comfortable place to worship. The LC does provide us with a cooler area and has a more welcoming atmosphere. On the contrary, others said that they felt too crowded and couldn’t see when they were in the back. They also noted that they find it hard to stay engaged in chapel when they cannot see what is going on. While when chapel was in the gym, the bleachers allowed everyone to be able to see what was happening.
The new location for chapel reduces our space, but can also bring us closer together as a school. Some students agree with the assigned seating in chapel because it allows us to meet other students and get to know more about each other. Still, others pointed out that they would rather sit by people they know, and find it awkward sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone they may not be familiar with.
Overall, there are many elements to consider when analyzing whether chapel is more favorable in the Learning Commons or not. Many students prefer chapel in the LC where it is air condition as opposed to the hot gym. Others would rather have chapel in the gym instead of the LC because it is more spacious and easy to see. Although our time in chapel is ultimately about focusing on God, it is also important for us to do so in the most effective and meaningful way possible.
Article written by Sidney Ritsema
